Role purpose statement AIR SAFETY SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL AIRWORTHINESS SURVEYOR To produce and maintain the published means of compliance (OTARs) and Guidance Material (OTACs) with the aircraft certification and airworthiness aspects of the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order in line with ASSI policy and changes to ICAO SARPs. To identify through audit, the competence and capability of OT Directors of Civil Aviation to provide oversight of ongoing maintenance arrangements for aircraft in accordance with international standards. To ensure through audits and inspections that the holder of an AOC is competent and complies with the requirements of the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order with regard to the maintenance arrangements for the aircraft fleet and that such maintenance organisations as may hold approvals under the means of compliance in order to ensure that Commercial Air Transport and Private aviation operations are operating in a safe and competent manner. Key responsibilities Manage and undertake the research, production and maintenance of means of compliance with the legislation (OTARs), guidance material (OTACs) and supporting technical procedures, coordinating with ASSI colleagues and OTAAs as appropriate. Identify shortcomings in legislation and promote rectification action through the provision of technical solutions to legal specialists for the development of the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order. Develop and maintain policy for airworthiness, aircraft registration and associated subjects. Review ICAO State Letter proposals affecting airworthiness and respond on behalf of the OTs, resolving any conflicting views. Maintain compliance information for ICAO Annexes 7, 8, 16 and others as allocated. Work with the DCAs and airworthiness staff of the OTAAs to ensure smooth, consistent and timely implementation of OTARs. Work with the Training Manager to design, plan and implement airworthiness training and technical assistance for regulatory staff of the Overseas Territories. Provide ad hoc support and advice to regulatory staff of the Overseas Territories. Performance indicators Degree of achievement of objectives set by line manager. Performance against ASSI requirements e.g. response times in respect of audit reports, checks and answering of correspondence and enquiries. Sound decision-making. Timeliness of actions in response to safety issues. Tasks accomplished on time and to a high standard. Occurrences prompted by regulatory failures in any of the key responsibility areas. Feedback from industry, our stakeholders and ASSI colleagues. Issue 4.00 1 of 7
Participate in assessments of OTAAs to ensure that they are fit for purpose and follow up to closure deficiencies raised during the assessments. Where ASSI is responsible for directly regulating airworthiness: o Conduct objective oversight of all aspects of AOC and OTAR Part 125 approval holders airworthiness management and approved maintenance organisations in order to be satisfied that they comply with standards and requirements, following up to closure any identified deficiencies. o Perform surveys of aircraft and supporting documentation to verify conformity with the certification basis for C of A and Permit to Fly aircraft. o Issue TACs, Cs of A, Permits to Fly and Export Cs of A. o Assess and approve aircraft maintenance and reliability programmes. o Assess the technical content of an operator s Minimum Equipment List, to ensure compliance with requirements. o Lead, co-ordinate (or support) the evaluation of, design changes to aircraft to ensure conformity with type design and safety standards. o Maintain the registers of civil aircraft for which ASSI is responsible. o Conduct any necessary Personnel Licensing examinations required under OTAR Part 66. o Investigate, or provide technical support for the investigation of, Occurrence Reports and make recommendations to reduce the risk of future similar occurrences. o o Conduct ramp checks of aircraft and operators. Consider applications for exemptions from legislation and deviation from acceptable means of compliance (OTARs) Undertake at the discretion of ASSI management, such tasks, outside the jobholder s normal area of technical expertise, as the job may occasionally demand. Provide technical support to industry in order to ensure mitigating actions have been taken in regard to the investigation of, Occurrence Reports. Represent Territories and ASSI at national and international forums from an Airworthiness standpoint in respect of the key responsibilities described above. Issue 4.00 2 of 7
Key competencies Communication Negotiating and Influencing Teamwork Planning for results and time management Applying regulatory knowledge Applying airworthiness technical and professional knowledge SMS & QMS understanding and application SMS & QMS auditing CAA Competencies Strategy & delivery Tier 2 Managing people Tier 1 Collaboration & Partnerships Tier 3 Communications, influencing and persuasion Tier 4 Problem solving Tier 3 Service Excellence Tier 2 Knowledge, Skills and Experience Significant relevant experience in aircraft maintenance or manufacturing industry, ideally with an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer s Licence preferably including experience outside the UK. Regulatory experience of overseeing SMS and QMS systems with a proportionate risk based approach. A high standard of education, equivalent to HNC/Degree level. Management, Supervisory or Quality Assurance experience. A detailed knowledge of international aviation regulatory requirements and the aircraft/aviation industry. Knowledge of Information Technology and Information Management Systems as applied within the aviation industry. ASSI Competencies Process Competencies: Product /Equipment Approvals and Certification - Operational Level Organisation approval - Operational Level Audits and Assessments - Operational Level Assessment of QMS - Operational Level OTARs and legislation - Operational Level Analysis - Operational Level Assessment of Safety Management - Systems Operational Level Enforcement - Operational Level Personnel Licensing - Supervisory Level Examinations - Operational Level Human Factors - Operational Level Technical Procedures - Operational Level Issue 4.00 3 of 7
