Aircraft Constituent Items Explanation - R1.0

Aircraft Constituent Items- Awareness Material
Engineering Policy & Development
Aircraft Constituent Items

Awareness Material
Prepared by
Pascal TESTAS - ESDI
Valerie BERGER - EZC
Aircraft constituent Items

Background
Status before work performed

- Different sites/local “understanding” of the components constituting an Aircraft,
- Different “wording” used for Aircarft Constituent Items,
- Different “understanding” of the Process / Roles and Responsibilities for each Aircraft Constituent Items,
- And with some lacks/gaps into various Process & Methods,
 Generating lot of “issues/troubles” in Engineering Process / Manufacturing Process /
Qualification Process and Procurement Process.
 Generating extra tasks and lot of rework into all these Processes (= extra costs)
Objective = Clarify the Aircraft Constituents Items

It is of a prime importance to use Terms/Expressions with a common meaning across Airbus members,
associated partners, subcontractors and suppliers.
This document defines all the existing Constituent Items for an Airbus Aircraft.
This document shall provide a guideline to all Airbus Design teams allowing them to decide the
constituent item to be created for each Aircraft component, using a key decision tree associated to key
criteria's.
Page 2
© AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document.

Aircraft Constituent Items
An Aircraft is composed by several constituent items. The following "families" of items,
described in the next sub-chapters, are considered in the Airbus Definition Dossier:
 Constituent Assemblies
• Constituent Assemblies for Series
• Configured Spare Component or spare CA
• CA for Specific Tests
 Assemblies
 Elementary Parts
 Specified Items
 Equipments
 Standard Parts
Identification and Marking of Aircraft Constituent Items is based on requirements as
defined in the A1056.
Intermediate Aircraft Constituent Items

An Intermediate Aircraft Constituent Item is an item which undergoes further
mechanical or machining operations before installing on the aircraft.
Standard Materials and Blanks are identified as Intermediate Aircraft Constituent Items.
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Page 4

At early stage of Aircraft development, for each component, Design Teams shall take a
key decision regarding the type of component to be created/used.
Aircraft Item
KEY DECISION
Airbus-Designed Airbus-Specified
Component Component
KEY DECISION
CA Specified Item Standard Standard

Blank Assembly Equipment
Assembly Elementary Part
Part Material
Elementary Part
In the majority of cases, the decision shall be relatively easy to take, following the Aircraft constituent Items
definitions (see next slides).
In some particular cases, Design Teams may have difficulties to decide. This choice shall be based on key
decisions path, following key criteria's, depending of Design, Qualification, Manufacturing, Procurement
and Customer-Services Processes to be implemented for the component concerned.
Page 5

The following table can be used in order to help Design teams to choose the appropriate
component type:
See full list of « Key Questions » / « Answers » into ABD0000

Page 6
What is a “Constituent Assembly-CA” ?

Definition
 A Constituent Assembly (CA) is a configured physical deliverable, produced for a specific aircraft (for a
specific MSN).
• The complete and tested aircraft is the top level CA. It is broken down into several levels of CAs, reflecting the
various assembly processes based on the physical and industrial breakdown.
• Each assembly process owner is responsible for the establishment and follow-up of its CA configuration up to aircraft
delivery to the customer.
• When an item is listed in Illustrated Part Catalogue and is also equivalent to a Constituent Assembly (CA) in
production, it is called a "Spareable/Rotable CA".
• Configured Spare Component (CSC): When the product structure principles of a Constituent Assembly uses the
"invariant concept", its effective MP-MOD stack have no effect on its part number at CA level and cannot allow to
identify the spareable/rotable part number as presented above. So, Airbus introduced the Configured Spare
Component as a particular item to allow the identification of configuration of the spare item when applying this
invariant concept (thanks to a CSC number reflecting definition of the spare item).
Example of Constituent Assemblies:

Aircraft (top level CA), pylon, center fuselage, electrical bay…
Page 7
What is an “Assembly” ?
Definition
 An Assembly is a number of parts, subassemblies or any combination thereof joined together to perform
a specific function and which can be disassembled without destruction of designed use except welded or
bonded parts.
• Contrary to a CA, an Assembly is not designed and manufactured for a specific aircraft.
Example of Assemblies:
The Assembly of a shaft + bearing + spacers + bell crank + ... from a kinematic mechanism, a subassembly
of several sheet metal elementary parts, etc.
Note that particular "small" Assemblies, constituted of a single Elementary Part with one or several
Standard Part fixed together, are called Equipped Parts.
Page 8
What is an “Elementary Part” ?

