Story ID: 
EASA Proposes Parts Approval Revisions
By: Gordon Gilbert
Caption: Once implemented, manufacturing requirements for non-critical parts would be alleviated, decreasing manufacturing costs “without affecting safety."
Word Count: 229
Aircraft parts approvals would be revised under an EASA notice of proposed amendment (NPA) that mandates that parts and appliances need to be accompanied by an EASA approval form, particularly so-called commercial parts not designed exclusively for aviation use. The NPA also proposes to assign a criticality level (CL) for each part based on the safety consequences should the part fail to meet its design standards.

EASA Form 1 attests that parts were manufactured in accordance with ICAO Annex I Part 21. Also, this NPA proposes that only the design holder—for instance, the type certificate holder—can establish the CL for each part. In certain cases, the possibility to assign CLs is also given to EASA.

Additionally, the NPA establishes minimum manufacturing criteria and certificate requirements based on industry standards, depending on the CL assigned to each part. Different marking requirements also apply for each part based on its assigned CL. 

Once the implementing rule is in place, manufacturing requirements for non-critical parts would be alleviated, decreasing manufacturing costs “without affecting the safety of air operations,” according to the NPA. “The requirements proposed by this NPA may positively impact general aviation, since often certain parts of the aircraft have not been designed with an aviation intent and not manufactured under a production authorization approval.” Comments on the NPA are due by March 14, 2018.