Avionics News March 2013 - 18

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

EUROPE

Continued from page 17

News & Regulatory Updates

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
United States
Repair Station Rating to Repair and
Maintain Night Vision Goggles
The following information is from FAA Notice N
8900.202, dated Jan. 4, 2013.

QUESTION:

What is the proper rating for a repair station
applying to maintain and repair NVG?

ANSWER:

Maintaining NVGs is no longer novel, unique or
unusual in application.
As more repair stations perform and seek to perform this type of maintenance, the FAA has determined it is not appropriate to issue a limited rating for
specialized services for future NVG ratings. It argues
that since NVGs are certificated as appliances, and
they meet the requirement of a Class 3 accessory, the
FAA should issue a Class 3 accessory or limited accessory rating, as appropriate, to repair stations that
apply for a rating and meets the requirements of Part
145.
This new policy is applicable to future applicants
who apply for a repair station certificate or an added
rating for NVG maintenance. It is not retroactive and
should not affect currently rated repair stations.

Note: The AEA offers “Frequently Asked Questions” to foster
greater understanding of the aviation regulations and the rules
governing the industry. The AEA strives to ensure FAQs are as
accurate as possible at the time of publication; however, rules
change. Therefore information received from an AEA FAQ should
be verified before being relied upon. This information is not meant
to serve as legal advice. If you have particular legal questions, they
should be directed to an attorney. The AEA disclaims any warranty
for the accuracy of the information provided.

avionics news

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march

2013

European Aviation Safety Agency

For AEA members who perform modifications and repairs on large airplanes (transport category aircraft), after
a rather long wait, a Certification Memoranda CM-ES-002
on EWIS instructions for continued airworthiness was issued in early January.
The current wording of the CM highlights and identifies
AC25-27A Appendix B as the applicable way to comply with
the need to identify, if the mechanical or electrical change
requires an update of the ICA for the affected aircraft model.
The text is highly harmonized with the FAA interpretation of EWIS. For details, download the document from the
EASA certification memoranda website.
For all AEA European members who operate or intend to
operate in the U.S. or for U.S. members intending to operate
in Europe, make sure you download and consider the latest
changes to the Technical Implementation Procedure Revision
2 for Initial Airworthiness and/or the Maintenance Annex
Guidance Change 2 for continued airworthiness, which forms
the procedure to the U.S.-EU bilateral agreement on cooperation in the regulation of civil aviation safety.
The latest changes to Part 21, which were issued last
year as EC 748/2012, introduced a new paragraph called
21.A.90B – Standard Changes. A standard change is a new
term in Part 21 and relates to:
• Airplanes of 5,700 kilogram maximum take-off mass
or less.
• Rotorcraft of 3,175 kilogram MTOM or less.
• Sailplanes, powered sailplanes, balloons and airships,
as defined in ELA1 or ELA2, that follow design data
included in certification specifications issued by the
agency containing acceptable methods, techniques
and practices for carrying out and identifying standard
changes, including the associated instructions for
continuing airworthiness; and that are not in conflict
with TC holders data.
This new rule, which has not yet been supported by an
AMC, might allow appropriate organizations (Part 145 or
Part M Subpart F) to prepare such changes and repairs,
and these changes would no longer be requested to be
approved by the agency or by an appropriately approved
design organization.
EASA indicated it is working on a new certification specifi-

Avionics News March 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News March 2013