AIRWORTHINESS OF AIRCRAFT

 BACKGROUND
The Chicago Convention placed great emphasis on safety, and one
particular ‘area of interest’ was in the airworthiness of aeroplanes. In order to
ensure that an aeroplane was safe to use it was agreed that all aeroplanes
would have a certificate that stated that the aircraft was airworthy when
manufactured, and that through the continued validation of that certificate, the
continuing airworthiness of the aircraft would be ensured. During the design
and building stage of the life of a type of aeroplane, rigorous rules and
regulations are applied to the manufacturing processes and the flight testing
process, to ensure that the aircraft does what it is intended to do. Once the
testing procedures have been successfully completed, the State of
Manufacture (the USA in the case of Boeing aircraft and France in the case of
Airbus) issues a Certificate of Airworthiness to the type and this is then
applicable to all subsequent production models (issued to the individual
aircraft by the State of Registry after a short ‘compliance’ air test).

 STANDARDS
The Airworthiness standards of Annex 8 of the Chicago Convention are
related to the standards of Annex 6, part 1, which deals with aeroplane
performance operating limitations. An element of the safety of an operation is
the intrinsic safety of the aircraft. That is, its airworthiness. The airworthiness
of an aircraft is not fully defined by the application of the airworthiness
Standards of Annex 8, but also requires the application of the Standards of
Annex 6 that are complimentary. In other words, Annex 8 deals with
airworthiness from the engineering point of view, whereas Annex 6 deals with
the safety standards necessary for any operation. The standards apply to both
performance and flying qualities.

 APPLICABILITY
The Standards of Airworthiness, detailed in Annex 8 Part 3 are applicable to
aeroplanes with certificated maximum take-off mass greater than 5 700kg,
intended for the carriage of passengers, cargo or mail in international air
navigation. Unless specifically exempted, the standards apply to the complete
aeroplane including power-units, systems and equipment. For the standards
to be applicable; the aircraft must have at least two engines.

AIRWORTHINESS

 CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS
A Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) is issued by the State of Registration
when satisfactory evidence is provided that the aeroplane complies with the
appropriate airworthiness requirements. ICAO has specified a standard form
of C of A which is to include the nationality and registration marks,
manufacturer and designation of the aircraft

 CONTINUING AIRWORTHINESS
The State of Registry is responsible for determining if an aircraft continues to
be airworthy. The state is required to maintain a system for recording faults,
malfunctions, defects or other occurrences which might affect the
airworthiness of aircraft with maximum take off mass greater than 5700 Kg

 STUCTRUAL INTEGRITY/CORROSION CONTROL

The State of Design is required to ensure that a structural integrity programme
exists to ensure the airworthiness of aircraft with a maximum take off mass
greater than 5700Kg. The programme is to include information concerning
corrosion control.

 VALIDITY OF CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS

The C of A will be renewed or will remain valid provided that the continued
airworthiness of the aircraft has been determined by a periodic inspection.
The period between the inspections is to be established by the state. Where
an aircraft is damaged, it is the responsibility of the State of Registry to judge
whether the damage is of such a nature that the aircraft is no longer airworthy.
Where a damaged aircraft is repaired, the State of Registry is to specify the
necessary repairs and to determine that such repairs have been properly
carried out before re-issuing a C of A.

 AIRCRAFT LIMITATION AND INFORMATION

Each aircraft is required to have a flight manual (or other means) in which the
approved limitations are defined and additional information is contained
necessary for the safe operation of the aeroplane. Where the determined
limiting speeds are specified as a Mach number, the aircraft is to be fitted with
a Mach meter.