Opinion 12/2013

Control of suppliers

Opinion of the European Aviation Safety Agency amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 2042/2003, on the continuing airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products, parts and appliances, and on the approval of organisations and personnel involved in these tasks

This Opinion addresses a safety issue related to the risk associated to the acceptance of components from external suppliers.

In order to mitigate such a risk, this Opinion requires Part 145 organisations to establish procedures for the acceptance of components. Furthermore, the comments received during consultation of NPA 2012-03 and NPA 2013-01 (C) showed that there was a need to clarify the requirements for acceptance, installation and segregation of components, parts or material both in Part M and in Part 145.

The Agency acknowledges that discussions on the acceptability of components without an EASA Form 1 have been initiated in the frame of rulemaking task RMT.0018. As a result of these discussions further amendments to the requirements of M.A.501 and 145.A.42 may be proposed in a future Opinion.

The proposed changes are expected to increase safety and improve compliance.