Definition
 An Elementary Part is one piece or two or more pieces joined together which are not subject to
disassembly without destruction of designed use.
• The Elementary Part is "made from" a Standard Material. In some cases the Elementary Part can be "made from" a
Blank.
Example of Elementary Parts:

Stringers, sheet metal supports, frames, elementary tubes, ducts…
Page 9
What is a “Specified Item” ?

Definition
 A Specified Item is an item that cannot be standardized and for which a Specification is issued by Airbus
and addressed to one or several potential external Supplier(s) possessing the know-how in terms of
technologies and techniques to be manufactured.
• When selected, Supplier(s) will perform the detailed definition, design and complete development (manufacturing,
testing…) reporting to Airbus in the frame of a specific Qualification Process to be satisfied for the "couple"
Supplier/Item.
• Their activities are based on the Airbus Specification Design Data Set (including associated technical requirements).
• The component will be then delivered by the Supplier(s) to Airbus for installation in the Aircraft.
Example of Specified Items:

Rods, bearings, cables, rubber, seals, foam…
Remark: Note that, in some particular cases, the component is an existing element, taken from a Supplier
catalogue (which can go through the regular acquisition process from Procurement) which means a
design possibility more easy to qualify or where only an adapted design is needed.
Page 10
What is an “Equipment” ?
Definition
 An Equipment is an item which is part of an Aircraft system or a customized module, and which includes,
depending on its Spare Part Class Code (SPC), breakdown parts, sub-components and parts with
hardware devices and possibly software elements.
• An Equipment ensures specific function(s) within a System/Sub-System Architecture or within a customized module. A
Specification is issued by Airbus or a system supplier and addressed to one or several potential external Supplier(s)
possessing the know-how in terms of technologies and techniques to be implemented. The specification can require
integrating specific Equipment from other suppliers.
• When selected, Supplier(s) will perform the detailed definition, design and complete development (manufacturing,
testing…). The supplier is reporting to Airbus in the frame of the Equipment Development and Qualification Process.
• The item will be then delivered by the Supplier(s) to Airbus for installation in the Aircraft.
Examples of Equipment:
Hydraulic pumps, valves, servo-controls, processors, computers, lavatories, seats, galleys…
Remarks:
- A Customized Module is a set of parts and/or subassemblies and/or Equipment joined together to provide the necessary functions for
one or more specific operations (e.g. lavatory, overhead storage compartment, …). A Module can comprise one or more Sub-Modules.
- An Equipment Assembly is a set of Equipment that are assembled together by a supplier and delivered to Airbus, as a single unit, with a
traceability report.
- Software are considered and managed in conjunction with the electronic equipment that hosts it.
- In some particular cases, generally for "small" and "non-complex" item, it can happen that a Standard Part is fully satisfying the
requirements for the function required into a System/ Sub-System Architecture. In this case, the Standard will be referenced into
Equipment Definition Dossier in place of an Equipment Supplier P/N.
Page 11
What is an “Standard Part” ?

Definition
 A Standard Part is an item manufactured in conformance with an international or company (Airbus)
Standard established, published and maintained by consensus and approved by a recognized body that
provides, for common and repeated use, rules and characteristics.
• Due to their repetitive production or use, Standard Parts are defined in a public Standard or company (Airbus)
Standard (e.g. ABS, NSA, NAS, ...).
• A Standard Part quantity is always defined as a number or weight.
Examples of Standard Parts:

Screw, bolt, wire, nuts…
Page 12
What is an “Standard Material” ?

