Notice 21 Personnel Certification for Non Destructive Testing of ...

General Civil Aviation Authorityeddy current, ultrasonic, radiographic and otherrecognised methods, as identified in the abovereferenced standards and shall be applicable to allNDT methods used by approved organizations.Definitions of other key terms used throughout thisnotice are contained in Section 8.AIRWORTHINESS NOTICE No. 21Issue 106 April 2003PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVETESTING OF AIRCRAFT, ENGINES, COMPONENTS ANDMATERIALS1. General1.1 This Notice advises the GCAA requirements for thequalification of Non- Distinctive Testing (NDT) personnel,which shall be in accordance with any of the followingstandards; EN473, EN4179, ISO 9712 and NAS 410, andthe approved organization's writtenpractice/procedures/exposition for the authorisation ofNDT personnel.1.2 This Notice clarifies GCAA policy relating to theacceptability of organization based schemes for thequalification of the NDT personnel, in accordance withU.A.E NDT personnel requirements, and is indented torecognise the competence of independent of thirdparty certified NDT level 3 personnel.1.3 The term NDT is used throughout this Notice to include,but not limited to, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle,Airworthiness Notice 21 Page 1 of 8Sunday April 6 th , 20062. Procedures for the Qualification of NDT Personnel2.1 All approved Organizations involved in any aspect ofNDT shall develop and maintain procedures for thequalification and authorisation of their NDT personnel inaccordance with standards referred to in 1.1. In allcases, the Organisation's written practice/ procedures/exposition as defined, shall be approved by thenominated Level 3 (see Section 3).2.2 Within the UAE, the GCAA currently recognises theBritish national scheme for Personnel Certification inNon-Destructive Testing (PCN), administered by theBritish Institute of Non-Destructive Testing as thepreferred scheme, meeting the requirements of thisAirworthiness Notice.3. Qualified Staff3.1 GCAA approved organisations undertaking NDT mustsatisfy the GCAA, that they have adequate of suitablyqualified staff to discharge the responsibilities of theirapproval.3.2 Organizations shall nominate in writing using GCAAform AD 106, supported with evidence of certification,an individual responsible to the Accountable Managerfor the technical supervision of NDT. This individual willhold independent central certification at PCN Level 3 inthe aerospace industry sector and will be referred to asthe nominated Level 3. This position shall be identifiedAirworthiness Notice 21 Page 2 of 8Sunday April 6 th , 2006

General Civil Aviation Authoritywithin the organisation's exposition, and any change inthis position shall be advised to the GCAA.3.3 Where the nominated Level 3 is not qualified in allmethods used by the organisation, then the additionalLevel 3 personnel necessary to provide coverage shallbe certified to PNC Level 3.3.4 Additional Level 3 certification holders shall be listed inthe organisation's exposition or reference made in theexposition to other documents containing the list ofLevel 3 holders. Any changes to this list are to benotified to the GCAA.3.5 The GCAA may accept persons outside theorganisation as the nominated Level 3, provided writtenagreement exists between the individual ad theorganisation.4. Inspections and Certification of Inspections4.1 NDT shall be carried out by personnel approved inaccordance with the organisation's written practice/procedure/ exposition. Where NDT procedures arespecified by the organisation responsible for the designand/or manufacture of the aircraft, material, structureor component, then these must be used except wherechange is permitted and authorised as defined inparagraph 5 of this Notice. Where inspections are to beundertaken, for which the responsibledesign/manufacturing organisation has not specifiedNDT procedures/specific instruction, then the NDTprocedures/instruction shall be prepared inaccordance with paragraph 5 of this Notice andapproved by a Level 3 holder qualified in theapplicable method.General Civil Aviation Authority4.2 Normally, certification of inspections will be made bypersonnel who hold Level 2 or Level 3 authorisations.However, where an inspection task is determined bythe nominated Level 3 to have clearly definedacceptability and rejection criteria, then certificationmay be carried out by an authorised Level 1, asdetailed within the written practice/ procedure/exposition.4.3 Where Level 3 is required to carry out and certify anNDT inspection, then this person must either hold currentLevel 2 certification, then they have successfullycompleted an appropriate Level 2 practicalexamination and maintained continuity in theapplication of practical testing, as defined in thereferenced standards and detailed in the writtenpractice/ procedures/ exposition.5. NDT Procedures and Instructions and theirApproval5.1 NDT procedures and instructions, published andspecified by the type certificate holder in NDT manuals,service bulletins, approved drawings etc, constituteairworthiness data.5.2 Where the airworthiness data published by the typecertificate holder permits simple changes ofequipment, probes etc, then such changes may becarried out by a Level 2 or Level 3 suitably qualified inthe appropriate method.5.3 Changes not permitted in the airworthiness data requirethe written agreement of the type certificate holdersresponsible for the design of the product/ structurebefore such a change is implemented.Airworthiness Notice 21 Page 3 of 8Sunday April 6 th , 2006Airworthiness Notice 21 Page 4 of 8Sunday April 6 th , 2006

