SofemaOnline takes a look at the facts concerning EPA

Introduction

FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) is a combined design & production approval which does not exist within the EASA system. All design is done by EASA Part 21 Subpart J & All Production (assuming there is approved design data) is done by EASA Part 21 G Organisation.

Note EASA Part 21 Subpart F is for cases (typically part of design development) where there is no production authorisation approval.

SofemaOnline considers the acceptance of Parts Manufacture Authority (PMA) parts within the European System.

An FAA PMA is the normal approval mechanism for any company that wants to produce and sell aircraft parts, however, is not in possession of a production certificate for a complete aircraft, engine or propeller. In accordance with EASA Decision No. 2007/003/C PMA parts are approved following the issue of the FAA PMA (without the requirement for a separate application).

The European Union (EU) regulations require that EASA issue certificates for the design of parts and of their installation into products subject to those EU regulations. This created a problem because when EASA was formed, several significant EU member states had long-standing agreements to accept FAA-PMA parts from the United States. This made sense for supporting European air carriers who were already using such parts.

Steve Bentley MD of Sofema Aviation Services www.sassofia.com – explains

A type certificate holder (TCH) can produce parts for its airplanes through the process of the manufacturers authorisation FAR Part 21 / EASA Part 21 Subpart G has the authorization to manufacture those parts on the basis of its type certificate, and production certificate.

However organisation who are authorised as PMA-holding manufacturers are permitted to make replacement parts for aircraft, even though they are not the original manufacturer of the aircraft. An applicant for a PMA applies for approval from the FAA.

An STC is a certificate. It defines the product design change, states how the modification affects the existing type design, and lists serial number effectivity. 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.

Comment by Steven Bentley MD of Sofema Aviation Services

What are PMA Parts?

For more than 50 years the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been granting Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) to allow third-party manufacturing organisations to produce replacement parts for aircraft (Means parts that are usually not produced with the permission of the Original Equipment Manufacturer - OEM).

To quote the FAA PMA which standards for Parts Manufacturer Approval is in fact a combined design and production approval which is issued for the production of modification or replacement parts, which includes materials, parts, processes and appliances.

A primary consideration is that you must not infringe upon any product patents.
A PMA approval allows you to fit the part to an aircraft as a replacement for the original part, off course the part must be every bit as safe as the original part and this needs to be demonstrated to the approving authority for example the FAA.