Definition
 Standard Materials encompass:
• substances, an raw materials,
• semi-finished product (standard manufactured material).
 They are classified as follows: metallic, non-metallic, composites and consumable (oil, fuel...).
 A Standard Material is an item manufactured in conformance with an international or company (Airbus)
Standard established, published and maintained by consensus and approved by a recognized body that
provides, for common and repeated use, rules and characteristics.
• Due to their repetitive production or use, Standard Material are defined in a public Standard or company (Airbus)
Standard (e.g. AIMS, ASNA, DAN, ...).
• A Standard Material quantity is always defined as a volume, surface, length or weight.
• Examples of Standard Material:
• Raw materials: oil, paints, composite fibre, …
• Semi-finished material: Metallic sheet, round bar, …
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What is a “Blank” ?
Definition
• A Blank is a part which has been produced by a selected approved Supplier applying a special
manufacturing technology (e.g. casting, molding, forging & die-forging, etc…), based on an Airbus
Specification, and which will generally undergo further mechanical or machining operations before
installing on the Aircraft (exceptions are e.g. "precise to form forgings").
• The materials used for Blanks elaboration is generally Metallic, but can also be Thermoplastic,
Thermoset, etc...
• The Blank Part is linked to the Final Part (Elementary Part submitted to mechanical or machining
operations) within the Definition Dossier.
Remark: Note that a Blank is not a “Rough Part” or a “Pre-Machined Part” which is in fact a representation
of an intermediate manufacturing stage, created by Structure or System Installation Designer and
embedded in the Definition Dossier of an Elementary Part.
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Top Level Processes
Any Aircraft Constituent Item which is defined/designed or specified and used in the
Manufacture, Servicing, Maintenance, ... of Airbus has to be in line with the following top
level process:
 Constituent Assembly are affected to an MSN and have a Constituent Assembly inspection report,
that records the "as built" configuration status compared to the "as-specified" (list of modifications applied
on this CA). They are composed of Assemblies, Elementary Parts, Specified Items, Equipment and/or
Standard Parts.
 Assemblies and Elementary Parts shall be:
- designed (can be designed by a Subcontractor),
- manufactured (can be manufactured by a Subcontractor),
- when manufactured by a Subcontractor, it is also purchased from the Subcontractor.
 Specified Items, Blanks and Equipments shall be:
- specified,
- defined, designed, developed and qualified ("couple" item/Supplier),
- purchased from a qualified Supplier.
 Standard Parts & Standard Materials shall be:
- defined in International or Airbus Company Standard,
- defined, designed, developed and qualified ("couple" item/Manufacturer Site),
- purchased from a qualified Supplier (several sources of Supply can be offered).
Remarks:
- As detailed definition of Assemblies, Elementary Parts and (Airbus) Company Standard is under responsibility of Airbus,
they are considered as "Airbus Proprietary Parts" (even if initiated by a Subcontractor).
- For Specified Items, Blanks and Equipments: only the Specification Dossier is owned by Airbus (can be initiated by a
Subcontractor) but the component detailed definition is under responsibility of the Supplier.
Page 15 - For CA, it is a combination of both responsibilities, depending on the types of items that constitute the CA.

Intermediate Manufacturing Steps/Delivery Stages
Rough Parts/Pre-Machined Parts
 A Rough Part or a Pre-Machined Part is an intermediate definition representing an
intermediate step of manufacturing corresponding to a Final Part (Elementary Part or
Assembly).
•
This intermediate definition can be required for "complex" Parts in order to represent one or several
huge intermediate manufacturing operations performed before the final operation allowing to obtain
the Final Part (e.g. complex machined part or complex composite panel, ...).
• This intermediate definition, when needed, shall be linked to another item representing the final
mechanical or machining operation of the Part.
• In the large majority of cases, the Rough Part or Pre-Machined Part is created by the Designer of
the Final Part. In some particular cases, it can be produced by a first Design Team (or Supplier) and
the Final Part will be produced by another Design Team (or another Supplier) which will define the
final mechanical or machining operations.
• The Rough Part or Pre-Machined Part shall be linked to the Final Part within the Aircraft Definition
Dossier.
Example of Rough Part:
Rough stringers co-bonded to final "assembled" composite panel: the rough stringers are bonded on
"assembled" panel and undergo further operations after bonding.
Example of Pre-Machined Part:

