SofemaOnline takes a look at the importance of Aircraft Technical Records within the context of Aircraft Leasing

Introduction

When an aircraft has significant disconnects in the integrity of the records, the value of the aircraft can be substantially affected. (Any lapses in maintenance documentation can be used as financial leverage.) Airlines routinely spend up to $2000,000 USD related to narrow body returns, and the majority of lease return costs relate to disconnects in the aircraft technical records.

The Value of an Aircraft equal is Technical Records?

Well, when you consider that without the Technical Records that support the aircraft, it will not be able to fly, then it is effectively a true statement!

SofemaOnline takes a look at what SMS Internal Reporting Elements should be addressed in the context of the Organisational 145 SMS 

Reporting Systems should include the possibility of Voluntary and Confidential Elements, however, please note that an essential feature of a successful system is the willingness of the Employees to engage with the system. In fact, this becomes a key measure of an effective system.

Introduction

The overall purpose of the internal safety reporting scheme is to use the reported information to improve the level of the safety performance of the organisation, and not to attribute blame.

The scheme is an essential part of the overall monitoring function and should be complementary to the normal day-to-day procedures and ‘control’ systems; it is not intended to duplicate or supersede any of them.

SofemaOnline takes a look at what SMS related Change Management Processes are coming into EASA 145 Management Systems 

Introduction

Unless they are properly managed, changes in organisational structure, facilities, the scope of work, personnel, documentation, policies, and procedures, etc. can result in the inadvertent introduction of new hazards and expose the organisation to new or increased risk.

Effective organisations seek to improve their processes, with conscious recognition that changes can expose the organisation to potentially latent hazards and risks if they are not properly and effectively managed.

Comment by Steve Bentley, CEO of www.sassofia.com 

Quality Assurance is considered as a subset of SMS. Is this correct? 

What does EASA Say? 

These key safety management processes are supported by a compliance monitoring function as an integral part of the management system for safety.

Most aviation safety regulations constitute generic safety risk controls established by the ‘regulator’. Therefore, ensuring effective compliance with the regulations during daily operations and independent monitoring of compliance are fundamental to any management system for safety.

The compliance monitoring function may, in addition, support the follow-up of safety risk mitigation actions.

Sofema Aviation Services looks at what is coming related to EASA Part 145 Management System.

Introduction

EASA's objective is to encourage organisations to embed safety management and risk-based decision-making into all their activities instead of superimposing another system onto their existing management system and governance structure.

The new elements that are introduced by the NPA 145 in particular address component 2 ‘Safety Risk Management’ of the ICAO SMS framework. and address component 3 ‘Safety Assurance’.

It is important to recognise that safety management will be a continuous activity, as hazards, risks and the effectiveness of safety risk mitigations will change over time. 

SofemaOnline looks at the challenges related to the potential uncertainty of the status of instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) and needs, therefore, to avoid there being too much room for interpretation in the rules and standards, leading to differences and possible safety risks.

The specific objective is to establish clear requirements and responsibilities for all parties involved in the production of ICA, their approval, and their implementation.

The Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) proposes to amend Annex I (Part 21) of Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 to clarify that ICA are part of the type certificate (TC) and to develop the related acceptable means of compliance (AMC) and guidance material (GM).

It also merges the requirements related to record-keeping, manuals, and ICA in the various subparts into a single requirement for each of these aspects in Subpart A (new points 21.A.5, 6 and 7).

SofemaOnline takes a looks at NPA 2018-11

The objective of this Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) is to improve the level of safety related to the minimum syllabus of maintenance certifying staff (MCS) type rating training (TRT), enabling design approval holders (DAHs) that comply with Annex I (Part 21) of Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 to identify the technical elements necessary to be addressed for the purpose of training of maintenance certifying staff involved in the maintenance of their products.

In addition, the intent is to ensure an adequate minimum syllabus standard at organisations that comply with Annex IV (Part-147) to Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014.

This NPA proposes:

The first issue of Certification Specification on Maintenance Certifying Staff (MCS) data (CS-MCSD) and the associated Guidance Material (GM);

Sofemaonline.com offers online training, including EASA Part 66 Module 9 Human Factors compliant training for third-country workshop personnel.

Introduction

It is important to ensure that all employees are aware of how to act in the event of a workplace emergency. Whilst not every person needs to be qualified as a fire marshal or Emergency First Aid Responder, it is important that a number of employees are "highly trained" and all employees have a general awareness of all potential emergencies and how to proceed.

All employees should understand what constitutes an emergency or disaster at the workplace.

Additionally, to understand:

SofemaOnline takes a deep dive into Root Cause Analysis (RCA).

Introduction - What Do We Mean when we talk about "Root Cause"?

This is the first challenge and typically causes confusion across the business, with some people believing there is always a “single” root cause to a particular issue or problem.

In fact, as we will quickly see, there can indeed be multiple root causes associated with a single problem.

The purpose of the Root Cause Analysis is to understand the causal factors that contribute to a particular event.

Sofemaonline.com offers online training, including EASA Part 66 Module 9 Human Factors-compliant training for third-country workshop personnel.

Introduction to Hazards & Risk 

Hazard: Consider that a hazard has the potential to disrupt or cause harm in some way; this does not in any way mean that it will; simply, it can.

Risk: When we look at risk, we are trying to determine how great our exposure to the perceived hazard is. So risk is subjective, and the more effective the risk analysis and mitigation process, the less likely we are to suffer the consequences of a "hazard.”

Reality Check 1 - Maintenance professionals are, of course, humans and therefore prone to human error. Therefore acceptance of vulnerability and potential exposure is the first step in taking responsibility and avoiding risk-taking behaviours. 

