Approval of Flight Conditions for development flights of a new small aircraft type

1.1.        Purpose and scope

This Certification Memorandum clarifies the major elements related to the establishment and approval of flight conditions for a Permit to Fly for development flights of small aircraft within the context of a proof-of-concept evaluation, design improvement activities or even development of a new aircraft type or derivative thereof.

It specifies the activities to be carried out by an applicant and the related coordination with the Agency that should lead to an approval of flight conditions for a set of flight test activities under conditions and limitations determined and substantiated by the applicant and found satisfactory by the Agency.

The tasks and responsibilities of each party are further described according to their roles. It provides for a bottom-up approach to establish flight conditions tailored to an applicant-specific set of flight test activities of their flight test aircraft and their identified set of environmental conditions. This is intended to support a streamlined establishment and processing of substantiations and related conditions/restrictions in support of the application for a flight conditions approval. Under these provisions it is not expected to require additional work from Design Organisations with already established procedures.

1.2.        Background

The Agency is recurrently facing applications for flight conditions approval by new companies as well as established Design Organisations in the frame of e.g. type certification projects, proof-of-concept of novel design features or new technologies. An early entry into flight testing is often crucial for companies to gather data for their aircraft design and its improvement, as well as ensuring financial support for viable products.

Often these companies have not yet the privileges to approve flight conditions for the envisaged scope, or may not hold a DOA at all. This is also in many cases linked to on-going activities to introduce and deploy adequate processes, procedures and training for Certification Verification Engineer qualification, aircraft design, prototype manufacturing, configuration control, flight test risk management, aircraft flight testing, etc.

At the same time the Agency resources are limited and cannot provide consultation to the applicants regarding the appropriateness of each of their activities.

Through clarification of the expectations and the expected safety targets to be met, the applicants should be better prepared, and the common objectives of applicants and the Agency be clarified.