Sheet metal (taken from profile), defined without the holes which are directly drilled in aircraft during
installation.
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Intermediate Manufacturing Steps/Delivery Stages
Condition of Supply
 Conditions of Supply is an intermediate definition showing the deviations/differences
between a Part (or Assembly) at an intermediate delivery stage, compared to the
corresponding definition of the Final Part.
• This intermediate definition can be required, according to industrial constraints, to map with
requirements from the manufacturing integrator to ensure or perform:
- logistic manipulations (e.g. Lugs allowing to assist handling operations),
- assembly/installation operations of mechanical sub-assemblies (e.g. pilot holes),
- ground tests at assembly/installation stages (e.g. tubes or pipes over-length),
- late post machining operations (e.g. over-thickness, extended surface, ...).
• Conditions of Supply are derived from assembly constraints, and deal with condition of delivery of
an Aircraft Constituent Item. They can be requested by manufacturing or Customer Support.
• Conditions of Supply shall be removed at completion of the assembly/installation process to
ensure that the Part (or Assembly) is conformed to the definition of the final Part (or assembly). In
consequence, remaining elements on the final A/C are not considered as CoS (e.g. holes directly
drilled at final conditions are not CoS as they are not intermediate stages, locating and tooling
holes are not CoS as they remain on the aircraft and are taken into account for stress analysis,
...).
• The Intermediate Manufacturing Stages/Steps, like Rough Parts or Pre-Machined Parts, which
are internal to a detailed Manufacturing Processes are not considered as CoS.
• The Intermediate Aircraft Constituent Item like Blanks is not considered as CoS.
• Spare Technical Specification is an intermediate definition with the same rules as Condition of
Supply. It is requested by Customer Services although Condition of Supply is requested by
manufacturing.
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Items for Tests
Witness Specimen
 A Witness Specimen is a mechanical test specimen extracted from the original
component (over-length or specific extension from the material added to the nominal part
boundary for manufacturing purposes).
• In cases where it is not possible to extract specimens from the nominal part over-length/
extension, a dedicated tests component is manufactured with the same manufacturing process
and means, driven by same work order/instructions and at the same time as the part itself.
• Witness Specimens are generally needed for temporary measures/tests, to ensure and check
acceptable mechanical performance reproducibility (variability of mechanical
performance). Witness Specimen are defined to be representative of the final aircraft component
key characteristics and/or based on critical sizing criteria.
• The tests will be run in parallel to the manufacturing process qualification at the very beginning of
serial production until the manufacturing process and instructions are fully defined, frozen and
qualified (in central manufacturing, in the plants and in Material & Processes dept.).
Mockup or Prototype
 A Mock-up or Prototype is an item not approved for use in fly. Could be an Elementary
Part, an Assembly or and Equipment. Its configuration is generally linked with the one of
the corresponding item which is flying on development Aircraft.
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Additional Classifications
Spare Items
 Some of the Aircraft Constituent Items (Constituent Assembly - CA, Assembly, Elementary
Parts or Specified Items) are classified as Spare Parts.
• That means all these components are in an IPC (Illustrated Part Catalogue) and can be ordered
by the customer.
• Note that, by definition, all Equipment and Standard Parts are Spare Parts.
Rotable Items
 Some of the Aircraft Constituent Items (Constituent Assembly - CA, Assembly, Elementary
Parts or Specified Items) are classified as Rotable Parts.
• According to standard ATA spec 106 a Rotable Item is "an item which can be economically
restored to a serviceable and, in normal course of operations, can be repeatedly rehabilitated to a
fully serviceable condition over a period approximating the life of the flight equipment to which it is
related".
• A Rotable Item can be swapped by the operator from one A/C to another A/C. This implies an
appropriate identification to ensure the tracking and traceability.
Identifiable Parts (Airbus Definition)

