How does the role of the Quality Assurance (QA) Auditor differ within the EASA environment compared to say other aviation regulatory systems? (FAA for example?)

Well, the first thing to consider is that the role of the Quality Assurance Auditor within the EASA system is quite specific in that it requires “Independence” This is not the case for example when you consider ISO 9001-2015.

9001: 2015 has removed the requirement for a single point of contact regarding the QMS replacing it with a new section on leadership to better emphasize a greater involvement from the leadership team. Compare this with EASA where we have specific roles and responsibilities (Including Independent Compliance Manager (CM) and a clear understanding of who is managing each business objective, whilst still ultimately identifying the responsibility of the nominated persons.

Do safety management programs improve a company's bottom line?

The answer is a resounding "YES," although the benefits may be somewhat hard to quantify without an effective process for managing data and implementing Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and Service Level Agreements (SLA).

In addition to potential outright savings on benefit claims, civil liability damages, or litigation expenses, having a solid safety and health management program with senior management commitment will improve productivity and employee morale.

** A review for Aviation Stores Inspectors can be found on Sofema Aviation Services's website - www.sassofia.com.

Definition of Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste can take the form of a solid, liquid, or compressed gas. In the aircraft industry, waste can originate from the service or repair of aircraft components to temporary storage of outdated products that have not been used or new products purchased in excess.

Regulations and More!

We could ask the question: "Why do we need regulations?" but, of course, the answer is obvious: we need regulations to protect our industry, employees, and passengers. Plus, it is essential to have a consistent way of controlling the way we do “what we do”.

Where do Regulations in Aviation come from?

Well, EASA is not the root of this regulation story, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is!

In response to the invitation of the United States Government, representatives of 54 nations met in Chicago from November 1 to December 7, 1944, to "make arrangements for the immediate establishment of provisional world air routes and services" and "to set up an interim council to collect, record and study data concerning international aviation and to make recommendations for its improvement."

The Story of the Joint Airworthiness Authority (JAA)

The Airbus A300B given the go-ahead by France and Germany in 1969 smaller and lighter than its three-engine American rivals, it was 20% more fuel efficient. Hawker Siddeley (later to become part of British Aerospace designed a new wing for this aeroplane which delivered both greater lift and improved the A300’s performance. 

The JAA was established in 1970. Originally its objectives were to produce common certification codes for large aeroplanes and for engines in order to meet the needs of European industry (e.g. Airbus). Partly driven by the need for a more efficient certification process, particularly for the Airbus Aircraft. The JAA was founded with the objective of a cooperative safety regulatory system to achieve uniform high standards of aviation safety. The decision to harmonize with the FAA regulatory environment was a good one and persists to this day. 

EASAOnline.com (EOL) provides a number of benefits among which is an easy learning experience with software optimized for smartphones and tablets as well as Desktop PCs.

The purpose of EASAOnline's Part 66 online courses and examinations is to help you prepare for your formal license exam. We are confident that if you pass the compliant Modules together with the examinations on our e-learning platform, you will be ready to sit the EASA Part 147 examination under formal conditions which will support you in obtaining EASA Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers License - AMEL.

Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) has been delivering regulatory training and providing consultancy services for almost 10 years. With the Introduction of our EASA-compliant regulatory and vocational online training offering we are taking the delivery of essential training information to a higher level EASAOnline (EOL) is a service provided by Sofema Aviation Services.

Fuel Tank Safety (FTS) following ref - Appendix IV to AMC 145.A.30 (e) & Appendix XII to AMC M.A.706 (f). Electrical Wiring Interconnect System (EWIS) by AMC20-22, Human Factors Training under GM1 145.A.30 (e) Personnel requirements.

All persons involved in the preparation and shipping of dangerous goods must have appropriate training.

EASAOnline.com offers Dangerous Goods Awareness 50% Summer Discount

Until the end of August 2017 all www.EASAOnline.com Dangerous Goods Awareness training courses are offered with a special 50% discounted price.

The offer is not combinable with multiple courses/users discounts. For groups of more than 50 delegates additional discounts are available, please inquire easaonline@sassofia.com

EASAOnline continues the development of our EASA Compliant online training portal with the introduction of EASA Regulation (EC) 965/2012 Operations Essentials.

This online course may be completed in around 6 Hours and will introduce the delegate to the essential elements of the regulation.

The course is designed to familiarize current AOC holders and other Operational and Concerned Personnel with a detailed understanding of EASA Part OPS Structure and Environment with emphasis on Compliance Monitoring and SMS. The provisions of Commission Regulation on air operations are published in several documents: implementing rules (published in the Official Journal of the European Union as Commission Regulation and subsequent amending regulations) and associated Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC), Guidance Material (GM) and Certification Specifications (published on the EASA website as ED Decisions).

www.easaonline.com (EOL) offers EASA-compliant regulatory and vocational online training. Training may be undertaken in the comfort of your home or office. If you have a PayPal account you can automatically enroll through the system and immediately start your training. (Knowing that your payment is safeguarded and protected by PayPal.)

However please note that you do not need to have a PayPal account to buy EASAOnline courses you may use a debit or credit card to pay. Our system is immediate so may access your account 24/7 whenever and wherever it suits you. 