As part of the proposals to be found in forthcoming regulation NPA 2019-05 (C) SMS will be introduced into the EASA 145 Environment

Presented by SofemaOnline - a service provided by Sofema Aviation Services, offering a range of EASA, FAA and other leading regulatory compliant and vocational online courses, many with voice over.

Introduction - Safety Management Systems (SMS) - Nothing New?

SMS became an ICAO requirement as of Jan 2009 and EASA is late to embed SMS within the “145” environment. However, there is a very important aspect of SMS to consider, and it is this. 

The fact that everyone is “familiar” with SMS is a source of potential challenge and even "danger.". Why? - Familiarity Breeds Contempt (Hear that one before?)

Ask your colleague to explain to you the difference between Hazard & Risk or The Difference between Compliance Auditing (Quality Assurance) and Safety Auditing, and you will see the point!

Introducing Changes to Production Planning - 145.A.47 (Forthcoming regulation NPA 2019-05 (C))

Presented by SofemaOnline - a service provided by Sofema Aviation Services, offering a range of EASA, FAA, and other leading regulatory-compliant and vocational online courses, many with voiceover.

The purpose of the Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) is to promote a reduction, as far as practicably reasonable, of workplace fatigue and its associated risks to ensure a safe and error-free work environment for employees, contractors, and clients.

FRMS should ideally be a component of your SMS. Commitment from senior and line management, together with clear consultation and effective communication with all employees, should be ensured to provide a positive safety culture.

Introducing 145.A.37 (Forthcoming regulation NPA 2019-05 (C))

Presented by SofemaOnline - a service provided by Sofema Aviation Services, offering a range of EASA, FAA, and other leading regulatory-compliant and vocational online courses, many with voiceover.

Why should 145 Organisations be involved with the issuance of Airworthiness Review Certificates?

The answer is basically to fill a niche; the approval is quite restricted and is only applicable to small “none AOC” aircraft, namely.

The Certificate that is used to provide the ARC is EASA Form 15C.

What is ML.1?

Sofemaonline.com offers online training, including EASA Part 66 Module 9 Human Factors compliant training for third-country workshop personnel.

Introduction

Aircraft certifications are made within the framework of an organisation approval, part of which lays on the organisation the need to ensure currency – but it is not a one-sided story because the certifying staff also has a responsibility to remain current, which means up to date with developments and changes to either the regulations or approved data that is driving the task.

Aircraft maintenance technicians typically undertake a significant basic training program that provides them with the knowledge and competence to enable them to become aircraft mechanics. 

Introduction

Steve Bentley, CEO of Sofema Aviation Services (www.sassofia.com) and Sofema Online (www.sofemaonline.com), takes a look at what the forthcoming EASA changes to Part 145 will look like and what they could mean for Quality, Safety & Management Personnel. 

Name Change QM/QAM to CM 

In keeping with the “Management System” understanding from Regulation 965/2012, the previous role title of Quality Manager or Quality Assurance Manager is essentially dropped with the focus again on Compliance Management. So again, we will see either Compliance Manager or Quality Manager responsible for Compliance. 

Practical Base Maintenance Audits: Advanced Techniques for Auditing Workshops

A SofemaOnline Review (www.sofemaonline.com)

Auditing workshops

What is Unique within the Workshop Environment is that there is no Workshop Licence – So, for this reason, it is necessary to pay particular attention to the competence of the workshop certification personnel.

A typical workshop audit would start with the Organisations Quality System and ask the questions:

A SofemaOnline Review (www.sofemaonline.com)

Introduction

Compliance auditing looks at the effective management of the organisational controls to ensure continuous delivery of the Quality Control driven process. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that at all times the organisation should endeavour to comply with best practice and industry standards.

Being able to support an in-depth understanding of non-conformities in your organisation is part of the mission.

Being able to clearly explain the exposure to your organisations business area owners and postholders is an essential attribute of an effective Quality Assurance Auditor.

Sofema Aviation Services www.sassofia.com looks at the challenges of using Compliance Audit Techniques to determine the effectiveness of a "supplier.”

What do we Mean by Third Party when we talk about auditing?

Means that the organisation is “Stand Alone” or “Stand Apart.". So effectively, we are connected to the Organisation for business purposes; however, we cannot exert direct control.

This is an important consideration because in some cases, where the relationship is subcontractual, the “Contracting Organisation” is held accountable for the diligence and acceptable delivery, including standards, management oversight, and the effective control of competence.

A SofemaOnline Review (www.sofemaonline.com)

Compliance Auditing – Understanding the Process

Compliance Auditing is typically charged with meeting the challenge of ensuring that the organisation always remains fully compliant with both internal and external obligations.

In the complex environment delivered by EASA & GCAA, it is necessary to have a proactive approach to maintaining a full understanding of all regulatory obligations.

Compliance Auditing brings with it the daily challenge of ensuring that the organisation remains at all times fully compliant with both internal and external obligations.

It is essential to ensure robust and continuous oversight of all internal processes and procedures. The various departments must continue to meet all applicable internal and EASA-driven regulatory requirements.

Considering the Role & Purpose of the Configuration Maintenance and Procedures Document (CMP)

Introduction by www.Sofemaonline.com

About the CMP

The CMP document is approved by the Primary Certifying Authority and contains the particular airplane configuration minimum requirements, including any special inspection, hardware life limits, master minimum equipment list (MMEL) constraints, and maintenance practices found necessary related to the performance of ETOPS – Extended Diversion Time Operation (EDTO) Flights.