Professional Documents
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Advisory Circular
AC 120-59
AIR CARRIER
INTERNAL EVALUATION PROGRAM
Revision : -
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Advisory Circular 120-59
FOREWORD
1. PURPOSE:
SOENARYO Y.
NIP.120038217
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Advisory Circular 120-59
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Paragraph Page
1. Purpose ………………………………………………………. 1
2. Related Reading Material …………………………………… 1
3. Background …………………………………………………… 1
4. Definitions……………………………………………………… 2
5. Internal Evaluation Program………………………………… 5
6. Program Description…………………………………………. 5
7. Independence / Defined Responsibility …………………… 6
8. Top Management Review ………………………………….. 7
9. Continual Process……………………………………………. 7
10. Internal Evaluation Schedule……………………………….. 7
11. Corrective Action Plans……………………………………… 8
12. Records……………………………………………………….. 9
13. Program Plan Outline ……………………………………….. 10
14. Program Acceptance ………………………………………... 10
15. Disclosure to DGCA …………………………………………. 11
16. Conclusion ……………………………………………………. 11
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Advisory Circular 120-59
1. PURPOSE.
This advisory circular (AC) provides information and guidance material that may be
used by air carrier certificate holders, operating under Civil Aviation Safety
Regulations (CASR) Parts 121 and 135, to design or develop an Internal
Evaluation Program. The procedures and practices outlined in this AC can be
applied to maintenance, flight operations, and security aspects of an air carrier's
organization. Internal evaluation guidance for certificate holders other than those
operating under CASR Parts 121 and 135 may be issued separately in the future.
3. BACKGROUND.
Although the Directorate General Of Civil Aviation (DGCA) provides standards and
guidance and promotes compliance through its surveillance, enforcement, and
other programs, it is the air carrier certificate holders upon whom rests the primary
and ultimate responsibility to verify that their operations are continuously in
compliance with all regulatory requirements. The development and implementation
of an Internal Evaluation Program will benefit both the certificate holder and the
flying public.
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Advisory Circular 120-59
c. Through surveillance and oversight, the DGCA verifies that certificate holders
are upholding their responsibilities. The Internal Evaluation Program is
intended to facilitate the inspector's advisory and cooperative capacity by
providing a procedure for identifying and resolving safety related issues. The
Internal Evaluation Program also will help certificate holders develop formal
compliance monitoring programs.
4. DEFINITIONS.
The following key terms and phrases are defined to ensure a standard
interpretation and understanding of the DGCA's Internal Evaluation Program. An
Airworthiness Directive (AD) compliance system, applicable to certificate holders
that own, operate, or maintain aircraft, engines, or appliances, has been used as
an example to further clarify some of the following definitions.
a. Evidence.
b. Controls.
(1) Controls are the key procedures, responsibilities, and decision making
positions within an organization, department, division, or functional area.
EXAMPLE:
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Advisory Circular 120-59
(2) As part of an internal evaluation, the controls of the area being evaluated
should be verified and tested. In some instances, personnel performing the
internal evaluation may have to first determine the features of a control.
c. Finding.
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
d. Concern.
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EXAMPLE:
e. Inspection.
NOTE: The term inspection is defined in this AC within the context of quality
auditing principles. It does not address or define DGCA inspections.
f. Audit.
g. Evaluation.
(2) The evaluation process builds on the concepts of audit and inspection. An
evaluation is an anticipatory process, and is designed to identify and
correct potential findings before they occur. Conclusions and
recommendations made as a result of an evaluation should be submitted in
writing to company management for appropriate action.
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6. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION.
a. Air carrier certificate holders operating under CASR Parts 121 and 135 that are
interested in developing an Internal Evaluation Program are encouraged to
include the following essential elements in their program:
(6) Records.
(2) Identify and record any findings or concerns, and the evidence necessary
to substantiate findings or concerns.
d. For some certificate holders, operating size may justify the costs associated
with the necessity of having full time, dedicated resources and personnel in a
separate Internal Evaluation Department or group. However, when full time,
dedicated resources and personnel are not practical, the certificate holder
should develop procedures that preclude persons directly responsible for the
areas to be evaluated from participating in the selection of the evaluation team.
