Certification directorate

On 28 September 2003, the Agency took over responsibility for the airworthiness and environmental certification of all aeronautical products, parts, and appliances designed, manufactured, maintained or used by persons under the regulatory oversight of EU Member States.

The Agency's Certification work also includes all post-certification activities, such as the approval of changes to, and repairs of, aeronautical products and their components, as well as the issuing of airworthiness directives to correct any potentially unsafe situation. All type-certificates are therefore now issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency and are valid throughout the European Union.

On the same date the Agency became the competent authority to approve and oversee the organisations involved in the design of aeronautical products, parts and appliances. It also carries out the same role for foreign organisations involved in the manufacture or maintenance of such products.

To execute its tasks within the present period of building up its resources, the Agency relies on national aviation authorities who have historically filled this role and concludes contractual arrangements to this effect.

CERTIFICATION DIRECTOR

Dr. Norbert Lohl, Certification Director

certification

ROLE

The Certification Directorate concentrates all certification tasks, consisting of:

Type certification and continued airworthiness of products, parts and appliances,
Environmental approval of products,
Design organisations and, as appropriate, production organisations approval,
Foreign organisations approval.

PROCEDURES

The Agency's Certification activities are dictated by procedures agreed by the Management Board at its meetings in 2003 and 2004.

EASA MB Decision no. 3/2004 - Decision on Certification Procedure for Organisations

EASA MB Decision no. 7/2004 - Decision on Certification Procedure for Products

EASA MB Decision no. 13/2003- Guidelines on Outsourcing (repealed - replaced by Decision 04/2005)