Document ID: 32003R1702

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1702/2003
of 24 September 2003
laying down implementing rules for the airworthiness and environmental certification of aircraft and related products, parts and appliances, as well as for the certification of design and production organisations
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2002 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency(1) (hereinafter referred to as "the basic Regulation"), as adapted by Regulation (EC) No 1701/2003(2), and in particular Articles 5 and 6 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The basic Regulation establishes common essential requirements to provide for a high uniform level of civil aviation safety and environmental protection; it requires the Commission to adopt the necessary implementing rules to ensure their uniform application; it establishes the "European Aviation Safety Agency" (hereinafter referred to as the "Agency") to assist the Commission in the development of such implementing rules.
(2) Existing aviation requirements in the field of airworthiness as listed in Annex II to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91(3), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2871/2000(4), will be repealed as from 28 September 2003.
(3) It is necessary to adopt common technical requirements and administrative procedures to ensure the airworthiness and environmental compatibility of aeronautical products, parts and appliances, subject to the basic Regulation; such requirements and procedures should specify the conditions to issue, maintain, amend, suspend or revoke the appropriate certificates.
(4) Organisations involved in the design and production of products, parts and appliances should be required to comply with certain technical requirements in order to demonstrate their capability and means to discharge their obligations and associated privileges; the Commission is required to adopt measures to specify conditions to issue, maintain, amend, suspend or revoke certificates attesting such compliance.
(5) In adopting measures for the implementation of common essential requirements in the field of airworthiness, the Commission must take care that they reflect the state of the art and the best practices, take into account worldwide aircraft experience and scientific and technical progress and allow for immediate reaction to established causes of accidents and serious incidents.
(6) The need to ensure uniformity in the application of common airworthiness and environmental requirements for aeronautical products, parts and appliances requires that common procedures be followed by the competent authorities of the Member States and, where applicable, the Agency to assess compliance with these requirements; the Agency should develop certification specifications and guidance material to facilitate the necessary regulatory uniformity.
(7) For this purpose, it is necessary to permit a smooth transition to the new regulatory framework of the Agency ensuring that a high and uniform level of civil aviation safety in the Community is maintained; it is necessary to provide sufficient time for the aeronautical industry and Member State administrations to adapt to this new framework and to recognise the continuing validity of certificates issued before the entry into force of this Regulation, in accordance with Article 57 of the basic Regulation.
(8) The measures provided by this Regulation are based on the opinion issued by the Agency(5) in accordance with Articles 12(2)(b) and 14(1) of the basic Regulation.
(9) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the European Aviation Safety Agency Committee established by Article 54(3) of the basic Regulation,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Scope and definitions
1. This Regulation lays down, in accordance with Article 5(4) and 6(3) of the basic Regulation, common technical requirements and administrative procedures for the airworthiness and environmental certification of products, parts and appliances specifying:
(a) the issue of type-certificates, restricted type-certificates, supplemental type-certificates and changes to those certificates;
(b) the issue of certificates of airworthiness, restricted certificates of airworthiness, permits to fly and authorised release certificates;
(c) the issue of repair design approvals;
(d) the showing of compliance with environmental protection requirements;
(e) the issue of noise certificates;
(f) the identification of products, parts and appliances;
(g) the certification of certain parts and appliances;
(h) the certification of design and production organisations;
(i) the issue of airworthiness directives.
2. For the purpose of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "JAA" means the "Joint Aviation Authorities".
(b) "JAR" means "Joint Aviation Requirements".
(c) "Part 21" means the requirements and procedures for the certification of aircraft and related products, parts and appliances, and of design and production organisations annexed to this Regulation.
(d) "Part M" means the applicable continuing airworthiness requirements adopted in pursuance to the basic Regulation.
Article 2
Products, parts and appliances certification
1. Products, parts and appliances shall be issued certificates as specified in Part 21.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, aircraft, including any installed product, part and appliance, which are not registered in a Member State shall be exempted from the provisions of Subparts H and I of Part 21.
3. With regard to a product that has a type-certificate issued before 28 September 2003 by a Member State, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) Such a product shall be deemed to have a type-certificate issued in accordance with this Regulation when:
(i) its type-certification basis is:
- the JAA type-certification basis, for products that have been certificated under JAA procedures, as defined in their JAA data sheet; or
- for other products, the type-certification basis as defined in the type-certificate data sheet of the State of design, if that State of design is:
- a Member State, unless the Agency determines, taking into account, in particular, airworthiness codes used and service experience, that such type-certification basis does not provide for a level of safety equivalent to that required by the basic Regulation and this Regulation; or
- a State with which a Member State has concluded a bilateral airworthiness agreement or similar arrangement under which such products have been certificated on the basis of that State of design airworthiness codes, unless the Agency determines that such airworthiness codes or service experience or the safety system of that State of design do not provide for a level of safety equivalent to that required by the basic Regulation and this Regulation;
- The Agency shall make a first evaluation of the implication of these two above provisions in view of producing an opinion to the Commission including possible amendments to the present Regulation.
