Lingyin Aircraft: Airworthiness management of civil helicopters in China

The airworthiness management of civil aircraft is the control and management of the design, production and manufacture, use and maintenance, import and export of civil aircraft from the perspective of safety. The safety of civil helicopters must also be guaranteed under the strict monitoring of airworthiness management.

In 1986, entrusted by the State Council, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (now known as the Civil Aviation Administration of China) was responsible for drafting the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of Airworthiness of Civil Aircraft (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations on Airworthiness). On March 17, 1987, the executive meeting of the State Council deliberated and adopted the "Airworthiness Regulations", which were promulgated on May 4 of that year and came into force on June 1. This is a major turning point in the airworthiness management of Civil Aircraft in China and a new starting point for China's statutory airworthiness management work.

According to the Airworthiness Regulations, "the airworthiness management of civil aircraft shall be the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. "The Civil Aviation Administration of China authorizes the aircraft airworthiness division to be responsible for airworthiness management.

The airworthiness management of civil aircraft can be relatively divided into two main categories. One is initial airworthiness management and the other is continuous airworthiness management. The initial airworthiness management is the type conformity verification and production license verification of the design and manufacture of civil aircraft in accordance with various airworthiness standards and specifications before the aircraft is delivered for use, so as to ensure that the design and manufacture of aircraft and aircraft components are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the airworthiness department. Initial airworthiness management is the control of design and manufacturing.

Continuous airworthiness management is the management of the aircraft after it meets the initial airworthiness standards and specifications, meets the model design requirements, meets the basis of the type qualification certification, obtains the airworthiness certificate, and puts it into operation, in order to maintain its basic safety standards or airworthiness level at the time of design and manufacture, and to ensure that the aircraft can always be in a safe operating state. Continuous airworthiness management is the control of use and maintenance. Jinan Lingyin Aircraft Sales Co., Ltd. (Lingyin Aircraft), a domestic professional helicopter sales and leasher, is conceptually and substantively complementary and inseparable, and there is no obvious boundary between the two, nor can it be completely separated. The crosslinking and melting of the two constitute a whole and all of the airworthiness management of civil aircraft.

(1) Initial airworthiness management of civil helicopters

1． Civil helicopter models are qualified

The type conformity of civil helicopters is the process by which the airworthiness department approves the design of civil helicopters, including the issuance of the initial type certificate, the change of the type certificate, the supplementary type certificate of conformity and the approval of the type design overhaul. The process is based on the regulatory AP-21-03 "Model Conformity Verification Procedure" approved by CCAR-21 and the Airworthiness Division.

CCAR-21 stipulates that helicopters that have been designed and finalized in accordance with national regulations before May 31, 1987, can no longer apply for a number certificate if they are used in civil aviation activities, but the national-level military helicopters used in civil aviation activities still need to apply for a type certificate.

During the validity period of the model certificate, the holder has the right to transfer it to another person, but the transfer agreement needs to be sent to the Civil Aviation Administration for the record. There are four ways to approve the airworthiness of aviation materials, parts and airborne equipment used in civil helicopters, namely, the issuance of a technical standard prescribed project approval letter (CTSOA), the issuance of parts manufacturer approval (PMA), approval together with the aircraft type conformity verification, and other approval methods controlled by the airworthiness department. The requirements for application, acceptance, review, approval, and continued airworthiness are roughly similar to the procedures for managing documents on the whole aircraft, but much simpler.

2． Civil helicopter production license approval

Production license verification refers to the qualification examination conducted by the airworthiness department for the manufacturer who has obtained the design approval for the civil helicopter model and wants to reproduce the production product, and through the review and evaluation of the manufacturer's production capacity, quality control system and engineering technology management system, to ensure that the product conforms to the model design approved by the Civil Aviation Administration. The final form of approval for the approval of a production license is the issuance of a production license. A production license includes a licensed production project list. The permitted production project list includes the name of the product to be produced, the model certificate number, and the date of approval of production.

