|
1. |
What is certification? |
| |
When referring to aeronautical products, it means an endorsement, by the competent authority, that the product conforms to the applicable requirements established by this authority.When referring to companies, it means an acknowledgement, by the competent authority, that the company has the ability to carry out the proposed services and operations, according to the applicable requirements established by this authority.
|
 |
|
|
|
2. |
What is a certification organization? |
| |
It is the authority which has the competence for:
(1) when dealing with companies, certifying that the company has the capability for performing the services and operations that it intends to perform, according to the requirements established by the same authority; or
(2) when dealing with aeronautical products, certifying that it is in accordance with the requirements established by the same authority.
The ANAC, through the Airworthiness Superintendence (SAR) is responsible for the certification activities in Brasil related to design and production approvals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. |
What is an aeronautical product? |
| |
An aeronautical product means an aircraft, an engine or a propeller, as well as their components and parts. It also includes any instruments, mechanisms, parts, devices, accessories and communication equipment, provided they are used, or intended to be used, in an aircraft operation and control, and installed or attached to the aircraft. It includes, finally, the material and the processes used for manufacturing all the abovementioned items.
(ref: RBHA 01, section 01.43).
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. |
Which are the objectives of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulations(RBAC/RBHA)? |
| |
The objectives of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulations (RBAC/RBHA) are:
(a) to establish the minimum safety standards for the Brazilian civil aviation, based on the standards and recommendations mentioned on the Annexes 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 16, 17 e 18 to the Chicago Convention; and
(b) to establish the companies administrative and certification standards related to:
(1) projects, materiel, manpower, construction and performance of aircraft, engines, propellers and other aeronautical components; and
(2) inspections, maintenance in all levels, repairs and operation of aircraft, engines, propellers and other aeronautical components.
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. |
Why the airplanes need to be certified? |
| |
The Brazilian Aeronautical Act (Law No. 7565, of December 19, 1986) establishes that Brazil shall comply with the international treaties, including the Chicago Convention of 1944, which has created the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This convention, signed by more than 180 countries, establishes practices and recommendations via its Annexes, with the purpose of developing the global civil aviation, within economical principles, opportunities equality and flight safety standards, Therefore, to be in accordance with these standards, Brazil has adopted a Flight Safety System (the SEGVOO) in which the aeronautical products certification activity is one of its basic functions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
6. |
Who is the responsible for the Aeronautical Products Civil Certification in Brazil? |
| |
The Brazilian Airworthiness Superintendence (SAR), pertaining to the National Agency of Civil Aviation (ANAC), performs the activities related to the aeronautical products design and manufacturing, besides the surveillance of continued airworthiness maintenance of these products.
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. |
When a Type Certificate may be issued? |
| |
An applicant is entitled to a type certificate for an aircraft if he shows that no feature or characteristic of the aircraft makes it unsafe when it is operated under the limitations prescribed for its intended use, and that the aircraft:
(1) meets the airworthiness requirements of an aircraft category except those requirements that the ANAC finds inappropriate for the special purpose for which the aircraft is to be used; or
(2) is of a type that has been manufactured in accordance with the requirements of and accepted for use by, an Armed Force of Brazil and has been later modified for a special purpose.
(ref. RBAC 21 Subpart B)
|
|
|
|
|
|
8. |
How are changes to the type design approved? |
| |
Minor changes may be approved by a ANAC approved method, without the previous submission of any substantiating data. In case of major changes to the type design, the applicant must submit to the ANAC substantiation and description data. The definitions of minor and major modifications can be found in RBAC 01.
|
|
|
|
|
|
9. |
What is an Attestation of Approved Aeronautical Product (APAA)? |
| |
The Attestation of Approved Aeronautical Product is a document that approves the production of replacement and modification parts for approved products.
(ref: RBHA 21, section 21.303.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
10. |
What is an In-Service Difficulty? |
| |
In-Service Difficulty is a system that collects and processes all aircraft accident and incident information and seeks to assure that any failure, malfunction, or defect in any aeronautical product shall be reported and properly addressed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
11. |
What is an Airworthiness Directive (AD)? |
| |
According to RBAC 39 Airworthiness Directive is a document issued or adopted by ANAC that contains operational safety actions to be performed on an aeronautical product in order to restore the acceptable level of operational safety, when evidence shows that this level acceptable may be compromised.
|
|
|
|
|
|
12. |
What means Major Repair? |
| |
Major repair means a repair:
(1) that if performed not adequately might appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, flight and maneuvering characteristics, or any other characteristics affecting airworthiness; or
(2) that is not done according to accepted practices or cannot be done by elementary operations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
13. |
What is approval for manufacturing under "Ordem Técnica Padrão" (Technical Standard Order) ? |
| |
When a person or a manufacturer produces an aeronautical product under "Ordem Técnica Padrão" in compliance with minimum standards, these requirements must be submitted to the ANAC for approval.
|
|
|
|
|
|
14. |
What is the Accreditation of Persons according to RBAC 183 ?
|
| |
The accreditation of persons is based on paragraph 1º, Article 8, of Law 11.182 of September 2005, which allows ANAC "accredit, as provided by specific rule, individuals or entities, public or private, with recognized expertise, in accordance with internationally accepted standards in civil aviation, for expedition of evaluations, opinions or reports that demonstrate compliance with the requirements for issuing certificates or attestations relating to the activities of ANAC´s competence. "
When accrediting a person, the authority recognizes two main aspects:
(1) the recognized expertise of the candidate, i.e, knowledge and experience of this person;
(2) the relationship of trust and credibility between that person and the ANAC.
This recognition allows greater flexibility in performing certain tasks during the process, which contributes to the efficiency of public service. This is because evaluations, opinions or reports issued by accredited possess a certain level of credit, which allows lower ANAC's involvement in the aspects evaluated by them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
15. |
Do the products used in the aircraft manufacturing, in its operation, or in its maintenance (raw material, paints, greases, lubricants, degreasing agents, products and materials used to clean aircraft internal and external parts, products used as fuel additives, ground support equipments, etc.), require to be certificated by the ANAC? |
| |
No. All products manufactured according to the internationally accepted standards (MIL, SAE, ABNT, DIN, etc.), to be used in aircraft, do not need to be certificated by the ANAC. These products are usually approved by their users through specific tests developed by themselves and, if necessary, may be approved by a recognized institution, public or private, in accordance with a applicable particular standard.
There are no specific requirements in the Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulations (RBAC) applicable to the certification of such products.
About ground support equipments, the Informative Circular (CI) No. 20-002 - “Ground Support Equipments”, issued by the Brazilian Aeronautical Products Certification Branch (SAR) treats specifically about this subject.
|
|
|
|
|
|
16. |
Do the products used in aircraft interiors (leather, textiles, foams, floor covering, plastics, etc.) require to be certificated by the ANAC? |
| |
Yes. The certification of these products must be carried out through inflammability specific tests, described on Annex F of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulations, RBAC 23 or 25, as applicable. The materials are tested isolated or together, being this last case when different types of material are used together. For instance, the material that consist a passenger seat (leather, foam, fabric, glue), besides to be individually tested, they must be tested again after assembled.
The Information Circular (CI) 21-019 – "Replacement of Fabric, Foams and Carpets in Aircraft Interiors", issued by the Brazilian Airworthiness Superintendence (SAR) brings this subject in details and establishes an acceptable method of approval of the material, isolated or together, which will be used as spare in aircraft interiors.
|
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
