To support safe aircraft operations at Defence aerodromes, DASA released DASR 139 - Aerodromes regulations. These regulations require all Defence aerodromes to be classified as Certified or Non Certified. For those aerodromes requiring certification, DASR 139.80 outlines the activities an Applicant (the Aerodrome Operator – AD OPR) needs to undertake to attain an Aerodrome Certificate (ADC).
Whilst the ADC provides approval for the Aerodrome to be classified as Certified, the certification process provides assurance to the AD OPR that they have indeed provided an aerodrome that comprehensively supports safe aircraft operations. Independent assurance and certification by DASA will provide Defence stakeholders with additional confidence.
DASR 139.80 in particular focuses on aerodrome design and construction, and supports responsible parties by:
identifying credible standards for the design and construction of Aerodromes, and applying defensible bounds to how far these standards can be tailored
presenting a structured approach to demonstrating that the final aerodrome design and construction meets those standards
requiring independent assurance (by DASA) of the above two outcomes.
To achieve aerodrome certification and be awarded an ADC, an Applicant must undertake the following five primary activities:
define an Authority-agreed Certification Basis (CB) for the aerodrome.
demonstrate that the aerodrome design and construction complies with the agreed CB.
declare that the aerodrome design and construction complies with the agreed CB.
implement arrangements to support continued aerodrome compliance with the CB.
provide design information to support continuing safe operation of the aerodrome.
Each of these mandated activities (and other supporting aspects) form the basis of the certification process developed by the Authority.
An application to DASA for an aerodrome certificate should use DASA Form 1186 – Application for Aerodrome Certificate. There are multiple stages and artefacts required to support the Application for Aerodrome Certificate which are outlined in Chapter 11.2.
DASA will be available to support the Applicant throughout the certification process and provide guidance and feedback where needed. This will reduce the likelihood of an application being incomplete at the time of submission.
DASA approval. DASA will issue an ADC based on satisfactory evidence that the design of the aerodrome complies with the aerodrome’s CB, including all the technical data required for the certification program as well as compliance to the other requirements under DASR 139.80. Once an ADC has been issued, the Aerodrome Operator may submit an application for certified aerodrome approval, as described in Annex B of this DASPMAN Chapter.
As part of the aerodrome certification process, the Applicant is required to implement arrangements to support continued aerodrome compliance with the agreed CB and provide design information to support continuing safe flight operations of the Aerodrome. For the purposes of initial aerodrome certification, the Applicant is expected to establish these systems and procedures. Continued implementation and monitoring of these systems and procedures is the responsibility of the Aerodrome Operator. The ultimate liability for safe flight operations rests with the Aerodrome Operator.
Responsibilities of an AD OPR operating a Certified Aerodrome are presented at DASR 139.90 – Maintenance of Aerodromes. Amongst other things, the AD OPR is required to:
present to the Authority any changes to the design or construction of a certified aerodrome for certification, except where those changes have no appreciable effect on the safety of flight operations.
develop, document and undertake an aerodrome maintenance program to ensure the aerodrome remains in a condition to support safe flight operations.
Changes to Aerodrome Certification. Following presentation of any changes to the design or construction of a certified aerodrome for certification, an abbreviated certification program, applying some or all of the steps in the process, will be required. The program will focus on the changes to the certified design, and the complexity of the program will be influenced by whether the design changes:
will still maintain compliance to the extant CB. In this case, re-certification is likely to only require compliance to the CB be demonstrated and declared prior to application
will not maintain compliance to the extant CB. In this case, re-certification will require new or modified CB requirements to be approved prior to demonstrating and declaring compliance to the CB.
Aerodrome Maintenance Programs (ADMP). An ADMP is required at Defence Certified Aerodromes to maintain continued compliance with the aerodrome’s CB. The Defence AD OPR is responsible for the development, documentation and execution of the ADMP to ensure the aerodrome remains in a condition to support safe flight operations, as required by DASR 139.90.
The ADMP also helps the AD OPR to ensure continued compliance to the CB by means of conducting required maintenance at the aerodrome. At a minimum, the ADMP should include (see AMC to DASR 139.90): the maintenance schedule and routines to ensure the aerodrome continues to meet the design requirements; technical inspections that confirm the facilities are fit for their intended purpose and acceptable for use; and the engagement of suitably qualified personnel to conduct maintenance.
Whilst it is the responsibility of the AD OPR to ensure continued compliance with the agreed CB in order to support continuing safe flight operations of the Aerodrome, DASA may from time to time initiate compliance review activities to provide ongoing assurance. These may be achieved through on-site visits, remote assessments or ongoing monitoring, summarised below:
On-site visits. On-site visits may be informal or formal. Informal visits are usually to provide regulatory support and guidance, and for engagement with an Aerodrome stakeholders, while formal visits are used to validate the management of previous DASA findings and to conduct oversight.
Remote assessments. Remote assessments may be suitable if a visit to the aerodrome if the area to be assessed doesn't justify a full onsite visit.
Ongoing monitoring. DASA desk officers will identify other ways of monitoring continuing compliance with the aerodrome’s CB without necessarily engaging the AD OPR. This may include, for example, monitoring Continued Aerodrome Compliance products including Aerodrome Maintenance Programs, Aerodrome Technical Inspections, exploring the outcomes of other DASA review activities (eg Independent Review Boards), and so on.