 Aircraft parts for which full traceability from the used raw materials, manufacturing
records and shipment records need to be secured by the manufacturer. It corresponds to
the groups 1 and 4 as defined in A1113 "Requirements for Traceability of Aircraft Items".
• A Serial Number (SER) needs to be affected to any Identifiable Part.
• A Part can be serialized (with a SER) but not Identifiable in the Airbus definition.
Page 19
Referenced Documents
Doc Reference Title
A1056 Identification & Marking of Aircraft Items Requirements
A1113 Requirements for Traceability of Aircraft Items
© AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. This document and all information contained herein is the sole property of AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. No intellectual property
rights are granted by the delivery of this document or the disclosure of its content. This document shall not be reproduced or disclosed to a third party without the express written consent of AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. This
document and its content shall not be used for any purpose other than that for which it is supplied. The statements made herein do not constitute an offer. They are based on the mentioned assumptions and are expressed
in good faith. Where the supporting grounds for these statements are not shown, AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. will be pleased to explain the basis thereof.
AIRBUS, its logo, A300, A310, A318, A319, A320, A321, A330, A340, A350, A380, A400M are registered trademarks.
Page 20
Back-Up Slides
© AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. This document and all information contained herein is the sole property of AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. No intellectual property
rights are granted by the delivery of this document or the disclosure of its content. This document shall not be reproduced or disclosed to a third party without the express written consent of AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. This
document and its content shall not be used for any purpose other than that for which it is supplied. The statements made herein do not constitute an offer. They are based on the mentioned assumptions and are expressed
in good faith. Where the supporting grounds for these statements are not shown, AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. will be pleased to explain the basis thereof.
AIRBUS, its logo, A300, A310, A318, A319, A320, A321, A330, A340, A350, A380, A400M are registered trademarks.
Page 21
Specified Items / Blanks - Awareness Material
What are “Specified Items” & “Blanks”?

Golden Rules
 Specified Items and Blanks shall follow the Airbus Specification Process, then Qualification Process and
Procurement Process (refer to AP5326/AP5374/AP5353) and not a detailed Design & Manufacturing Process (as
usually applied for Elementary Parts and Assemblies)
 Specified Items and Blanks shall be clearly identified and distinguished from usual Elementary Parts
and Assemblies (within Aircraft Design Data Set)
Note: No mixed data allowed (specification and detailed design) in the same Design Data Set
 Specification Design Data Set is part of the Aircraft Definition Dossier, and, as such shall follow the
Definition Dossier management rules. Refer to A1079 for A350 & ABD0004 for A380 and Legacy Programs (e.g.
release process, evolution rules, archiving rules)
 Specified Items & Blanks Specification shall not have any link down to lower level component (to prohibit
separate purchase)
Note: Attributes in PDM Tool shall be correctly filled to ensure downstream processes activities (e.g. Qualification Process, Procurement
Process)
 No Supplier data reference (or Supplier company name, etc...) shall be recorded in the Specification
Design Data set (to avoid any updates needed in the Specification in case of purchasing to several Suppliers)
 Only the Specification reference shall be called-up into ADAP-DS (or ASSY) representing installation
operation within the aircraft
 In case Supplier Data (Supplier 3D model and/or Detailed Supplier Contractual Drawing) are delivered to
Airbus, they shall be stored separately from the Specification Design Data set (different files / different
references)
A350 Golden Rule (MEMO ME1027399 - A350 XWB program)
• Limit the number of Specified Items
• Stick as much as possible to the agreed A350 SSL (Standard selection list) available in Docmaster tool
• Design team leaders shall challenge the up-coming request to deviate from the SSL from the beginning
Page 22

Aircraft Constituent Items Explanation - R1.0

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Aircraft Constituent Items- Awareness Material

Engineering Policy & Development

Aircraft Constituent Items

Aircraft constituent Items

Status before work performed

Objective = Clarify the Aircraft Constituents Items

Aircraft constituent Items

Intermediate Aircraft Constituent Items

Aircraft constituent Items

Aircraft constituent Items

CA Specified Item Standard Standard

Aircraft constituent Items

See full list of « Key Questions » / « Answers » into ABD0000

What is a “Constituent Assembly-CA” ?

Example of Constituent Assemblies:

What is an “Elementary Part” ?

Example of Elementary Parts:

What is a “Specified Item” ?

Example of Specified Items:

What is an “Standard Part” ?

Examples of Standard Parts:

What is an “Standard Material” ?

Aircraft constituent Items

Aircraft constituent Items

Example of Pre-Machined Part:

Aircraft constituent Items

Aircraft constituent Items

Aircraft constituent Items

Identifiable Parts (Airbus Definition)

A1056 Identification & Marking of Aircraft Items Requirements

A1113 Requirements for Traceability of Aircraft Items

What are “Specified Items” & “Blanks”?

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