EASA this week launched another round of consultation on its proposed means of compliance (MOC) for its Special Condition for VTOL aircraft type certification. The European aviation safety agency published the second version of its consultation document and is giving interested parties until Aug. 30, 2021, to submit comments.
This second MOC publication includes new proposed means of compliance for developers of VTOL aircraft, as well as supplements and amendments to the first set of proposals that were published in May 2020. Neither the Special Condition VTOL, which was first published in July 2019, nor the first set of MOC proposals has been reopened for consultation. Following the new round of consultation, EASA intends to issue a final set of MOCs in a third version of the MOC SC-VTOL document.
According to EASA, the latest MOC proposals take account of requests from companies that have applied for type certification to have clarification on the regulator’s interpretation of the MOC objectives and on the possible ways to demonstrate compliance. “The proposed MOCs should enable an equal treatment of all applicants, by establishing a level playing field and ensuring that a comparable level of safety in the compliance with the objectives of the special condition is achieved by all designs,” said EASA in the introduction to the new publication.
The MOCs outlined in the 94-page document cover flight (including takeoff, climb, and landing requirements); aircraft structures, design and construction; lift and thrust system installation; flight crew interfaces; and other systems and equipment (including factors such as certification credits for simulation and rig testing, and aircraft parachute rescue systems).