The manufacturer can apply for a production license after obtaining any of the following documents:

(1) Model certificate;

(2) The agreement on the transfer of rights and interests of the model certificate;

(3) Supplementary model certificate;

(4) Model design approval.

When the applicant for the production license submits the application form and the documents in accordance with the relevant provisions of the CCAR-21 regulations to the airworthiness department in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations of China (CCAR-21), the airworthiness department will conduct a preliminary review of the information provided by the applicant and the status of the applicant to determine whether the applicant's application is accepted: if it agrees to accept, the airworthiness department will issue a notice of acceptance; if it is not accepted, it will notify the applicant in writing. After acceptance, according to the airworthiness management procedures AP-21-04, the production license approval committee and the production license review team are organized as appropriate. According to the requirements of the airworthiness management procedure AP-21-04 and the review requirements of the quality assurance system, the review team reviews the quality assurance manual and relevant documents and procedures provided by the applicant, as well as the facilities and equipment at the production site, and the review team puts forward review opinions, convenes a meeting of the production license approval committee or the review team, and makes a review conclusion. And appoint a supervisor inspector, approve the quality assurance manual and related documents and procedures, and issue production licenses and licensed production project lists to applicants. If the production license holder wants to change the content of the production license and the license production project list in order to increase or decrease the model or type of the product produced, he must apply to the airworthiness department in the prescribed format and manner.

Production licenses are not transferable. Production license holders may extend their production facilities to other locations, subject to approval by the Airworthiness Department.

The holder of the production license does not need to further prove to the airworthiness department to obtain an airworthiness certificate for civil helicopters. However, the airworthiness department has the right to check whether civilian helicopters comply with the approved model design and are safe and usable.

3． Civil helicopter airworthiness certification

The airworthiness certification is the last verification to ensure that civilian helicopters can be safely put into service after the type qualification verification and the production license approval. It is approved in accordance with the "Provisions on the Conformity Verification of Civil Aviation Products and Parts", namely CCAR-21 and the "Procedures for the Management and Issuance of Civil Aircraft Airworthiness Certificates and ConcessionAry Flight Certificates", that is, AP-21-05 and other regulatory documents. The result of the examination is that an airworthiness certificate is issued. Helicopters applying for an airworthiness certificate should first have nationality and registration marks.

The airworthiness certificate is divided into 3 categories, namely transportation, which is used for commercial passenger and cargo flights; professional categories, professional flights for general aviation (such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, industry, marine monitoring, environmental monitoring, scientific experiments, training, sports, excursions, etc.); primary category, that is, helicopters under 1225kg weight in agriculture, forestry, environmental monitoring, sports flights, etc. under the specified restrictions.

Airworthiness certificates are valid from the date of issuance or signature until the end of the following year. After the expiration of the validity period, after the annual inspection or after major repairs or major modifications, the airworthiness certificate shall be signed again. To this end, the applicant shall submit the application form and the necessary technical information to the Regional Airworthiness Office or the specially appointed Airworthiness Representative Group. After the airworthiness inspector conducts the same inspection as above, the major repair or major modification is still required to carry out a verifiable test flight, and after the regional airworthiness department or the person in charge of the specially appointed airworthiness representative group has verified that the helicopter meets the airworthiness requirements, it is signed again on the original airworthiness certificate.

The holder must use the helicopter in accordance with the scope of use and restrictions of use specified on the airworthiness certificate. If the helicopter has flown outside the prescribed scope of use, or has not carried out adequate maintenance and repairs in accordance with the approved maintenance plan, or if the repair and modification work violates the prescribed requirements and procedures, or other circumstances that adversely affect safety, the department that issues or signs the airworthiness certificate has the right to revoke or suspend the airworthiness certificate. In the event that the airworthiness certificate is revoked, lost or the scope of use of the airworthiness certificate is changed, the applicant may: submit the application form and explanatory documents, and after the airworthiness inspection is deemed qualified, the airworthiness certificate may be re-issued by the airworthiness company.

