Initial and Continued Airworthiness

The Type Certification Basis (TCB) is an agreed set of airworthiness requirements that a product must be compliant with in order to be issued a Military Type Certificate.

Design technologies include Structures, Flight Technology, Aircraft and Propulsion Systems, Crew Systems and Occupant Safety, Avionics and Electrical Systems, System Safety, Computer Systems and Software and Armament / Stores Integration.

The Certification Programme (CP) is an agreement between the applicant and DASA as to what certification activities must be completed in order for DASA to issue a Military Type Certificate or approval of a major change (including Military Supplemental Type Certificate).

Compliance demonstration comprises all the activities required to demonstrate that the product (or change to product), part or appliance complies with the requirements in the certification basis using the agreed means of compliance documented in the certification programme.

Approval of all design changes and repairs follows the same principles of certification as for a new product.

DASA will issue Military Type Certificates for all products (aircraft, engine or propeller) on the Defence register except for Open or Specific category Uncrewed Aircraft Systems.

Military Supplemental Type Certificates (MSTCs) are a means for the approval of a major change to a product’s type design. The application and certification process is the same as for any other major change.

DASA can issue Organisational Approvals to different Organisations under the various DASR. A full List of these can be found here.

Providing assurance for the integrity of aircraft structures and aero-mechanical systems for ADF fixed-wing aircraft.

Providing assurance for the integrity of aircraft structures and aero-mechanical systems for ADF rotary-wing aircraft.

Supporting the airworthiness of ADF propulsion systems.

Supporting the provision of NDT&CT services, equipment and training in support of ADF aviation.

The ADF Wear Debris Analysis Laboratory (ADF WDA Lab) provides specialised analysis of metallic particles to enable rapid and accurate assessment of aircraft propulsion system serviceability.

The Military Type Certificate (MTC) holder is a Commonwealth organisation that acts as Defence’s custodian of the product’s type design approved under the MTC.

Under DASR 21, some approval holders are required to monitor in-service usage of their product, change to product, repair design, part or appliance in order to detect deficiencies that have resulted, or could result in an unsafe condition.

An Airworthiness Directive (AD) is a document mandating actions to be performed on an aircraft in a specific timeframe to restore an acceptable level of safety, when evidence shows that the level of safety level may otherwise be compromised.

All approved design changes and repairs have a single identified holder of that approval who has specific responsibilities under the DASR.

A Military Design Organisation Approval is awarded to organisations that are eligible and successfully demonstrate to DASA that their design assurance system can safely design products, changes to products or repairs that comply with the applicable type certification basis.

DASA assures the production of all Defence aircraft, parts and appliances.

Military Production Organisation Approval (MPOA) may be awarded to organisations that can successfully demonstrate to DASA their capability to manufacture items approved under DASR 21.

A Military Certificate of Airworthiness (MCoA) is issued for an individual aircraft that conforms to the type design approved under the product’s Military Type Certificate.

When it is not reasonably practicable to restore the validity of a Military Certificate of Airworthiness through the use of approved data or by deferring a defect, a Military Permit to Fly is required in lieu.

Approved flight conditions are a set of risk controls that underpin the issue of every Military Permit to Fly.