UK and EU Ink Aviation Manufacturing Deal, Formalizing Acceptance of New Parts

Today, the UK CAA and EU’s EASA signed a Technical Implementation Procedure (TIP).

The purpose of the TIP is to establish the rules for UK and EU acceptance of articles and products produced under the production authority of the other authority. There are correlative agreements regarding design approvals issued by each authority, and the acceptance of each by the other.

This TIP will be important because it affects parts transactions involving third parties. For example, if a US-based distributor has Airbus parts in its US inventory, and those parts were produced under (and tagged under) the authority of EASA, then the sale of those parts for installation on a UK-registered aircraft will be subject to the UK-EASA TIP.

Under the Agreement, the importing authority will expect the following documentation to accompany aircraft parts:

• For import into the EASA system: an Authorized Release Certificate (CAA Form 1) issued by an authorized UK CAA production organization approval holder [in other words, a UK CAA Form 1 properly signed on the left side]
• For import into the UK CAA system: an Authorized Release Certificate (EASA Form 1) issued by (a) a production organization approval holder authorized to engage in such activity by an EASA Member State, or (b) a production organization approval holder authorized to engage in such activity by EASA [in other words, an EASA Form 1 properly signed on the left side]

One interesting point is a requirement that instructions for continued airworthiness and other maintenance manuals must be provided for articles to be acceptable for import into each authority. The language specifically states:

“The following documentation will be provided as a condition of acceptance of the civil aeronautical product being imported … ICA and maintenance manuals which include airworthiness limitation sections”

Technical Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness and Environmental Certification Between The Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom And The European Union Aviation Safety Agency, section 6.5.1 (May 17, 2021)

The TIP does not address maintained parts. The authorities are expected to conclude a separate set of procedures for acceptance of maintenance.