AMC1 DPO.OR.B.005(b) Change management

PROCEDURE TO MANAGE CHANGES TO ATM/ANS EQUIPMENT

(a)       A procedure should be established for the classification and approval of design changes to the ATM/ANS equipment. The procedure should define criteria for classifying a change as minor or major, taking into account points ATM/ANS.EQMT.CERT.020 and ATM/ANS.EQMT.DEC.020 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1768, and the following key aspects: 

(b)       The change is classified as major when:

(1)       the change includes one of the following evolutions:

(i)        new concept of operation of the equipment;

(ii)       new technologies or techniques used in the ATM/ANS equipment development (e.g. used in design or verification);

(iii)      changes to the ATM/ANS equipment that could significantly impact its functions and its reverification;

(iv)      changes to the software that significantly impact a software function and induce subsequent reverification and reinvestigation;

(v)       changes to the hardware that significantly impact a hardware function and induce subsequent reverification and reinvestigation; or

(vi       modified ATM/ANS equipment architecture

(2)       the change introduces the need to add requirements to or remove requirements from:

(i)        the previously approved certification basis (for ATM/ANS equipment subject to certification); or

(ii)       the detailed specifications referred to in the declaration (for ATM/ANS equipment subject to declaration of design compliance)        ; for instance, addition or removal of a function addressed in the detailed specifications;

(3)       the change introduces a new limitation to or a new deviation from:

(i)        the previously approved certification basis (for ATM/ANS equipment subject to certification); or

(ii)       the detailed specifications referred to in the declaration (for ATM/ANS equipment subject to declaration of design compliance); and  

(4)       the change introduces a new or modified means of compliance used by the DPO, not previously investigated by EASA, to demonstrate compliance with the certification basis (for ATM/ANS equipment subject to certification) or with detailed specifications referred to in the declaration (for ATM/ANS equipment subject to declaration of design compliance).

(c)       The procedure for change management should be defined in coordination with the procedure for configuration of the ATM/ANS equipment, i.e. the part numbering system of DPO equipment should incorporate how minor changes will be reflected in the configuration of the equipment, and more particularly in the part number structure. In the case of a major change, a new model designation / part number may need to be defined.

(d)       Minor changes should be processed in accordance with the privileges of the approved DPO. For minor changes, the approved DPO should:

(1)       record the change description and the justification for the change classification;

(2)       update all related technical documents including the user manual;

(3)       record continuous compliance with the ATM/ANS equipment certificate or ATM/ANS equipment declaration of design compliance;

(4)       notify EASA of the minor changes. When the change is managed in accordance with the change management procedure approved by EASA, the notification can be sent after the change is introduced.

(e)       Major changes should be notified to EASA prior to their introduction by submission of one of the following:

(1)       an application for the issue of a new certificate, in accordance with point ATM/ANS.EQMT.CERT.020 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1768, for ATM/ANS equipment subject to Article 4 of that Regulation; or

(2)       a new declaration of design compliance, in accordance with point ATM/ANS.EQMT.DEC.020(b) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1768, for ATM/ANS equipment subject to Article 5 of that Regulation.