Measuring the effectiveness of your company's quality system should be an essential element of the management of your overall quality management system strategy.

The process starts with a review of the organizational QMS policy together with a detailed gap analysis to assess full compliance with all regulatory obligations.

Having established regulatory compliance a further measure for assessing the strength of QMS is to employ a formal “internal” compliance audit process which will be set against an expected organisational standard.

Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com considers audit best practices.

With the exception of EASA Part 21 Subpart J Design Organisation Approval which as you will be aware is managed directly by EASA.

The process for all other approvals (Air Carrier – Part 145 / Part M / Part 147 / Part 21 Subpart G POE / ATO) is managed by the Competent Authority.

Essentially works as follows:

Overview by Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com

H25.1 General - Ref CS 25.1529 and CS 25.1729.

• Each Aircraft ICAW Must Include Engine & Propeller (Identified as Products)
• For Each required Appliance including – interface
     » Must include ICAW
• Should consider AMC20-20 (Aging Structures)

Considerations Related to EASA Aircraft Flight Manual and Supplements, presented by Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com

Introduction

The International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) Annex 8 requires that each aircraft be provided with a flight manual, placards, or other document stating the approved limitations within which the aircraft is considered airworthy as defined by the appropriate airworthiness requirements, additional instructions, and information necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.

An Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) is part of the type design as required by the type certification basis that the aircraft was originally certificated to.

       »  In some cases the original certification requirements are changed by a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), mandating the provision of an AFM even though the original type certification basis did not require the provision of an AFM.
       »  All AFMs are identified by a part number like any other critical part of the aircraft.
       »  The primary source for identifying the AFM applicable to a particular aircraft is the Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS).

Easy Access Rules for Airworthiness and Environmental Certification (Regulation (EU) No 748/2012)
Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com reviews the control process and available data supporting OSD.

 Introduction

The EC published on 27 January 2014 a new requirement in certification - “Operational Suitability Data” (OSD), mandating that aircraft manufacturers, including those building helicopters, submit data EASA considers important for safe operations.

OSD covers the following:

       »  Pilot training,
       »  Maintenance Staff Qualification
       »  Simulator Qualification
       »  The master minimum equipment list (MMEL);
       »  (Possibly other areas, depending on the aircraft’s systems.)

Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com considers typical emergency scenarios together with recommended mitigations.

Please do consult with your own operations procedures regarding specific requirements in the event of an emergency situation.

An aeroplane shall not be dispatched after a de-icing/anti-icing operation until the aeroplane has received the following visual check by a trained and qualified person.

      »  This check shall cover wings, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, and fuselage.
       »  This check shall also include any other parts of the aeroplane on which a de-icing/anti-icing treatment was performed according to the requirements identified during the contamination check.
       »  The check shall be performed from points offering sufficient visibility of all prescribed surfaces (e.g. from the de-icer itself or other equipment suitable for gaining access).

 Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com Considers best-practice behaviours to improve the effectiveness of your Aviation Quality System.

 Introduction: Let’s start by considering the composition of an EASA/GCAA compliant Quality System.

       »  The first comment to make is that there are actually 2 distinct elements as shown below:

           o   Quality Control - In just a few words this measures the organisation's ability to comply with the rules and deliver the production process in an effective way involving process procedures, management, competence, training, and effective culture and behavior.
           o   Quality Assurance - Again, in a nutshell, the QA process is intended to “ensure’ the effectiveness of the QC process by means of independent assessment (means the assessor is not part of the delivery of the product)

Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com looks at the requirements related to compliance with EASA Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 Part 21 Subpart H 21.A.171 Scope.

Introduction

Airworthiness Certificates are issued in accordance with 21.A.172 Eligibility

       » Any natural or legal person under whose name an aircraft is registered or will be registered in a Member State (‘Member State of registry’), or its representative, shall be eligible as an applicant for an airworthiness certificate for that aircraft under this Subpart. 21.A.173 Classification.

