Contact

Post:Air Traffic Control the Netherlands
Aeronautical Information Service
P.O. Box 75200
1117 ZT Schiphol
The Netherlands
Tel:+31 (0)20 406 3521
Fax:+31 (0)20 406 3532
Email:[email protected]
AFS:EHAAYOYX

Aeronautical Information Circular
NETHERLANDS

AIC-B_en

02/2019

Publication date 14 MAR 2019

NATIONAL AEROSPACE NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING BOARD IN THE NETHERLANDS

1 INTRODUCTION

This AIC-B replaces AIC-B 11/05 due to:

With the implementation of the Commission Regulation EC 2042/2003 regarding continuing airworthiness, the Part-145 non-destructive testing (NDT) requirements were introduced. In Part-145 the certification requirements for personnel involved in NDT activities is regulated (Part-145.A.30(f)). In the related Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC), the EN 4179 standard is declared applicable and EN 4179 states that all examinations of NDT personnel shall be conducted by personnel and organisations that operate under the general control of a National Aerospace NDT Board (NANB). This NANB shall be recognised by the national authorities.

The Part-145 requirements became effective 29 November 2004. From this date, the NDT personnel requirements and the qualification criteria (training and examinations) of the existing industry standard EN 4179 have been adopted. However, Article 4.3 of the Commission Regulation EU 1321/2014 states that personnel being qualified before the implementation date have protected rights; see paragraph 6.

The Part-21 initial airworthiness requirements, published in Commission Regulation EU 748/2012, do not require a standard for qualification of NDT personnel explicitly. During the EASA Technical Body (TeB) Meeting of 8 December 2017, EASA recommends to follow the same standard as for continuing airworthiness. The Aerospace NDT Board Forum (ANDTBF), a part of the European Federation for Non-Destructive Testing (EFNDT), agreed to apply the same standard and system for initial airworthiness as used for continuing airworthiness.

2 FOUNDATION OF THE NANDTB

In the period 2003-2004, the Part-145 requirements have been implemented and a number of Dutch maintenance organisations initiated the foundation of a Dutch National Aerospace NDT Board. On 14 December 2004, the NANDTB was founded and the official starting date of the NANDTB was on 7 July 2005.

In accordance with Part-145.A.30(f) the Civil Aviation Authority the Netherlands (CAA-NL; in Dutch: Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT)) recognised the NANDTB as the National Aerospace NDT Board for the Netherlands. The CAA-NL is not part of the NANDTB.

For more information:

Post:Netherlands Aerospace NDT Board
Molengraaffsingel 10
2629 JD Delft
The Netherlands
Tel:+31 (0)88 197 6130
URL:www.ndt.aero
Email:[email protected]

3 FUNCTIONS OF THE NANDTB

Qualification and certification of NDT personnel and performance of NDT activities shall be conducted according to the quality system of the Part-145 approved maintenance organisations (AMO) with an NDT capability and/or a D1-class rating. These organisations and its (sub)contractors (if applicable) are working according to approved procedures and instructions.

The NANDTB has established procedures and guidelines regarding qualification, testing, validation and certification of NDT personnel and performs this for Level 3 personnel. Part-145 approved maintenance organisations perform this for their Level 1 and Level 2 personnel, in accordance with their own procedures and working instructions, the EN 4179 requirements and the guidelines of the NANDTB, under the supervision of a Responsible Level 3 person. Part-145 approved maintenance organisations with NDT capabilities in the Netherlands shall be members of the NANDTB.

It is highly recommended for Part-21F/G approved production organisations (POA) with NDT capabilities to become member of the NANDTB and follow the NANDTB procedures and guidelines. See figure 1.

Figure 1. Organisations involved

*In case POAs are involved.

4 TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1 The Netherlands Aerospace NDT Board:

  1. maintains general control through Level 3 personnel;
  2. issues guidelines concerning (re)certification of Level 3 personnel;
  3. issues guidelines for approved organisations and Level 3 personnel concerning qualification, examination and (re)certification of Level 1 and Level 2 personnel;
  4. provides guidelines and procedures for the CAA-NL;
  5. advises concerning techniques, occurrences and human factors in relation to NDT;
  6. provides arbitration in cases of a dispute.

4.2 The approved organisations with NDT capability and/or D1-class rating:

  1. appoint the Responsible Level 3;
    1. by permanent appointment or contract (outside agency);
    2. responsible for the written practice, which is required for the qualification and certification of NDT personnel;
    3. responsible for the introduction and control of the qualification and certification;
  2. use the written practice approved by the Responsible Level 3;
  3. authorize/(re)certify Level 1 and Level 2 personnel;
    1. through the Responsible Level 3 or
    2. through Quality Assurance (QA) with permission of the Responsible Level 3;
  4. use correctly trained and certified NDT personnel;
  5. outsource NDT activities according to the Maintenance Organisation Exposition (MOE), Production Organisation Exposition (POE), the NDT working instructions and the written practice;
  6. perform regular audits on:
    1. the qualification and certification of NDT personnel;
    2. the performance according to the NDT working instructions;
    3. the subcontracting of NDT activities.

4.3 Level 3 personnel:

  1. approves and maintains the NDT working instructions and approved maintenance data;
  2. approves and maintains the written practice (when appointed as Responsible Level 3);
  3. performs or out sources the (re)certification examination of Level 1 and Level 2 personnel:
    1. according to the written practice;
    2. by or under supervision of a NANDTB certified Level 3 (within his/her scope);
    3. re-certification before the certification due date.
  4. record keeping of the technical administration.