(ii) the environmental protection requirements are those laid down in Annex 16 to the Chicago Convention, as applicable to the product;
(iii) the applicable airworthiness directives are those of the State of design.
(b) The design of an individual aircraft, which is on the register of a Member State before 28 September 2003, shall be deemed to have been approved in accordance with this Regulation when:
(i) its basic type design is part of a type-certificate referred to in paragraph (a);
(ii) all changes to this basic type design, which are not under the responsibility of the type-certificate holder, have been approved; and
(iii) the airworthiness directives issued or adopted by the Member State of registry before 28 September 2003 are complied with, including any variations to the airworthiness directives of the State of design agreed by the Member State of registry.
(c) The Agency shall determine the type-certificate of the products not meeting paragraph (a) before 28 March 2007.
(d) The Agency shall determine the type-certificate data sheet for noise for all products covered by paragraph (a) before 28 March 2007. Until such determination, Member States may continue to issue noise certificates in accordance with applicable national regulations.
4. With regard to products for which a type-certification process is proceeding through the JAA or a Member State on 28 September 2003:
(a) if a product is under certification by several Member States, the most advanced project shall be used as the reference;
(b) 21A.15(a), (b) and (c) of Part 21 shall not apply;
(c) by way of derogation from 21A.17(a) of Part 21, the type-certification basis shall be that established by the JAA or, where applicable, the Member State at the date of application for the approval;
(d) compliance findings made under JAA or Member State procedures shall be deemed to have been made by the Agency for the purpose of complying with 21A.20(a) and (b) of Part 21;
5. With regard to products that have a national type-certificate, or equivalent, and for which the approval process of a change carried out by a Member State is not finalised at the time when the type-certificate is determined in accordance with this Regulation:
(a) if an approval process is being carried out by several Member States, the most advanced project shall be used as the reference;
(b) 21A.93 of Part 21 shall not apply;
(c) the applicable type-certification basis shall be that established by the JAA or, where applicable, the Member State at the date of application for the approval of change;
(d) compliance findings made under JAA or Member State procedures shall be deemed to have been made by the Agency for the purpose of complying with 21A.103(a)(2) and (b) of Part 21.
6. With regard to supplemental type-certificates for which a certification process is being carried out by a Member State on 28 September 2003 under applicable JAA supplemental type-certificate procedures; and with regard to major changes to products, proposed by persons other than the type-certificate holder of the product, for which a certification process is being carried out by a Member State on 28 September 2003 under applicable national procedures:
(a) if a certification process is being carried out by several Member States, the most advanced project shall be used as the reference;
(b) 21A.113 (a) and (b) of Part 21 shall not apply;
(c) the applicable certification basis shall be that established by the JAA or, where applicable, the Member State at the date of application for the supplemental type-certificate or the major change approval;
(d) the compliance findings made under JAA or Member State procedures shall be deemed to have been made by the Agency for the purpose of complying with 21A.115(a) of Part 21.
7. With regard to products that have a national type-certificate, or equivalent, and for which the approval process of a major repair design carried out by a Member State is not finalised at the time when the type-certificate is determined in accordance with this Regulation, compliance findings made under JAA or Member State procedures shall be deemed to have been made by the Agency for the purpose of complying with 21A.433(a) of Part 21.
8. With regard to parts and appliances for which an approval or authorisation process is being carried out by a Member State on 28 September 2003:
(a) if an authorisation process is being carried out by several Member States, the most advanced project shall be used as the reference;
(b) 21A.603 of Part 21 shall not apply;
(c) the applicable data requirements under 21A.605 of Part 21 shall be those established by the relevant Member State, at the date of application for the approval or authorisation;
(d) compliance findings made by the relevant Member State shall be deemed to have been made by the Agency for the purpose of complying with 21A.606(b) of Part 21.
9. A certificate of airworthiness issued by a Member State attesting conformity with a type-certificate determined in accordance with paragraph 3 shall be deemed to comply with this Regulation.
10. Pending Agency determination under point (c) of paragraph 3, aircraft types which are permitted to fly by a Member State before 28 September 2003 and which cannot be issued a type-certificate in accordance with paragraph 3 shall remain under the responsibility of the Member State of registry under applicable national regulations.
11. Until 28 March 2007, Member States shall make the findings that the aircraft and appropriate associated restrictions compensating for departure from the essential requirements permit the aircraft to perform safely a basic flight. In such case, permits to fly shall contain a limitation for use in the airspace of the Member State whose competent authority is issuing the permit. Flights outside of this airspace shall entail validation of the permit by the competent authorities of the States concerned.