A concessionary flight permit is available for helicopters that do not yet have a valid airworthiness certificate. The concessionary flight certificate is divided into three categories, the first is used for research and development, verifiable flight, crew training, performance, market research, sports, etc.; the second type is used for repair, modification, maintenance or sealing of helicopter test flights or transfer flights, delivery or export of transfer flights, and helicopter evacuation from areas where danger occurs; the third type is used for helicopters developed before May 31, 1987 and officially identified by the state.

When applying for a chartered flight permit, the applicant submits an application to the airworthiness division or regional airworthiness office according to different categories, including the use of the restriction proposal, the manufacturer's manufacturing conformity certificate, and the applicant's ability to fly safely after inspection. After airworthiness inspection, various types of chartered flight certificates will be issued by the airworthiness division or the regional airworthiness department.

(2) Continuous airworthiness management of civil helicopters

The continuous airworthiness management of civil helicopters is essentially the control of the safety status and maintenance of helicopters in use, and he must comply with the relevant airworthiness management regulations. At present, there are the "Provisions on the Examination and Approval of Civil Aircraft Maintenance Permits", namely CCAR-145, the "Provisions on the Qualification Verification of Civil Aircraft Maintenance Personnel", that is, CCAR-65, and the "Regulations on the Administration of Airworthiness in the Operation of Civil Aircraft", that is, CCAR-117, etc. These regulations are applicable to the continuous airworthiness management of civil helicopters and are also the legal basis for them.

1． Departments and responsibilities for the management of helicopter continuity airworthiness

(1) Airworthiness management department

The main responsibility is to assess the airworthiness of the helicopter during use. In order to ensure the airworthiness of the helicopter, the department must manage the qualification of the maintenance unit of the helicopter, the qualification of the maintenance personnel and the technical status of the helicopter.

(2) Helicopter design and manufacturing department

The main responsibility is to collect and analyze the major faults and problems that occur in the use of the Yisheng machine in a timely manner, and to propose corrective measures. Technical notices are issued as necessary for the inspection, modification or repair of helicopters in order to guarantee a continuous airworthiness certificate.

(3) Helicopter use and maintenance department

The Helicopter Use and Maintenance Department, which has direct responsibility for maintaining the continued airworthiness of the helicopter, is the main department for operational safety. These departments must have complete maintenance facilities, equipment and equipment, qualified maintenance personnel and maintenance management personnel, complete and current effective helicopter maintenance work procedures.

2． Information management for helicopters' continuous airworthiness

The establishment of an airworthiness information network, continuous collection of information on the dynamic changes of helicopter airworthiness, and then reliability analysis and effective corrective measures for major problems can ensure the continuous airworthiness of helicopters.

At present, the structure of China's aircraft airworthiness information network is composed of three levels. The 'level information station is the center of the whole network, located in Beijing, undertaken by the airworthiness division; the second level information station is the intermediate link of the whole network, undertaken by the airworthiness departments of each region; the third level information station is the foundation of the whole network, undertaken by the aircraft use and maintenance units. The airworthiness information of the helicopter is also managed by the above three information stations.

3． Reliability-focused maintenance management

Reliability-centered maintenance management is based on the long-term and near-term maintenance quality objectives set in accordance with the management policy of the helicopter user, including policies such as quality and maintenance project management, and the work completed is regularly evaluated. In general, the main monitoring and management items of helicopter users and maintenance units are:

(1) In terms of flight reliability, there are interruption flight rates, air parking rates, unplanned replacement rates, and unplanned replacement rates of major accessories;

(2) The reliability of the plan is delayed, cancelled due to technical or maintenance reasons, that is, attendance reliability;

(3) The maintainability aspect is the fault reporting rate, overdue maintenance items, etc.;

(4) In terms of component supply capacity, the supply rate of consumables, the turnover rate of component supply, etc.;

(5) In terms of comfort, the reporting rate of flight incidents in the cabin, service facilities, and internal and external surface conditions are the same.