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9. CONTINUAL PROCESS.
(2) Directed.
(3) Credible.
c. Planned Cycle.
(1) Establish a schedule of events that will be performed during a set calendar
period under the Internal Evaluation Program.
(3) Schedule evaluations within each phase to allow enough flexibility for
resources to be committed as needed to special evaluations or follow up
evaluations.
d. Special Evaluations.
e. Follow up Evaluations.
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Advisory Circular 120-59
(2) Analysis of objective evidence to determine the root cause(s) of the finding
or concern.
(2) Verifying corrective action plans include the elements outlined above.
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12. RECORDS.
b. The DGCA suggests that Internal Evaluation Program files include the
following data:
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The DGCA will not approve or accept Internal Evaluation Programs. However, air
carrier certificate holders operating under CASR Parts 121 and 135 that develop
an Internal Evaluation Program may ask for assistance from Sub Directorate of
Maintenance Control (SDMC) or principal maintenance inspector. Preparing a
program plan, as discussed in paragraph 13, will provide the DGCA with an
opportunity to review the proposed duties, responsibilities, procedures, and
organization of the certificate holder's Internal Evaluation Program. In all cases that
involve Internal Evaluation Program development, the DGCA will be available to
provide advice, assistance, or direction to interested certificate holders.
The DGCA encourages certificate holders to openly share the results of their
Internal Evaluation Program with Sub Directorate of Maintenance Control or
principal maintenance inspector. For certificate holders electing to voluntarily
disclose apparent violations discovered by an Internal Evaluation Program, further
information is provided in AC 120-66 ( Aviation Action Safety Program ) .
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16. CONCLUSION.
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The objective should be a statement that clearly defines the purpose and structure of
the certificate holder's Internal Evaluation Program. Policy statements following the
objective should indicate that internal evaluation is independent, that it actively involves
top management, and that it is an ongoing process designed to identify potential
problem areas.
Definition of Terms:
Terms that will be used consistently in the Internal Evaluation Program should be
defined. For example, a certificate holder should have a procedure for categorizing
results (that is, a finding or concern). These categories, as well as other terms
applicable to the internal evaluation function, should be clearly defined and
documented so that company personnel can understand and properly interpret them.
Definitions should be similar to those specified in paragraph 4.
(9) Communicate and coordinate Internal Evaluation Program activities with DGCA
personnel on a regular basis.
This section of the program plan should show that personnel responsible for the tasks
listed above are not responsible for the accomplishment or management of work in the
areas being evaluated or the tasks being revised. The supervisor of the internal
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When full time dedicated resources and personnel are not practical, developed
procedures should show that persons having direct responsibility for the areas to be
evaluated are not involved in the selection or supervision of the internal evaluation
team. In addition, identified personnel should be exempt from their other duties and
completely dedicated to the Internal Evaluation Program while they participate on an
evaluation team.
Organization Chart:
An organization chart that clearly shows the position of the Internal Evaluation Program
in the certificate holder's organization should be prepared. This position should reflect
both the program's independence within the corporate structure and straight-line
reporting to top management.
Reporting Procedures:
A certificate holder should specify the areas within the scope of review under the
Internal Evaluation Program. The DGCA believes that the most effective Internal
Evaluation Program will encompass a complete review of the certificate holder's
operation. However, a certificate holder has the option of limiting internal evaluation to
selected systems or functional areas.
Schedule Process:
(2) Special evaluations when trends are identified or priorities are set by top
management.
Records:
The Internal Evaluation Program should have a defined record keeping process.
Procedures should specify how records are filed and maintained. Standard forms or
formats for filing reports also should be specified. The DGCA suggests that Internal
Evaluation Program records be comprised of the following:
Training:
If feasible, the certificate holder should specify that evaluators have some type of
training in recognized quality auditing, and evaluation principles and techniques. This
training could be any one or combination of the following:
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