Avionics News October 2015 - 17

EUROPE

SOUTH PACIFIC

News & Regulatory Updates

European Aviation Safety Agency

New Zealand

In accordance with a worldwide trend to introduce more
drones (unmanned aircraft systems), the EASA has made
a large step toward a policy to ensure a safe, secure and
environmentally friendly operation of drones, respecting
concerns of privacy and data protection. This is necessary
because of the enormous potential for growth for such operation and an associated possibility to create jobs. The term
drone is now being used as a definition covering both UAS
and RPAS. The definition is as follows: "A drone shall mean
an aircraft without a human pilot on board, whose flight is
controlled either autonomously or under the remote control
of a pilot on the ground or in another vehicle."
The EASA issued an advance notice of proposed amendment 2015-10 with the objective to consult stakeholders of
the proposed concept of the operational rules. The proposal
has been developed by the agency based on JARUS, or Joint
Authorities for Regulation of Unmanned Systems inputs,
member state authorities, the drone industry and stakeholders
of the manned aviation industry.
The proposal provides:
* The general structure of the regulatory framework.
* The proposals for the regulation of low-risk operation
of the "open" category drones.
* The proposals for the regulation of medium-risk
operation of the "specific" category drones.
* Best practices for national regulations on drone
operations until European Union regulations are
applicable.
The category of drone operation used above also is part of
the agency proposal. While the "open" category shall define
a drone of less than 25 kilograms controlled from ground in
direct visual line, a "specific" is a category that poses more
significant aviation risks to persons overflown or when sharing airspace with manned aviation.
Furthermore, the agency also defined a "certified" category for drone operation with a high risk and with a wider
scope of operation than the "specific" category. Comments
were due Sept. 25.
Another decision issued describes the agreed change to
the AMC material for Part 66. Executive Director Decision
2015/020/R is about the regular amendment of the list of
aircraft type ratings used for the type endorsement in the Part
66 aircraft maintenance license.
The amendment adds some clarification on existing type
ratings as well as new aircraft type ratings. The decision
entered into force July 15.

The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority
published the September edition of the Civil Aviation
Rules Register Information Leaflet. There are two
NPRM projects that may have an impact on AEA
member companies:
*

NPRM 15-03 Part 147 Maintenance Training
Organizations, Docket 14/CAR/2. This project
proposes a new rule part that specifically
addresses maintenance training organization
certification. It is proposed that the new rules
will emulate the current Part 141, but be
influenced by European legislation in terms of
layout and the extent of requirements.
NPRM 15-02 Safety Management, Docket
8/CAR/1. The purpose of this rulemaking
proposal is to introduce new rules to improve
New Zealand's aviation safety performance in
a way that embeds an effective safety culture
in aviation organizations; and to ensure New
Zealand meets its international obligations as
a signatory to the Convention on International
Civil Aviation. This NPRM proposes a new
rule, Part 100, to address safety management
system requirements; and consequential
amendments to Parts 19F, 115, 121, 125, 135,
137, 139, 141, 145, 146, 148, 149, 171, 172,
173, 174 and 175. There also is a draft revision
to the safety management advisory circular that
was renumbered to AC100-1 to align with the
proposed new rule part.

These, as well as other regulatory items, will be
discussed at the upcoming AEA South Pacific Regional
Meeting, Nov. 2-3, in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Australia
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority published
an amendment to AMC/GM Part 145 - Approved
Maintenance Organization Requirements and AMC/
GM Part 66 - Continuing Airworthiness - Aircraft
Engineer Licenses and Ratings.
The CASA acceptable means of compliance can be
found at www.casa.gov.au/standard-page/acceptablemeans-compliance-guidance-material-amcgm. q
avionics news

october

2015

http://www.casa.gov.au/standard-page/acceptable-means-compliance-guidance-material-amcgm http://www.casa.gov.au/standard-page/acceptable-means-compliance-guidance-material-amcgm

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News October 2015