Mackenzie Morgan – Aerospace Consultants

Importing an Aircraft into EASA

Following on from the last couple of weeks posting on Airworthiness Review Signatories and the Airworthiness Review Certificate, I thought the next logical topic is to look at importing an aircraft within EASA regulated locations; exporting to outside EASA (N-registration) regulated locations will be addressed next week. These actions will be applicable across all those countries who are full EASA signatories; aircraft can only be imported by approved organisations, not individuals.

This article is aimed at private aircraft, not employed on commercial air transport. They must be in an airworthy condition.

Aircraft come in a number of possible states:

• New straight from the manufacturer.
• Used from within an EASA regulated region.

or

• Used from outside an EASA regulated region.

New Aircraft

For new aircraft the process, providing the aircraft has an EASA Type Certificate is relatively straight forward:

• Submit an application to the National Aviation Authority (NAA), detailing all available information on the configuration, Type Certificate (TC) number and customer modifications;
• Arrange for an AMP to be produced, for UK based GA this can be LAMPS;
• Confirm that the Weight and Balance Report and Flight Manual reflect the aircraft; it may also include a Loading Schedule.
• Advise the NAA where the aircraft is, they may wish to inspect it, particularly if it is the first of type on a register.

The NAA will issue the Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) and a 12 month Airworthiness Review Certificate.

Used Aircraft in EASA

In addition to the simple steps above, you will need to review the existing AMP against the proposed AMP approved by the new state of registry; if necessary any additional items can be accomplished at a suitable maintenance opportunity before the change of registration, a bridging check. The new NAA will issue an amended ARC, reflecting the new registration; the validity remains the same.

Used Aircraft from Outside EASA

An aircraft coming into an EASA region, will undergo a complete airworthiness review, aimed at determining the airworthiness status of that aircraft. The review should take in to consideration the following issues:

• Has the aircraft got an EASA Type Certificate
• Has the aircraft got an export certificate?
• Is the aircraft and all life limited components history complete?
• Have there been any accidents or incidents?
• Are all AD/SB status reports up to date?
• Does the emergency equipment meet EASA requirements?
• Are all modifications and STCs EASA compliant?
• Have all required maintenance actions, including modifications to bring it to EASA compliance been completed?

In addition to providing evidence of the activities above, the recommendation to the NAA should also include:

Aircraft Information

• Aircraft assigned registration
• State of manufacturer
• Previous registration
• Export certificate number
• TC and TC data sheet numbers
• Noise and emissions TC and TC data sheet numbers
• Comparison of prior maintenance programme with the proposed new maintenance programme.

Documentation

• Copy of the application, and;
• Original export certificate, and;
• Copy of the approvals of the flight manual and its supplements, and;
• List of ADs incorporated up to the latest published issue, and;
• Proposed new maintenance programme, and;
• Status of all service life limited components, and;
• The valid weight and centre of gravity schedule reflecting the current configuration of the aircraft, and; Part-21 approval reference for all modifications and repairs.

Maintenance

• A copy of the work packages requested by the subpart G organisation including details of any bridging check to ensure all the necessary maintenance has been carried out.

Aircraft Check Flight

• A copy of the check flight report

Following a review and inspection of the aircraft the NAA will issue a Certificate of Airworthiness and an ARC.

This is only an indication of the process, there will be regional variations and needs, it will be necessary to seek the services of an approved organisation with the appropriate EASA Part M approvals to complete this work.

Enjoy and please contribute to the debate.