Commission Regulation (EU) No 748/2012Show full title

Commission Regulation (EU) No 748/2012

of 3 August 2012

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

(recast)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency, and repealing Council Directive 91/670/EEC, Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 and Directive 2004/36/EC(1), and in particular Articles 5(5) and 6(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) 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(2) has been substantially amended several times(3). Since further amendments are to be made, it should be recast in the interests of clarity.

(2) Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 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.

(3) It is necessary to lay down common technical requirements and administrative procedures to ensure the airworthiness and environmental compatibility of aeronautical products, parts and appliances, subject to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008. 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 lay down measures to specify conditions to issue, maintain, amend, suspend or revoke certificates attesting such compliance.

(5) In laying down 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) It is necessary to recognise the continuing validity of certificates issued before the entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 1702/2003, in accordance with Article 69 of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008.

(8) In order to maintain a high uniform level of aviation safety in Europe, it is necessary to introduce changes to requirements and procedures for the certification of aircraft and related products, parts and appliances and of design and production organisations, in particular to elaborate the rules related to the demonstration of compliance with the type-certification basis and environmental protection requirements and to introduce the possibility to choose to comply with later standards for changes to type-certificates.

(9) The concept and complexity of auxiliary power units (APU) resembles that of aircraft engines and in some cases APU designs are even derived from engine designs. Changes to provisions for repairs to APU are therefore needed to restore consistency with repairs process to engines.

(10) In order to subject non-complex motor-powered aircraft, recreational aircraft and related products, parts and appliances to measures that are proportionate to their simple design and type of operation, while maintaining a high uniform level of aviation safety in Europe, it is necessary to introduce changes to requirements and procedures for the certification of those aircraft and related products, parts and appliances and of design and production organisations and in particular, for the owners of European Light Aircraft below 2 000 kg (ELA2) or below 1 200 kg (ELA1), to introduce the possibility to accept certain not safety critical parts for installation without an EASA Form 1.

(11) The Agency prepared draft implementing rules and submitted them as opinions No 01/2009 on ‘Possibility to deviate from airworthiness code in case of design changes’, No 02/2009 on ‘Repair and design changes to European Technical Standard Order’, No 01/2010 on ‘SubPart J DOA’ and Opinion No 01/2011 on ‘ELA Process and “standard changes and repairs”’ to the Commission in accordance with Article 19(1) of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008.

(12) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the European Aviation Safety Agency Committee established by Article 65(1) of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

(1)

OJ L 79, 19.3.2008, p. 1.

(2)

OJ L 243, 27.9.2003, p. 6.

(3)

See Annex II.