Steve Bentley CEO of Sofema Group explains how we have grown into the largest provider of Regulatory Training worldwide with over 550 Classroom & Webinar Courses and over 200 online Regulatory Compliant & Vocational Training. Steve is pleased to provide answers to your questions:

Q - Why Do More Companies Not Offer So Many Online Courses?

A -The Simple Answer is Return on Investment, It takes around 1 Day to develop 1 hour of material so to provide a full 1 day Course typically takes around 7 - 8 Business Days (Which of course has to be funded either directly or indirectly) A further 5 Days is required to configure the course for inclusion on the online platform.

Direct Shipment Authorization

What is a Direct Shipment Authorization (DSA)?

FAA Order 8130.21 defines a DSA as the written authorization, granted to a supplier by a Production Approval Holder (PAH) with responsibility for the airworthiness of a product or article, to ship articles produced in accordance with the PAH’s quality/inspection system directly to end users without the articles being processed through the PAH’s own facility.

DSA is a method of delivering products and articles from the supplier to the end user directly, including shipment to other suppliers and/or repair stations. Through approved quality system procedures, a PAH authorizes and ensures products shipped by a supplier directly to an end user conform to the approved design and are in a condition for safe operation.

What is an export?

For the purpose of issuance of an export airworthiness approval, an export is defined as the transfer of a product or article from the regulatory authority of one CAA to another.

It is important to understand that a product or article does not have to cross the border of a country for an export to occur. For example, shipment of a part from a U.S. supplier in the United States to a foreign approval holder in the United States would constitute an export even though the part did not leave the United States.

Similarly, it is also important to understand that crossing an international border does not necessary constitute a change in regulatory authority for a product or article. For example, shipment of a part from a U.S. supplier in another country to its U.S. Production Approval Holder (PAH) would not constitute an export.

If the organization performing the service is certified by both the FAA and the CAA, which block should be checked when returning an article to service after maintenance?

When FAA Form 8130-3 is used as an approval for return to service to meet the terms and conditions of a bilateral agreement’s Maintenance Implementation Procedures (MIP) or the Maintenance Annex Guidance (MAG), the air agency or air carrier must check both boxes in Block 14a stating: “14 CFR 43.9 Return to Service” and “Other regulations specified in Block 12” and provide the appropriate information in Blocks 11 and 12. 

This is considered a dual release FAA Form 8130-3. This action should also be contained in the air agency’s supplement. The regulations of the other CAA must be specifically identified in Block 12.

Who can issue FAA Form 8130-3 as approval for return to service?

Air agencies certificated under Part 145, or the holder of a U.S. air carrier certificate operating under Part 121 or Part 135, with an approved continued airworthiness maintenance program may issue an FAA Form 8130-3 for approval for return to service for a product or article maintained or altered under Part 43.

A Production Approval Holder (PAH) may issue an FAA Form 8130-3 for approval for return to service after rebuilding, altering, or inspecting its product/article in accordance with §§ 43.3(j) and 43.7(d). The use of FAA Form 8130-3 for this purpose is optional, but the FAA recommends its use. This will help aviation authorities and industry to ensure complete traceability and ease the movement of products and articles through the aviation system.

What is an STC - Supplemental Type Certificate ?
A Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) is a document issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approving a product (aircraft, engine, or propeller) modification. The STC defines the product design change, states how the modification affects the existing type design, and lists serial number affectivity. An STC is typically owned by a FAR 21/Part 21 Design organisation who remains responsible for the “Continuing Airworthiness” of the Product. It also identifies the certification basis listing specific regulatory compliance for the design change.

Information contained in the certification basis is helpful for those applicants proposing subsequent product modifications and evaluating certification basis compatibility with other STC modifications.

What is a C of C?
Certificate of Conformity. Affirmations that the supplier has complied with your purchase order.

Is a Purchase Order a contract?
Yes it is. If you have not accurately fulfilled the PO, you have not fulfilled a contract. So to consider the C of C as a supporting document only!

What is the AMP – Aircraft Maintenance Program
The AMP is the operators approved maintenance program, typically based on the MPD (Maintenance Planning Document). Note the Aircraft Maintenance Program includes Operator additional requirements over the AMS.

What do we mean when we talk about Online Training?

Online Training also known as Distance Learning is gaining in popularity as it provides a convenient and effective learning medium. Compressed video, delivered through a Learning Management System LMS is one of the fastest growing learning processes currently being employed.

How to ensure Quality of Instruction?

Quality of instruction is an important consideration to be addressed with on-line learning programs. The content should be continually reviewed and every endeavour made to improve based on user experience and feedback.