GM2 21.A.7(b) Instructions for Continued Airworthiness - format

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 48

ICA can be provided or made available by various means (including paper copies, electronic documents, or web-based access). Regardless of the format, the design approval holder (DAH) is expected to furnish or make ICA available in a means that is readily accessible for and useable by the owner and any person required to comply with the ICA. Service documents, such as service information letters, may be used for transmitting ICA information and updates.

  1. Formatting standards

    Applicants may use the latest ATA, AECMA/ASD or GAMA formatting standards such as:

    1. AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), ASD-S1000D, International Specification for Technical Publications Utilizing a Common Source Data Base, version 4 or higher;

    2. the Air Transport Association’s (ATA) iSpec 2200, Information Standards for Aviation Maintenance, latest edition (ATA is now known as Airlines for America (A4A) but the standard is still listed as ATA); or

    3. General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Specification No. 2, Specification for Manufacturers Maintenance Data, latest edition.

      In regard to scheduled maintenance, applicants may also refer to the glossary of the ATA MSG-3 standard, latest revision, for standardised task definitions and designations.

  2. General considerations

    ICA should be easy to read and to follow. All ICA should include a means to identify their applicability (model, type, etc.), and the associated revision status. Refer to sample formats in the Air Transport Association’s iSpec 2200, Information Standards for Aviation Maintenance, latest edition, or AECMA/ASD standards. There is no requirement for any specific format or arrangement of the ICA in document or documents. However, the specific format selected by the applicant should be used and applied in a uniform manner. Empty pages in a document should contain a statement like ‘Intentionally left blank’ or similar

    At the beginning of each procedure, the ICA should contain cautions and warnings regarding possible mistakes that can be made when following the instructions.

    Abbreviations, acronyms and symbolisation should be either avoided or explained as part of the ICA documentation.

    ICA contain units of measurement. Measurements could be, for instance, instrument readings, temperatures, pressures, torque values with tolerances, limits, and ranges when applicable. If the ICA contain units of measurement of a system other than the metric, the ICA should include a conversion to the metric system for each measurement, tolerance, or torque value. A general conversion table alone should not be provided, as it may introduce an additional source of error.

    The DAH should use a means to indicate changes to the ICA directly in relation to each item of the information/data of the ICA, e.g. using a vertical change bar in the margin next to the line.

  3. Publication of ICA in multiple documents

    DAHs may prepare ICA as a document, or several documents, depending on how much data is necessary to provide a complete set of ICA.

    If there are multiple documents, there should be a principal document that describes the general scope of all other documents, in order to provide an overview of the multiple document structure.

    According to different standards, the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) needs to be included in the principal document as a dedicated section. However, CAA may also accept a separate Airworthiness Limitations document, when it is at least referenced as such in the principal document.

    DAHs who decide to segregate information dedicated to a specific subject from a principal document into a separate document, e.g. ‘Fuel Pipe Repair Manual’, ‘Cable Fabrication Manual’, ‘Duct Repair Manual’ or ‘Instrument Display Manual’, should declare these documents to be ICA.

    DAHs may decide to integrate certain information in a principal document (as, for example, troubleshooting information as part of the aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) instead of a separate troubleshooting manual (TSM)).

  4. Language

    ICA should be provided in English.

  5. Electronic media

    ICA may be provided in an electronic format (e.g. CDs, via the internet, etc.) instead of paper copies or microfilms (refer to AMC1 21.A.7(b)).

    When an electronic format is used, the DAH should consider aspects such as the traceability of updates, keeping previous versions (record-keeping), data security and the obligations of the person(s) or organisation(s) responsible for the aircraft continuing airworthiness, considering that the ICA form the basis of the data used for continuing airworthiness activities.