Reliability maintenance management is closely related to the Airworthiness Information Network. The helicopter airworthiness information network is the basis for the development of airworthiness information management, and the reliability maintenance management of the helicopter is through the continuous collection of the airworthiness dynamics of the helicopter, the reliability analysis, and the adoption of effective corrective measures for major problems with universality, so that the reliability of the maintenance management can be improved and improved to ensure the continuous airworthiness of the helicopter.

(3) Airworthiness management of import and export products of civil helicopters

Export products are divided into three categories, Class I is a helicopter and engine that has a type certificate, and the form of the airworthiness approval for the export of the whole aircraft is the export airworthiness certificate. Category II refers to the main components whose damage would endanger the safety of Class I, such as fuselage landing gear and materials, parts and components and airborne equipment that are specified in the technical standards issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. This takes the form of an export airworthiness approval. Except for class I and H, all are m class, which is in the form of an export airworthiness label or marker. The following mainly introduces Class I products. The manufacturer of its export products must hold a production license or an approved production inspection system. The exporter shall submit an application to the Civil Aviation Authority and submit a description of the special requirements of the airworthiness authority of the importing country and, in the case of non-compliance, a declaration of approval from the airworthiness authority of the importing country. For new helicopters and engines manufactured solely on the basis of the type certificate of conformity, or manufactured according to the production license, the inspection content and procedures of the export airworthiness certificate are the same as those of the national airworthiness certificate. For old helicopters and engines, including foreign-made ones, the original airworthiness certificate, the original nationality registration certificate must be submitted, the prescribed annual inspection must be carried out, and the prescribed annual inspection must be confirmed before the export airworthiness certificate can be issued. The validity period is not specified on the export airworthiness certificate. The exporter shall provide the airworthiness authority of the importing Country with all the information necessary for the proper functioning of the exported product.

Whether helicopters, engines or airborne equipment can be exported, in addition to holding an export airworthiness certificate, it is also necessary to consider the importing country. In the United States, for example, the FAA requires that you first obtain a design approval certificate issued by the United States. At present, China has signed a limited agreement on the production and manufacture of MD-82 aircraft in China only in 1987, and has not yet been extended to helicopters, so it is currently impossible for China's helicopters, engines or airborne equipment to enter the United States. As for Asia or the Middle East and Africa, many developing countries have not yet established airworthiness departments and regulations, and entering these regions is only a matter of trade competition.

Imported helicopters, engines and airborne equipment must be approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in accordance with ap-21-01 regulations. Only after passing the examination and approval will the model recognition certificate be issued and pass the airworthiness inspection of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The application shall be submitted to the Civil Aviation Administration by the foreign manufacturer intending to export to China, and shall be submitted at the same time as the airworthiness standards, special conditions and exemption clauses on which the airworthiness authority of the exporting country conducts the model conformity examination, the model certificate and data sheet and the compliance inspection item list, the production license or equivalent production approval document, the various approval memorandums or meeting records of the airworthiness authority of the exporting country, and the technical information specified in AP-21-01. When it is confirmed that the standards on which the product design is based are equivalent to China's airworthiness standards, the product design fully meets the specified standards or special conditions, and the various technical documents are complete and valid, the type approval certificate is issued.

After the issuance of the Lingyin Aircraft Introduction Type Recognition Certificate, for each new helicopter imported, the applicant must submit a total of 8 documents such as the current valid export airworthiness certificate issued by the airworthiness authority of the exporting country. For each imported used helicopter, it is also necessary to add a resume, maintenance plan, parts use and storage time limit, modification list, etc., after the Civil Aviation Administration of China inspects and passes, the airworthiness certificate can be issued.

For each imported used helicopter, the Civil Aviation Administration will also send someone to inspect the aircraft, and if necessary, the Civil Aviation Administration has the right to require the applicant to test flight the helicopter.

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