EASA Part-66 Certifying Staff
In Europe, Aircraft Maintenance Certifying Personnel have to comply to part-66 Certifying Staff of the EASA.
Part 66 is based on the older JAR system and the required training level follows the ATA 104 system.
There are 3 levels of authorization:
Category A (Line Maintenance Mechanic):
Basic A category License
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Task Training (Level depends on Task Complexity)
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Company Certification Authorization for specific Tasks
("A category A aircraft maintenance licence permits the holder to issue certificates of release to service following minor scheduled line maintenance and simple defect rectification within the limits of tasks specifically endorsed on the authorisation. The certification privileges shall be restricted to work that the licence holder has personally performed in a Part-145 organisation"),
Category B1 (Mechanical) and/or B2(Avionics) (Line Maintenance Technician):
Basic B1/B2 category License
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Type Training (i.e. Line & Base Maintenance i.a.w. ATA 104 Level III)
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Company Certification Authorization
("A category B1 aircraft maintenance licence shall permit the holder to issue certificates of release to service following maintenance, including aircraft structure, powerplant and mechanical and electrical systems.
Replacement of avionic line replaceable units, requiring simple tests to prove their serviceability, shall also be included in the privileges.
Category B1 shall automatically include the appropriate A subcategory", "A category
B2 aircraft maintenance licence shall permit the holder to issue certificates of release to service following maintenance on avionic and electrical systems").
Category C (Base Maintenance Engineer):
Basic C category license
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Type Training (Line & Base Maintenance i.a.w. ATA 104 Level III for the first Type Rating and ATA 104 Level I training for subsequent Aircraft Types of similar technology, otherwise Level III training)
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Company Certification Authorization ("A category C aircraft maintenance licence shall permit the holder to issue certificates of release to service following base maintenance on aircraft. The privileges apply to the aircraft in its entirety in a Part-145 organisation").
Difference US and EU Systems
A significant difference between the US and the European systems is that in the *United States, aircraft maintenance technicians (Part 65 Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics) are permitted to work under their own certificates and approve their own work for return to service.
*European Part 66 certificate holders are required to perform their functions under the aegis of a Part 145 organization for Transport Category and Large (MTOM>5700 kg) Airplanes. The part 145 organization in the EASA system has the authority to approve for return to service.
*Many non-European countries have been moving toward the European approach, most notably Canada
EASA Part-145 Maintenance Organisation Approval
To obtain approval to be an aeronautical repair station, an organisation must write, submit and keep updated a 'Maintenance Organisation Exposition (MOE). To support their MOE they must have a documented set of procedures. Thirdly the organisation must have a compliance matrix to show how they meet the requirements of Part-145.
EASA Part-M Continuing Airworthiness
EASA Part-M consists of several subparts. The noteworthy subparts are F (Maintenance for aircraft below 5700kg in non commercial environment), G (Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization = CAMO, coordinating the compliance of aircraft with maintenance program, airworthiness directives and service bulletins) - the airworthiness code is available on the EASA website ([easa.europa.eu]) in the regulations section.
EASA Part-147 Training Organisation Requirements
To go with Part-66 on the issuing of licenses is the larger area of setting up and gaining approval for a training school for aircraft mechanics. Part-147 governs the larger situation of establishing such a training school
EASA Part-21 Subpart J Design Organisation
'design organisation' means an organisation responsible for the design of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, auxiliary power units, or related parts and appliances, and holding, or applying for, type-certificates, supplemental type-certificates, changes or repairs design approvals or ETSO Authorisations. A design organisation holds DOA, Design Organisation Approval. A DOA-List enlisting all companies holding DO Approval with their capabilities can be downloaded from the EASA web-site. Part 21 requirements for Design Organisation Approvals and Production Organisation Approvals, as described in Regulation (EC) 1702/2003 on 'Implementing Rules'
EASA Part-21 Subpart G Production Organisation
A company holding Production Organisation Approval (POA), has the approval to built and certify aircraft parts when a DOA POA agreement is in place. A part built for an aircraft can be certificated with an EASA Form One as approved for a particular aircraft type once is has been installed as prototype to an aircraft and has been certificated by a Design Organisation with a Minor Change Approval, a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) or a Type Certificate (TC).