AMC1 ORA.FSTD.110 Modifications

GENERAL

(a) The FSTD, where applicable, should be maintained in a configuration that accurately represents the aircraft being simulated. This may be a specific aircraft tail number or may be a representation of a common standard.

(b) Users of the device should always establish a differences list for any device they intend to use, and to identify how any differences should be covered in training. In order to ensure each device is maintained in the appropriate configuration, the organisation operating an FSTD should have a system that ensures that all relevant airworthiness directives (ADs) are introduced where applicable on affected FSTDs.

(c) ADs from both the State of Design of the aircraft and the State where the FSTD is located should be monitored. ADs from the State of Design of an aircraft are usually automatically applicable, unless specifically varied by the aircraft’s State of Registry.

(d) Where appropriate, ADs issued by States where users of the device have aircraft registered should also be monitored. In addition to ADs, the FSTD operator should also put in place processes that ensure all aircraft modifications are reviewed for any effect on training, testing and checking. This can be achieved by reviewing the aircraft manufacturer’s service bulletins and may require a specific link to the aircraft manufacturer to be developed. In practice this link is often established through aircraft operators who use the device.

(e) Organisations operating FSTDs should notify the competent authority of major changes.

(f) This does not imply that the competent authority will always wish to directly evaluate the change. The competent authority should be mindful of the potential burden placed on the organisation by a special evaluation and should always consider that burden when deciding if such an evaluation is necessary.

(g) The organisation operating FSTDs should have an internal acceptance process for modifications, to be used when implementing all modifications, even if the competent authority has made a decision to carry out an evaluation.

[applicable until 29 April 2028 — ED Decision 2012/007/R]

AMC1 ORA.FSTD.110 Management of modifications

GENERAL

(a) The written application for a modification, including the relevant documentation, such as extracts from the QTG or the amended ESL, as applicable, should be submitted in a format and manner specified by the competent authority. This application should be submitted no later than 30 days before the date of intended change, unless otherwise agreed with the competent authority.

(b) Users of the device should always establish a differences list for any device they intend to use, and to identify how any differences should be covered in training. In order to ensure that each device is maintained in the appropriate configuration, the organisation operating the FSTD should have a system that ensures that all relevant airworthiness directives (ADs) are introduced in cases they are applicable to affected FSTDs.

(c) ADs from the following sources should be monitored:

(1) the State of Design of the aircraft;

(2) either of the following, as applicable:

(i) EASA, when the FSTD was qualified by EASA; or

(ii) the State whose competent authority qualified the FSTD; and

(3) the State where the FSTD is located.

ADs from the State of Design of an aircraft are usually automatically applicable, unless specifically varied by the aircraft’s State of Registry.

(d) Where appropriate, ADs issued by States where users of the device have aircraft registered should also be monitored. In addition to ADs, the FSTD operator should also put in place processes that ensure that all aircraft modifications are reviewed for any effect on training, testing and checking. This can be achieved by reviewing the aircraft manufacturer’s service bulletins and may require a specific link to the aircraft manufacturer to be developed. In practice this link is often established through aircraft operators that use the device.

(e) The organisation operating FSTDs should have an internal acceptance process for modifications, to be used when implementing all modifications, even if the competent authority has made a decision to carry out an evaluation.

(f) Before applying for a major modification to an FSTD with assigned FCS or implementing such modification based on the approved procedure in accordance with point ORA.FSTD.110(b)(2), the organisation should:

(1) assess the impact of that modification on the compliance of the FSTD with its original qualification basis; and

(2) decide to apply for:

(i) a major modification of the FSTD while maintaining the assigned FCS of the FSTD; or

(ii) an FSTD qualification to obtain an FCS, using the applicable qualification basis at the time of application for that major modification.

(g) Unless the organisation is entitled to act in accordance with point ORA.FSTD.110(b)(2), it should apply for a major modification as follows:

(1) in the case of a major modification as per point (f)(2)(i), using the original qualification basis of the FSTD with assigned FCS (Note: In that case, the organisation should be aware that the FSTD maintains the same assigned FCS in accordance with Appendix IX to Annex VI (Part-ARA), even though the FSTD may exceed the minimum requirements in the original qualification basis.); or

(2) in the case of a major modification as per point (f)(2)(ii), using the applicable qualification basis at the time of application for that major modification.

[applicable from 30 April 2028 — ED Decision 2026/006/R]