General Civil Aviation Authority5.4 NDT instructions shall be approved by a Level 3 holdersqualified in the applicable method.5.5 The control of all NDT procedures and instructions.Including their preparation and authorisation within anyGCAA approved organisation, shall be detailed in theorganisation's written practice/ procedures/ exposition.6. Suppliers and Sub-Contractors to ApprovedOrganisations6.1 All suppliers and sub-contractors to an approvedorganisation where NDT processes are performed, shalldetail within their written practice/ procedures/exception how the organisation ensures that trainingand approval of NDT personnel shall meet therequirements of this notice.7. Other Means of Compliance7.1 Personnel holding a current UAE Aircraft MaintenanceEngineer's type licence may undertake inspections,limited to colour contrast penetrant only.8. Definitions8.1 Authorisation: (of NDT procedures): The act of signifyingapproval of NDT procedures by a nominated Level 3.8.2 Authorisation: (of NDT personnel): A written statementissued by a nominated Level 3 based on the individual'scompetence as specified within the certificate.8.3 Certificate: Document issued under the rules of any ofthe certification systems defined in this notice indicatingthat adequate confidence is provided, that the namedperson is competent to perform specified NDT.General Civil Aviation Authority8.4 Industry sector: A particular section of industry ortechnology where specialised NDT practices are usedrequiring specific product related knowledge, skill,equipment or training. An industrial sector may beinterpreted to mean a product (welds, castings,) or anindustry (aerospace, petrochemical…).8.5 NDT method: Discipline applying a physical principle inNDT (e.g ultrasonic method).8.6 NDT technique: A specific way of utilising an NDTmethod (e.g ultrasonic immersion technique).8.7 NDT procedure: A written description of all parametersand precautions to be observed when applying an NDTtechnique to a specific test following an establishedstandard, code or specification.8.8 NDT instruction: A written description of the precisesteps to be followed in testing to an establishedstandards, code or specification or NDT procedure.8.9 NDT Level 1: This is strictly a limited approval and isspecified in the organisations written practice/inspection procedures manual.8.10 NDT Level 2: An individual qualified to perform anddirect NDT according to established and recognisedprocedures. This is to include, but not limited to,selection of appropriate technique for each method,to define the limitations of the method, to understandthe limitation and application of the method, to set upand calibrate the equipment to perform and supervisethe tests, to evaluate the results according toapplicable standards codes and specifications, toprepare written test instructions and to organise andreport the results of the tests.Airworthiness Notice 21 Page 5 of 8Sunday April 6 th , 2006Airworthiness Notice 21 Page 6 of 8Sunday April 6 th , 2006

General Civil Aviation Authority8.11 Nominated Level 3: An independently PCN certifiedLevel 3 certificate holder responsible to theAccountable Manager for the airworthiness aspects ofNDT work undertaken by the organisation.8.12 Qualification: The proven ability of NDT personnel tomeet the requirements of a given specification in termsof physical requirements, training knowledge andexperience necessary to perform the applicable NDTmethod.Appendix 1General Civil Aviation AuthorityOrder schemes of approval that may be considered foracceptance in this AWN and satisfying EN 473 and EN4179.ISO 9712 & NAS 410 (Nondestructive Testing, Personnelqualification)8.13 Type certificate: For the purpose of this airworthinessnotice, type certificate, includes type certificates,supplementary type certificates, Joint Parts Approval(JPA) authorisation or Joint Technical Standard Orders(JTSO) authorisations.Airworthiness Notice 21 Page 7 of 8Sunday April 6 th , 2006Airworthiness Notice 21 Page 8 of 8Sunday April 6 th , 2006