4.4 The Civil Aviation Authorities the Netherlands:

  1. keeps surveillance of the NANDTB;
  2. informs the industry and the NANDTB concerning NDT policies;
  3. performs regular audits at approved organisations concerning:
    1. qualification and certification of NDT personnel;
    2. performance of NDT activities.

5 CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS

Stated below is a brief description of the requirements according Part-145, Part-21F/G and EN 4179. Difference is made between approved organisations with the NDT capability and approved organisations without the NDT capability.

5.1 Part-145 approved maintenance organisations with an NDT capability

For Part-145 approved maintenance organisations with an NDT capability, both with and without a D1-class rating, the following requirements apply concerning in-house/outsourcing/subcontracting of NDT activities and/or hiring of (temporary) NDT personnel:

Release to service of NDT inspection activities of an aircraft shall be performed by NDT certifying staff with the required authorisation by means of a Certificate of Release to Service (CRS) document.

The CRS for the NDT inspection on the aircraft can be done:

  1. by a Part-145 organisation holding an A-class rating for the aircraft type and having NDT personnel qualified in accordance with Part-145.A.30(f). In this case, the authorised NDT inspector performs the NDT activities and signs the work order/task card. Appropriately qualified certifying staff under the organisation’s A-class rating releases the aircraft.
  2. by a Part-145 organisation holding a D1-class rating of the applicable NDT method and NDT certifying staff qualified in accordance with Part-145.A.30(f). The NDT certifying staff performs the NDT activities and issues an EASA FORM 1 (referring to the particular part number of the inspected part/component). The Part-145 organisation holding an A-class rating for the particular aircraft type shall release the aircraft.

Release to service shall be described clearly in the MOE.

The approved maintenance organisation shall make the required documentation, instructions, materials, tools, equipment and facilities available for the NDT personnel; the NDT personnel shall use them respecting the prescribed environmental conditions. The performance of NDT activities is primary limited to the locations as mentioned on the Part-145 approval. These activities, like other maintenance, may be performed at other locations provided this procedure is described in the MOE of the approved maintenance organisation.

5.2 Part-145 approved production organisations without the required NDT capability

For Part-145 approved production organisations without the required NDT capability, they shall outsource the NDT activities to approved maintenance organisations with the appropriate D1-class rating for these activities.

5.3 Part-21F/G approved production organisation with the required NDT capability

For Part-21F/G approved production organisation with the required NDT capability, the following requirements apply concerning in-house/outsourcing/subcontracting of NDT activities and/or hiring of (temporary) NDT personnel:

Release of NDT inspection activities of a product, part and/or appliance shall be performed by NDT certifying staff with the required authorisation by means of a release document (eg. Work Order or Inspection Release Document). Release to service shall be described clearly in the POE of the approved production organisation.

The release to service for the NDT inspection of the product, part and/or appliance could be performed by a Part-21F/G approved production organisation holding an A, B or C-class rating for the product, part and/or appliance and having NDT personnel qualified in accordance with Part-21.A.126(a)(3) and 21.A.126(b)(1) or Part-21.A.145(a). In this case, the authorised NDT inspector performs the NDT activities and signs the release document. Appropriately qualified certifying staff under the organisation’s A, B or C-class rating releases the product, part and/or appliance with an EASA Form 1.

The production organisation shall make the required documentation, instructions, materials, tools, equipment and facilities available to the NDT personnel; the NDT personnel shall use them respecting the prescribed environmental conditions. The performance of NDT activities is primary limited to the locations as mentioned on the Part-21F/G approval. These activities, like other production activities, may be performed at other locations, provided this procedure is described in the POE of the approved production organisation.

5.4 Part-21F/G approved production organisations without the required NDT capability

For Part-21F/G approved production organisations without the required NDT capability, they shall outsource the NDT activities to Part-21F/G approved production organisations with the appropriate capabilities for these activities or to Part-145 approved maintenance organisations with the appropriate D1-class rating for these activities. Release of NDT inspection activities of a product, part and/or appliance shall be done by NDT staff with the required authorisation by means of a release document (e.g. Work Order or Inspection Release Document).

6 PROTECTED RIGHTS

The requirements of Part-145 are in force as from 29 November 2004. Therefore, all personnel involved in NDT activities shall be qualified in accordance with Part-145 requirements and the standard EN 4179.

Congruent with article 4.3 of the Commission Regulation EC 2042/2003, NDT personnel qualified before 29 November 2004 have protected rights.

The CAA-NL accepts the following standards:

StandardApplication
AUNT recommended practice SNT-TC-1AIndustry
ATA spec. no. 105Aviation
NAS 410Aviation
European standard for NDT personnel EN 473Industry
Aerospace series – Qualification and approval of personnel for NDT EN 4179Aviation, AECMA standard

Because these standards have a high level of similarity, protected rights are applicable to all NDT personnel in the Netherlands who were qualified in accordance with these standards and employed in the maintenance industry.

The Part-145 approved organisations in the Netherlands could not finalise the foundation of the NANDTB before 28 November 2004. Therefore, the duration of the protected rights period was extended until 7 July 2005, which is the formal date of commencement of the NANDTB. As from this date, all re-certifications and new certifications of NDT personnel shall be in accordance EN 4179 requirements and the procedures and guidelines of the NANDTB.

For more information:

Post:lnspectie Leefomgeving en Transport
P.O. Box 16191
2500 BD Den Haag
The Netherlands
Tel:+31 (0)88 489 0000
URL:www.ilent.nl

7 DOCUMENT CONTROL

This AIC-B replaces AIC-B 11/05 dated 27 JAN 11.

ISSN: 1386-6613