AMC1 21.A.245(e) Resources

STAFF, FACILITIES, AND COORDINATION

(a) General

The handbook that is submitted in accordance with point 21.A.243 should show that sufficient skilled personnel are available, and that suitable technical and organisational provisions are made for carrying out the type investigation that is defined in GM1 21.A.239(d), point (b)(3).

(b) Personnel

The organisation should show that the personnel that is available to comply with point 21.A.245(e)(1) are able, based on their special qualifications and numbers, to provide assurance of the design or modification of a product, as well as of the compilation and verification of all the data that is needed to meet the applicable type certification basis, operational suitability data (OSD) certification basis, and environmental protection requirements, while taking into account the state of the art and new experience.

The organisation should have a system in place to plan the availability of staff to ensure that the organisation has sufficient appropriately qualified staff to plan, perform, supervise, inspect, and monitor the organisation’s activities in accordance with the organisation’s terms of approval.

(c) Technical

The organisation should have access to:

(1) workshops and production facilities that are suitable for manufacturing prototype models and test specimens; and

(2) accommodation and test facilities that are suitable for carrying out the tests and measurements that are needed to demonstrate compliance with the type certification basis, OSD certification basis, and environmental protection requirements; the test facilities may be subject to additional technical conditions that are related to the nature of the tests performed.

(d) Organisation

The handbook that is submitted in accordance with point 21.A.243 should show that:

(1) the responsibilities for all the tasks that are related to the certification process are assigned in such a way that gaps in authority are excluded;

(2) the responsibility for a number of tasks as in point (d)(1) may be assigned to one person, especially in cases of simple projects; and

(3) coordination between technical departments and the persons in charge of the system monitoring that is required by point 21.A.239(e) is established:

(i) to ensure the quick and efficient reporting and resolution of difficulties that are encountered using the handbook and associated procedures;

(ii) to maintain the design management system; and

(iii) to optimise auditing activities.

(e) Competency and training

(1) The organisation should establish and control the competency of the staff that is involved in the activities of the organisation, as detailed in the organisation’s terms of approval, in accordance with documented procedures. In addition to the necessary expertise that is related to the job function, the competency of the staff should include an understanding of safety management and human factors (HF) principles, which is appropriate to the staff member’s function and responsibilities in the organisation.

(2) To assist in the assessment of competency and to perform the analysis of the training needs, job (job family) descriptions are recommended, which should contain sufficient criteria to enable the required competency assessment throughout the duration of the employment/contract.

(3) The organisation should develop a procedure that describes the process for assessing the competency of the staff. The procedure should specify:

(i) the staff that are responsible for that process;

(ii) the means and methods for the initial assessment;

(iii) the means and methods for the continuous control of the competency of the personnel, including feedback on their performance;

(iv) the action to be taken if the assessment is not satisfactory; and

(v) how to record assessment results.

(4) Adequate initial and recurrent training should be provided in relation to the job function to ensure that staff remain competent. This training should be adapted based on experience that is gained within the organisation (for safety training, refer also to AMC1 21.A.239(c)(5)(i)).

(5) The organisation should record the training that is provided as described in point (e)(4).