21st May, 1998

1. INTRODUCTION

After the advent of open sky policy, a number of aircraft have been imported into India for which maintenance facilities may not be available in the country. To tide over the problem and to provide competitive maintenance facilities to aircraft operators, foreign maintenance and repair agencies may be approved by DGCA upon receipt of specific requests from operators.

2. APPLICABILITY

Foreign firms engaged in major maintenance, major repair of aircraft and aircraft structure, overhaul repair of engines or landing gears are required to seek DGCA's approval to carry out these tasks for aircraft registered in India with MTOW of 5,700 kg and above.

However, manufacturers or their subsidiaries engaged in manufacture of aircraft, engines or items of equipment, are not required to seek DGCA's approval provided they have been approved by FAA or JAA.

Firms engaged in repair and overhaul of aircraft components, rotables or items of equipment are not required to seek DGCA's approval if such agencies are approved by FAA or JAA and the country's local airworthiness authorities and components serviced by such agencies are acceptable for installation on Indian registered aircraft.

3.1 Foreign firms are required to comply with the following requirements while seeking approval for carrying out major maintenance on aircraft with MROW above 5,700 kg and their engines:

(i) The application should be supported by a sp6cific request to DGCA from an Indian Operator seeking the services of foreign firm.

(ii) The Indian Operator should satisfy himself about the competency of the foreign agency to undertake the task. If required by DGCA, the operator may be asked to inspect the facility and submit a report in this regard to DGCA.

(iii) The foreign agency should apply for DGCA's approval on form CA-182 with the requisite fee (annex 1) specifying the category and the scope for which approval is sought.

(iv) The agency should have current approval of their local airworthiness authority. It is desirable that the Organisation is also approved by FAA, JAA and the manufacturer.

(v) The agency shall submit a copy of its Quality Control Manual, as approved by local regulatory authority, giving its detailed capability list, facilities available and organisational set up. The agency shall also submit a copy of QC Manual as approved b FAA and/or JAA.

(vi) The agency should be in possession of the latest Indian Aircraft Manual and the relevant CARS.

(vii) The agency should intimate of any adverse reports/warranty claim received from any operator regarding their standard of maintenance.

(viii) The agency should confirm that there exists a system of in-house audit and shall submit a copy of the in-house last audit report carried out during the current or previous year.

(ix) The agency should also submit a copy each of the last audit report carried out by local air-worthiness authority, FAA and/or JAA.

3.2 (i) Approval may be granted by DGCA after the Organisation is inspected by a DGCA representative and found satisfactory.

(ii) The cost incurred on inspection by DGCA shall be borne by the Operator of the Indian registered aircraft, who is desirous of seeking DGCA's approval of the foreign agency. The cost of inspection shall be deposited with DGCA in advance in the form of Bank Draft drawn in favour of Central Pay and Accounts Office, CAD, New Delhi.

(iii) After completion of the work by foreign firm on an Indian registered aircraft, engines and landing gears, details of work sheets should be made available to the Indian operator.

4. REQUIREMENTS FOR EXTENSION TO THE SCOPE OF APPROVAL

The agencies seeking extension to the scope of approval are required to fulfill all the requirements for fresh approval given above, including inspection of facilities. The application for extension should be made on form CA-182 along with the approved capability list and the appropriate FAA/JAA approvals, and the requisite fee.

5. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

5.1 Major maintenance on aircraft with MTOW upto 5,700 kg can be undertaken by foreign firms which have the approval of FAA/JAA. Before dispatch of aircraft to these agencies, operators are required to seek DGCA's approval.

5.2 The operators should satisfy themselves thoroughly with regard to the quality of workmanship of the foreign agency. It will be the operator's responsibility to ensure that all rotables/components and items of equipment are accepted only if they are accompanied by valid documents and tags, such as 8130 tag or JAR-145 release document. The operator shall ensure that such repair agencies are approved by local airworthiness authorities/FAA/JAA etc. and have their approvals current.

5.3 Agency shall be aware of Indian Certification Requirements, and should be in possession of the latest Indian Aircraft Manual and the relevant CARS.

5.4 Prematurely failed items, components sent to the agency for repair must be investigated and report thereof be sent to the DGCA.

5.5 While forwarding component to Indian Operators, a complete history of the items shall be given.

6. CERTIFICATION BY FAA APPROVED DER

Repair scheme developed and introduced by procedures approved by FAA are acceptable to DGCA. Certification of repair of components on behalf of the FAA by an appropriately authorised FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) shall be accepted subject to the following conditions:

6.1 The DER will be a regular employee of the agency which is approved by FAA as a designated repair station. Certifications by independent DER are not acceptable.

6.2 The operator should ensure prior to acceptance that the said DER repairs are duly approved under FAA form No. 8110-3. Recommendations for FAA approval are not considered acceptable.

6.3 The services of DER in the approved repair agency should have been utilised for other reputed airlines also.

6.4 The operator should ensure that the repaired components are accompanied by Form 8130-3 or an equivalent release note duly certified by DER.

6.5 DER certifications shall only be acceptable for repair of parts manufactured under FAA approval.

6.6 The detail of components repair scheme certified by DER should be available for scrutiny by the local DGCA office.

7. VALIDITY OF APPROVAL

The approval granted by DGCA shall be for a period upto 31st December of the each calendar year. The agencies are required to apply for renewal of the approval 60 days in advance, forwarding the details of:

(i) Work done during the year on aircraft/engines belonging to Indian operators.

(ii) JAA audit report.

(iii) Internal audit report.

(iv) Requisite renewal fee.

8. DGCA may suspend or withhold the approval granted to a foreign repair agency if it is satisfied that the work carried out by the agency is not of the satisfactory aviation standard or that perfunctory work or certification has been carried out.

9. This Airworthiness Advisory Circular supersedes any previous instructions on the subject.

APPENDIX 'A'
                           

FORM CA-182

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION
TECHNICAL CENTRE,OPPOSITE SAFDARJUNG AIRPORT
NEW DELHI

(Application for approval of firms/organisations)

1. Name and Address of the  : ____________________________
   Firm/organisation ____________________________________

2. Category(s) for which 
   Approval is required     : ___________________________________

3. Brief Details of the     : ___________________________________
   nature of work for which 
   approval is sought :       ___________________________________

                                         ___________________________________

                                         ___________________________________

4. Location of the firm/
   organisation             : ___________________________________

5. Number of employees 
   (inclusive of production 
   and inspection staff)    : ___________________________________

6. Name and qualifications    
   of Quality Control       : ___________________________________
   Manager/ Release Note 
   Signatory/Test Report     __________________________________ 
   Signatory/ Chief 
   Instructor                 _____________________________________

                                        ___________________________________
 
7. List of Inspection 
   equipment (including    : ___________________________________
   special equipment available)

8. Existing DGCA authority,: ________________________________
   if any

9. Whether a general layout : ________________________________
   of the firm/ organisation 
   is attached (write Yes or No)

10.Details of Fees remitted: _________________________________


Date : _______________                __________________________
                                                           (Signature of the applicant)

Note  :   Extra  sheets  may be attached  to  furnish  additional information, if any.

FEES FOR APPROVAL/RENEWAL OF REPAIR AGENCIES