The Nimrod Review - Official Documents

Commentary on the Military Airworthiness Authority (MAA) Organogram
Chapter 21 – New Military Airworthiness Regime
1. The MAA
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The MAA shall be the independent Airworthiness Authority and Regulator for Defence Aviation.
nd The MAA shall be answerable directly to 2 PUS.
The MAA shall comprise operations and engineering specialists with appropriate experience from all three Services.
16 The MAA shall comprise three divisions: (i) the Operating Airworthiness Authority (which shall include the Airspace/Air
Traffic Management Authority and the RTSA); (ii) the Technical Airworthiness Authority; and (iii) the MAAIB and Service
Inquiry Support Team.
The MAA shall provide independent, expert regulatory authority for Airworthiness across the whole of Defence.
The MAA shall provide the Defence Aviation environment with non type-specific Airworthiness policy and regulations,
independent regulation, certification and approvals.
17 The MAA shall provide external, independent assurance by undertaking audits to validate AOA and DE&S assurances
on Airworthiness.
2. The Head of the MAA
The Head of the MAA shall be ‘The Regulator’.
The Head of the MAA shall be a 3-Star Senior Officer, with a comprehensive background in the air environment, approved
for the appointment by the three Services. 18
3. The Operating Airworthiness and Technical Airworthiness Regulators
Two full-time, functional Regulators of 2-Star rank shall support the Head of the MAA.
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Both shall have a comprehensive and appropriate background in aviation.
4. Operating Airworthiness: The following entities shall form the Operating Airworthiness Regulator’s Area of Responsibility
and report direct to him/her:
Regulation Department: The Regulation Department (Operating Airworthiness) shall be OF5-led. It shall be responsible
for:
developing and issuing all policy and regulation for Operating Airworthiness across the Defence environment
(including the Operating industry environments).
providing independent oversight of all operating mandatory reporting, in order to effect a ‘closed loop’ for policy
and regulation.
providing independent cross-department oversight of all mandatory reporting, with the authority to intervene or
mandate as it sees fit (a similar function to that performed by the CAA). 20
Assurance Department: The Assurance Department (Operating Airworthiness) shall be OF5-led. It shall be responsible
for:
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assuring Operating Airworthiness regulatory compliance across Defence.
the independent assessment of units, ships, operational bases and contractors to determine whether individual
platform operations are compliant and airworthy.
examining the entire spectrum of operating regulations (that govern how equipment is used) in order to: assure
compliance therewith; and to consider relevant support, training and airmanship issues that have a bearing on
Airworthiness.
15 The formation of an MAA will, finally, give effect to the recommendation in the Man S(Org) Report of 1994 that there should be a central safety
office and safety management board.
16 “Operating”, i.e. those aspects concerned with the actual operation of the equipment and its operating environment as opposed to the technical
aspects of the equipment.
17 These shall be both compliance and evidence based.
18 Ideally, the appointed individual should have some background in Airworthiness Regulation.
19 Ideally, the appointed individuals should have some background in Airworthiness Regulation.
20 AOAs will still be required to provide a focal point for mandatory reports originated within their organisation; they will be required to monitor and
analyse trends, taking action to correct unwanted trends when required.
21 The AOAs shall remain responsible for assuring their own Operating Airworthiness assurance using the services of such bodies as aircraft STANEVALS
(Standards and Evaluations Units).
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