Conduct Competencies: Cultural Awareness Teamwork Communications Behaviours: Collaboration Integrity Respect Clarity Learning Energy Issue 4.00 4 of 7
Impact/Dimensions Guidelines within which the jobholder operates Decisions taken on safety issues or authority to commit or control resources and any statistics related to the job This is one of two airworthiness surveyor posts in which the post holders will share responsibility for both policy and rulemaking and front line regulation. The jobholder will operate within the broad-based requirements established for the Overseas Territories (the OTARs designed, produced and maintained by the post holders). While the OTARs will, by ASSI policy, follow ICAO standards, there is considerable scope in adapting them to fit the particular circumstances of the OTs industries. The jobholder is required to exercise judgement and discretion in establishing compliance with minimal supervision. Each solution proposed by industry must be assessed not only for regulatory fit in respect of the relevant part of a requirement but also for likely impact on the requirement as a whole and aviation safety. There is a high degree of direct accountability by the jobholder for these decisions. In the case of the more specific requirements, e.g. Airworthiness Directives or life limitations, where less regulatory discretion is available, guidance may be sought from specialist colleagues and from CAA where necessary but direct accountability for the eventual decision to grant a variation rests entirely with the jobholder. The jobholder is expected to be involved with all aspects of the aviation industry (to a far greater degree than in the CAA), while maintaining a very high degree of technical competence in operations and maintenance. There are occasions when the post holder will be the sole ASSI representative in a particular Territory at a particular time and will be required to take decisions outside the normal technical competence of this role. There is thus a direct link between the jobholder s successful performance and the OTs levels of safety through the jobholder s influence in setting high standards both personally and for industry. Decisions taken on safety issues or authority to commit or control resources Determine whether information provided by organisations is compliant with safety and airworthiness requirements and validate submissions for approval. By effective oversight determine whether or not organisations comply with appropriate safety and airworthiness requirements and recommend approval, corrective action or suspension, revocation with authority. The ability to challenge information, propositions or assumptions affecting safety and airworthiness with respect to normal or novel and unusual situations. Knowing when to refer to others. Taking decisions that require applicants to commit large resources to achieve compliance with requirements. Issue 4.00 5 of 7
Statistics related to the job Dimensions Overall: OTs: 9 OT Aviation Authorities: 4 comprising circa 70 staff Industry in OTs: Air Operator Certificates: 14 Aircraft Registered: circa 1,000 Certificates of Airworthiness: circa 1,000 Approved Maintenance Organisations: 30 Legislation: 2 Orders in Council Supporting material: 29 Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements (7 OTAR Parts 21, 36, 39, 43, 47, 66, 145 directly airworthiness related) 30 Overseas Territories Aviation Circulars 20 Technical Procedure documents. Direct Regulation OTs: 4 Industry in OTs: Air Operator Certificates: 5 (additional 4 in prospect) OTAR Part 125 Operators: 1 Aircraft Registered: 25 (additional AOCs in prospect) Certificates of Airworthiness: 25 Approved Maintenance Organisations: 4 ASSI is responsible for 7 aviation active Overseas Territories, with approximately 1,000 aircraft on their combined registers. The two surveyor posts share responsibility for direct regulation in 4 Territories. The post holder is expected to be available to support other ASSI colleagues as required and will act as one of the airworthiness experts responsible for the maintenance of ASSI s regulatory requirements system, the Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements. Issue 4.00 6 of 7
The post holder will have no direct staff responsibility, but will be responsible for the effective working of small teams, training staff and carrying out audits of authorities and organisations and developing safety and airworthiness related standards. Examples of issues referred to Line Manager and examples of issues referred to you The role of Airworthiness Surveyor implies a large degree of accountability for decisions taken in ASSI it additionally requires the surveyor to work outside the area of technical specialisation on a regular basis. The following are examples of where the surveyor would be expected to consult their line manager: Deficient airworthiness, safety, maintenance or manufacturing standards if the Surveyor feels there are underlying issues with the organisation or if a new issue has arisen which has no set precedent. Recommendation to suspend or revoke the approval of an organisation. Intention to detain an aircraft (maybe foreign) due to unsafe standards of airworthiness (In ASSI, this does not require management approval). Any industry complaints. The Surveyor will have many issues referred to them for their expert guidance. The following are some examples: Interpretation of requirements. Specific airworthiness standards queries relating to aircraft and their operation. Individual certification authorisations. SMS & QMS acceptance and approval. Acceptability of senior managers nominated by AOC holders and other approved organisations. Detailed advice on alternative means of compliance with airworthiness requirements. Do you require this job to be done at different levels depending on the knowledge and experience of the individuals if so describe the key differences in terms of work produced, freedom to act and competencies NO Issue 4.00 7 of 7