Airworthiness certificates shall be classified as follows:

       » Certificates of airworthiness shall be issued to aircraft which conform to a type certificate that has been issued in accordance with this Annex I (Part 21);
       » Restricted certificates of airworthiness shall be issued to aircraft:

  o   Which conform to a restricted type-certificate that has been issued in accordance with this Annex I (Part 21); or
  o   Which have been shown to the Agency to comply with specific airworthiness specifications ensuring adequate safety. 21.A.174 Application.

Overview by Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com

Airworthiness Directives (ADs) are legally enforceable rules issued by the FAA in accordance with 14 CFR part 39 to correct an unsafe condition in a product.

• 14 CFR part 39 defines a product as an aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance

Sofema Aviation Services (www.sassofia.com) considers the various factors associated with Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and how to embrace the opportunities presented to drive improvements and efficiencies.

Introduction

Q - What is Root Cause?

A - In essence, It is the process of understanding what went wrong & why it does not fix anything simply it aids understanding.

SofemaOnline (SOL) considers the optimum process for Effective Marketing Perceptual Mapping

Positioning Considerations

Part of the company psyche is to understand where we want to be positioned related to our competitors.

Companies use differentiated brand benefits as a way to stand out from competitors. Ultimately our customers are going to decide how they will react to a company's brand and will “self” position relative to other businesses.

Therefore, we can use an assessment of our position to understand how the company's brand fits into targeted market segments relative to its competitors.

SofemaOnline (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com considers stakeholder communication best practices.

Introduction

It should be noted that Commercial Airports worldwide are required to have an Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) in place which includes the capacity to set up and operate an Airport Crises Response function including setting up an Emergency Operations Centre.

Airlines should therefore understand that their role is to submit an airline emergency response plan (to the airport authority/operator) which integrates with (but is subordinate to) that of the airport’s equivalent plan (i.e. the AEP)

Safety Management Systems (SMS) & Human Factors (HF) Combined Course - Fully Compliant with EASA PART CAMO

Available now Online with Voice Over

The course meets the full intent of EASA Part CAMO Requirements (Initial SMS & human factors training should cover all the topics of the training syllabus specified in GM2 CAMO.A.305(g)

Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com considers the use of effective checklists in support of Emergency Response Planning

Introduction

No airline has sufficient resources to respond to every emergency situation independently. While it is not possible for every emergency and contingency to be anticipated and prepared for, It is still more than possible for a strong emergency preparedness program to be developed to avoid many of the common pitfalls and at the same time assist in limiting the negative impact as the event unfolds, including both liability and post-emergency issues.

Understanding the Role of Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com training courses and the purpose of adding voice over.

Introduction

Sofema Online currently offers over 200 Courses and our Partner Sofema Aviation Services offers over 550 Courses.

It is important to understand that not all courses are suitable for everyone

 Entry Level Courses will be of little interest to persons with many years experience so it is important to choose wisely

 Hi-Level Courses will not enable an appropriate level of engagement by a newly indoctrinated person

Sofema Online (SOL)  www.sofemaonline.com provides considerations related to best practice to deliver an effective Emergency Response Plan - ERP

Introduction

The impact of any emergency or crisis can be far reaching and without doubt it is essential to deal sensitively in the most effective way and to protect the good name of the organisation.

ERP Managers and Nominated Deputies need to have the competence to manage the organisation both into a crises situation, to manage correctly and to return to normal operations following the standing down of the various ERP & Go Team Activities.

How to Write a Business Plan Presented by SofemaOnline (SOL)

Introduction

Business plans usually include detailed information which is not only essential but can improve significantly the chance of success.

It is a simple truth that Effective Managers and Team Leaders enable the development and optimization of our business leading to opportunities to drive efficiency and cost-saving.

As well as focusing on the needs of the Manager and Business area owner to respond in an effective way to the challenge of managing a team. The training courses support effective communication strategies and provide for an understanding of the various techniques used in effective management. 

Sofema Online(SOL) www.sofemaonline.com offers survival guidance for your business

Please see the end of the article for the SOL Aviation Leadership Diploma Program -Grow your management competency with this early bird special offer.

Use the Team Approach to Optimisation

Without doubt the front-line staff have the highest level of exposure to any shortfalls. Therefore it is worth to engage with team members and to encourage them to propose ways to streamline and simplify processes and to identify cost reductions leading to efficiencies.