Getting the Best from Your Course

Marathon sessions are not ideal as it is not the ideal way of retaining knowledge. So take breaks often in fact around 25 to 30 minutes is an ideal length to concentrate and “give it your all” The exam should be completed in a single session.

Dear EASAOnline user,

We have some exciting news!

We are about to migrate to our new website with improved functionality and support for mobile devices and tablets.

As a result the web site will not be accessible from 09:00 UTC on Monday 24th July.

This process should only take a few hours and we thank you for your understanding and patience.

The data is being migrated so the current status of your account will be maintained from the old site to the new site.

We also hope that you enjoy our new look website and look forward to hearing back from you when you have used the new site.

The EASAOnline Team

A Successful Story of an Online EASA Compliant Regulatory and Vocation Training, by Steven Bentley owner and MD of SofemaOnline.com

Between 2015 and 2016 SOL has grown by an amazing 400% and as a result, we have extended our license and we can today support 3000 concurrent users on the system.

How did you get into Aviation?

I guess Aviation was in my blood even if I did not realize it at the time. I joined aviation back in 1971 at the tender age of 16 as a maintenance engineer in the North West of England and more than 45 years later I am still involved!

Today as а Managing Director and owner of Sofema Aviation Services, a Bulgarian Based Regulatory Consulting and Training Company, and owner of www.SofemaOnline.com  

Our Industry continues to face multiple challenges, including the obligation to comply with a significant regulatory burden but it does not stop there! Other initiatives abound introduced by for example IATA (IOSA) and other niche compliance & SMS drivers (ISBAO & ISBAH for business operators).

With Safety Management Systems, we have superimposed on this story of “compliance” a need to identify exposure in a different way using forward-looking techniques where typically we identify and gather data to evaluate the risk and exposure to “all” perceived hazards.

A Discussion Document by Steven Bentley - MD of Sofema Aviation Services

Do we agree on the purpose of an Aviation SMS?

1/ According to ICAO

ICAO Doc9859 para 2.13.2 - ‘A hazard is generically defined by safety practitioners as a condition or an object with the potential to cause death, injuries to personnel, damage to equipment or structures, loss of material, or reduction of the ability to perform a prescribed function.’

ICAO Doc9859 para 2.14.2 - ‘Safety risk is the projected likelihood and severity of the consequence or outcome from an existing hazard or situation.’

Brexit will present a number of major challenges for both the CAA and the UK aviation industry. Steven Bentley answers some frequently asked questions.

Will the UK still sit around the top table?

Currently, the UK CAA is a major stakeholder in the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) multiple working groups. However after the “divorce,” it will probably not be possible to achieve the same level of engagement – Which means the UK CAA will be outside the inner circle and will not have the same level of influence.

Will the UK adopt EASA regulations?

Here there is a specific challenge because if they do not follow 100% they will create distance which will ultimately damage the UK Aerospace Industry and see future work move to mainland Europe!

SofemaOnline.com offers a new online training covering the EASA Stores System Basic awareness.

A fully Compliant EASA Part 145 Stores and Logistics function is an extremely important business area.

A well-managed Store is an asset to the organization as it minimizes any potential loss through poor storage practices and ensures effective stock control and rotation.

EASA requires that Aircraft Stores are secure and restricted and that there is segregation between serviceable and Unserviceable Material.

SOL is pleased to offer a short course with an exam & certificate to introduce the activities that take place within an EASA Part 145 Stores Environment.

A fully Compliant EASA Part 145 Stores and Logistics function is an extremely important business area. It is the first place of entry for parts and materials entering the organization, Supply chain management is subject to regulatory oversight, it is also an essential element of the Quality System, the store inspector typically reports to the Quality Manager.

A well-managed Store is an asset to the organization as it minimizes any potential loss through poor storage practices and ensures effective stock control and rotation.

What is EASA Part M?

Quite simply it is an approval that lets organisations manage the “Continuing Airworthiness” of aircraft types which the organisation is authorised to manage. (More on this later)

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is responsible for the regulations that govern the maintenance performed on aircraft that are used for Commercial Air Transport throughout the European Community.

The purpose of a reliability program is to enable the gathering of data so we can look in detail at required procedures, responsibilities, and tasks to ensure that the aircraft maintenance program tasks are effective and their periodicity is adequate.

Aircraft operability is the aircraft’s ability to meet the operational requirements in terms of operational reliability (i.e. the percentage of scheduled flights that depart and arrive without incurring a chargeable technical/operational interruption).

The Maintenance process has come a long way over the last decades – however, the success of the entire process is dependent on the ability of the maintenance staff not just to perform inspections in the best way but to understand why they are performing inspections. (The criteria by which the object is being measured! It is this knowledge that makes the difference and makes you into an effective inspector.)

The Aircraft Inspector is a critical link in the Continuous Airworthiness Chain which supports the overall integrity of the aircraft. Inspections cover all areas of the aircraft including fuselage, wings, tail, landing gear and wheel well, engines, wiring, and all avionic equipment. The Inspector should be trained and competent to ensure the integrity of the aircraft and to look for evidence of corrosion and metal fatigue.