of large aircraft, the period to complete the compliance demonstration is set at five years and may be extended, if necessary.

4. Technical closure and issue of approvalIf technically satisfied with the compliance demonstration by the manufacturer, EASA closes the investigation and issues the certificate. EASA delivers the primary certification for European aircraft models which are also being validated in parallel by foreign authorities for operation in their airspaces, e.g. the FAA for the US or TCCA for Canada. Conversely, EASA will validate the FAA certification of US aircraft models (or TCCA certification of Canadian models) according to applicable Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements between the EU and the concerned Third Country.

Airworthiness Directives in EU

EASA monitors the performance of aircraft types in operation during the entire life cycle of an aircraft. Given the importance of the current Airbus fleet flying around the world, this activity represents 25% of the activity of the Agency related to certification. In addition to the monitoring carried out by the national authorities (in France , the DGAC) , operators are required to report to the manufacturers technical facts that occur on their aeroplanes, which are classified according to their impact on safety.The Agency may issue an " airworthiness directive " sent to all operators in the world in order to mandate corrective actions and ensure that the fleet of aircraft concerned by the directive continues to fly safely. An airworthiness directive is a way to help ensure the highest possible level of safety

AS 9100, EN 9100 & JISQ 9100 Certification for the Aerospace Industry

Perhaps no other industry is as obsessively safety-conscious as the aerospace industry. Constantly under public scrutiny, and with little margin for error, strict quality control standards are now considered standard in every corner of the industry.In an extremely competitive global landscape, almost all the successful manufacturers, suppliers and service providers today regard quality management as their fundamental driving force. Demonstrating this commitment, however, requires independent certification. It is irrefutable evidence that quality standardsare being met. Such certification can mean winning new contracts, or being excluded.AS 9100 is the internationally recognized quality system standard specific to the aerospace industry. AS9100 is the quality systems aerospace model for quality assurance in design, development, production, installation and servicing.Known as AS 9100 in North America, EN 9100 in Europe and JISQ 9100 in Japan, the standard is strongly supported and adhered to by major aeronautics manufacturers including Airbus, Boeing, GEAE and Rolls-Royce. Indeed, AS 9100 certification has already become the basic requirement demanded by all these companies to their suppliers. Based on ISO 9000 requirements, AS 9100 puts a particular focus on quality, safety and technology in all disciplines throughout the aerospace industry, and along the entire supply chain. It applies to every domain whether civil or military.AS 9100, EN 9100 & JISQ 9100 are applicable to the whole supply chain, not only in the aerospace manufacturing industry, but also in equipment design and fabrication, operation of airports and airways, supply and maintenance of spare parts, flight operation and goods processing.

Product Assurance In Aircraft Industries

Aircraft certification in EU

Before a newly developed aircraft model may enter into operation, it must obtain a type certificate from the responsible aviation regulatory authority. Since 2003, EASA is responsible for the certification of aircraft in the EU and for some European non-EU Countries. This certificate testifies that the type of aircraft meets the safety requirements set by the European Union.

The 4 steps of the type-certification process:

1. Technical Familiarisation and Certification BasisThe aircraft manufacturer presents the project to EASA when it is considered to have reached a sufficient degree of maturity. The EASA certification team and the set of rules that will apply for the certification of this specific aircraft type are being established (Certification Basis).

2. Establishment of the Certification ProgrammeEASA and the manufacturer need to define and agree on the means to demonstrate compliance of the aircraft type with each requirement of the Certification Basis. This goes hand in hand with the identification of EASA’s “level of involvement” during the certification process.

3. Compliance demonstrationThe aircraft manufacturer must demonstrate compliance of its product with regulatory requirements: the structure, engines, control systems, electrical systems and flight performance are analysed against the Certification Basis. This compliance demonstration is done by analysis during ground testing (such as tests on the structure to withstand bird strikes, fatigue tests and tests in simulators) but also by means of tests during flight. EASA experts perform a detailed examination of this compliance demonstration, by means of document reviews in their offices in Cologne and by attending some of these compliance demonstrations (test witnessing).This is the longest phase of the type-certification process. In the case