GM 21.A.15(e) and (f) Period of validity for the application for a type certificate (TC) or restricted type certificate (RTC)    

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 1

Point 21.A.15(e) establishes a maximum period of validity for an application for a TC or an RTC. During this period, the type-certification basis, operational suitability data (OSD) certification basis, and the environmental protection requirements (hereinafter referred to as the ‘certification basis’), established and notified by the CAA in accordance with points 21.B.80, 21.B.82 and 21.B.85, remain effective. However, the period of validity of the certification basis is limited so that the standards notified as part of the certification basis at the time of application do not become outdated.

For various reasons (e.g. development, business, commercial, etc.), the applicant may not be able to complete the certification within the established time limit. In this case, the applicant has the following two options (see 21.A.15(f)(1) and (2)):

1. Submit a new application In this case, the CAA establishes and notifies a new certification basis in accordance with points 21.B.80, 21.B.82 and 21.B.85, considering the standards that are available at the date of the new application.

In accordance with point 21.A.15(e), the new application has a maximum period of validity that is equal to the first one, corresponding to the product category. Beyond this period of validity, the applicant may need to choose again between the two options of either submitting a new application or applying for an extension of the initial application.

2. Apply for an extension of the initial application

In this case, the applicant proposes a ‘new target date’ to the CAA for the issuance of the certificate, and selects a date that becomes the reference date for the establishment of the certification basis by the CAA. For the purposes of this GM, the selected reference date is referred to as the ‘new effectivity date’ of the initial application.

The ‘new effectivity date’ of the initial application may be any date in the past between the following time limits:

— the ‘new target date’ for a TC proposed by the applicant minus the time limit used under 21.A.15(e) (e.g. 5 years for large aeroplanes and large rotorcraft, 3 years for the other products); and

— the date on which the applicant applies for the extension of the initial application. This calculation is visualised in Figure 1 below:

Figure 1

This ensures that the standards used to establish the certification basis are never older than the ones available at the start of the period of validity required by point 21.A.15(e).

If the applicant is not able to complete the product certification by the new target date, the applicant may choose again between the two options of either submitting a new application or applying for a new extension of the initial application.