Until 28 March 2007, an aircraft which was permitted by a Member State to fly before 28 September 2003 without an airworthiness certificate may remain under the responsibility of the Member State under applicable national regulations. Such aircraft shall fly only within the airspace of the relevant Member State. Flights outside of this airspace shall require the permission of the competent authority of the State concerned.
12. Where reference is made in Part 21 to apply and/or to comply with the provisions of Part M and Part M is not in force, the relevant national rules shall apply instead.
13. Approvals of parts and appliances issued by a Member State and valid on 28 September 2003 shall be deemed to have been issued in accordance with this Regulation.
14. With regard to supplemental type-certificates issued by a Member State under JAA procedures or applicable national procedures and with regard to changes to products proposed by persons other than the type-certificate holder of the product, approved by a Member State under applicable national procedures, where the supplemental type-certificate, or change, is valid on 28 September 2003, the supplemental type-certificate, or change, shall be deemed to have been issued under this Regulation.
Article 3
Design organisations
1. An organisation responsible for the design of products, parts and appliances or for changes or repairs thereto shall demonstrate its capability in accordance with Part 21.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, an organisation whose principal place of business is in a non-member State may demonstrate its capability by holding a certificate issued by that State for the product, part and appliance for which it applies, provided:
(a) that State is the State of design; and
(b) the Agency has determined that the system of that State includes the same independent level of checking of compliance as provided by this Regulation, either through an equivalent system of approvals of organisations or through direct involvement of the competent authority of that State.
3. Design organisation approvals issued or recognised by a Member State in accordance with the JAA requirements and procedures and valid before 28 September 2003 shall be deemed to comply with this Regulation. In such case, the period for closure of level two findings, referred to in Subpart J of Part 21, shall not exceed one year when those findings are associated with differences with previous applicable JAR.
4. A type-certificate holder who does not hold on 28 September 2003 an appropriate design organisation approval issued under applicable JAA procedures shall demonstrate its capability under the conditions laid down in 21A.14 of Part 21 before 28 September 2005.
5. An organisation, being the applicant for a supplemental type-certificate, a major repair design approval or an Auxiliary Power Unit design approval which does not hold on 28 September 2003 an appropriate design organisation approval issued by a Member State under applicable JAA procedures shall demonstrate its capability before 28 September 2005 in accordance with Part 21, 21A.112, 21A.432B, or in the case of an Auxiliary Power Unit, 21A.602B.
6. With regard to organisations for which a design organisation approval is proceeding through a Member State on 28 September 2003 under applicable JAA procedures:
1. 21A.234 of Part 21 shall not apply;
2. compliance findings made under JAA procedures shall be deemed to have been made by the Agency for the purpose of complying with 21A.245 of Part 21.
Article 4
Production organisations
1. An organisation responsible for the manufacture of products, parts and appliances shall demonstrate its capability in accordance with the provisions of Part 21.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, a manufacturer whose principal place of business is in a non-member State may demonstrate its capability by holding a certificate issued by that State for the product, part and appliance for which it applies, provided:
(a) that State is the State of manufacture; and
(b) the Agency has determined that the system of that State includes the same independent level of checking of compliance as provided by this Regulation, either through an equivalent system of approvals of organisations or through direct involvement of the competent authority of that State.
3. Production organisation approvals issued or recognised by a Member State in accordance with the JAA requirements and procedures and valid before 28 September 2003 shall be deemed to comply with this Regulation. In such case, the period for closure of level two findings, referred to in Subpart G of Part 21, shall not exceed one year when those findings are associated with differences with previous applicable JAR.
4. An organisation shall demonstrate its capability under this Regulation before 28 September 2005.
5. Until an organisation has demonstrated its capability under Subparts F and G of Part 21, statements of conformity and authorised release certificates issued by that organisation under applicable national regulations shall be deemed to have been issued under this Regulation.
6. With regard to organisations for which a production organisation approval is proceeding through a Member State on 28 September 2003 under applicable JAA procedures:
(a) 21A.134 of Part 21 shall not apply;
(b) compliance findings made under JAA procedures shall be deemed to have been made by the Agency for the purpose of complying with 21A.145 of Part 21.
Article 5
Entry into force
1. This Regulation shall enter into force on 28 September 2003, except for 21A.804(a)(3) of Part 21 which shall enter into force on 28 March 2004 and Subparts H of Part 21 which shall enter into force on 28 September 2004.
2. By way of derogation from 21A.159 of Part 21, Member States may issue approvals of a limited duration until 28 September 2005.
3. By way of derogation from 21A.181 of Part 21, Member States may issue certificates of a limited duration until 28 September 2008.
4. When a Member State makes use of the provisions of paragraphs 2 or 3 it shall notify the Commission and the Agency.
5. The Agency shall make, in due time, an evaluation of the implication of the provisions of this Regulation on the duration of the validity of approvals in view of producing an opinion to the Commission including possible amendments to it.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 24 September 2003.

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