Maintenance and Manufacturing Staff Instructions, MSI 62

Subject:	Number:	MSI 62
Restricted Certifying Authority (RCA)	Revision No:	1
	Number of Pages:	5
File No: AARP-5009-3-62 RDIMS 2124200	Issue Date:	September 25, 2006

1. Introduction

1.1 The Minister may, under extenuating circumstances, allow qualified individuals who do not hold an appropriately rated Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) licence, and/or may not have completed an approved course of training on the type, to sign a maintenance release on Canadian registered aircraft.

1.2 To that end, the Minister must be satisfied that safety will not be compromised, that no qualified AMEs are available to sign a maintenance release, that the request is not a pre-planned means to circumvent the licensing certification control process, and the request is not being used solely for economic advantage.

2. Purpose

2.1 The purpose of this Staff Instruction is to set out the conditions for granting a Restricted Certification Authority (RCA) and to provide guidance on the procedures to be followed when requesting the issue of an RCA.

3. Delegated Authority

3.1 The AME Licensing and Training Division (AARPG) is responsible for the issue of Restricted Certification Authorities. 

4. Procedure

4.1 In accordance with STD 566.02, in certain circumstances, persons who are not the holders of an appropriately rated AME licence may be permitted to issue a maintenance release as provided in CAR 571.11.  Issue of an RCA is intended to prevent hardship directly caused by a lack of available qualified AMEs. However such approval will only be granted when clear justification has been demonstrated.

4.2 An RCA may be issued provided:

1. The applicant or company demonstrates to the Minister that there is no holder of an AME licence with,  the necessary approved training appropriate to the aeronautical product being maintained, available within a geographical area accessible within one hour by surface transportation;
2. The individual to whom the RCA is to be issued has sufficient knowledge and training for  the aeronautical product being maintained,  is familiar with the fundamentals and conditions associated with the signing of a maintenance release under the Canadian Aviation Regulations, and that aviation safety is not compromised by the issuance of the RCA; and
3. Consideration for issue of an RCA is contingent upon a proven record of the individual’s training, knowledge and experience, sufficient to exercise signing authority granted by the RCA.

4.3 An RCA will only be issued to an individual, the purpose for which must involve the maintenance release of a Canadian aircraft. An RCA will not be issued to a maintenance organization. 

4.4 An RCA will not be issued solely to prevent potential economic loss or last-minute operational problems. These predicaments can be avoided by maintaining a close dialog with Transport Canada.

4.5 Operators applying for repeated approvals will be expected to make arrangements to secure the services of an appropriately rated and trained AME. Failure to take reasonable steps to obtain the services of suitably licensed and trained personnel should be considered as grounds for refusal when repeated or additional requests for RCAs are made.

4.6 The period for which the RCA is issued will be limited to the time period necessary to accommodate the certification, which will not normally exceed 90 days, except: 

1. For aircraft operated without a Type Certificate (e.g. Limited category), the RCA will be valid until the expiry date of the AME's licence, at which time the AME is required to reapply for RCA issue.

4.7 In brief, Transport Canada Centres (TCC) are required to provide the following information to the AME Licensing and Training section to support a request for RCA issue:

1. Aircraft owner/operator: Name, address and phone number;
2. Applicable aircraft registration, make and model number;
3. Information pertaining to the individual to whom the RCA is to be issued e.g. name, licence number, country of licence issue, employer's name, AMO/AOC number, if applicable, and address;
4. Information pertaining to the requirement for issue of an RCA;
5. Confirmation of the required fee payment in accordance with CAR 104 (Schedule VI);
6. TCC recommendation for issue of the RCA.

4.8 The attached Appendix provides a sample of the format and type of information that must be provided to AARPG when requesting issue of an RCA.

5. Headquarter's Approving Procedure

5.1 Once the request is approved by Headquarters, authorization will be issued using the Restricted Certification authority document (Form 26-0381).

5.2 A hard copy of the RCA document will be forwarded to the applicable TCC. The original copy must be sent to the individual authorized to sign the maintenance release, and a photocopy must be placed on the individual’s 5802 personnel file or on the 5008 aircraft file when a 5802 personnel file doesn't exist.

5.3 The RCA number is to be quoted by the applicant on the certification document.

5.4 In urgent situations, AARPG will confirm the approval by telephone and follow-up with confirmation by Fax.

6. Effective Date

6.1 This instruction comes into effect immediately.

7. HQ Contact

7.1 The responsible officer indicated below may be contacted for information regarding this MSI

AARPG - Aircraft Maintenance & Manufacturing
E-mail: phippsj@tc.gc.ca
Phone: (613) 952-4386
Facsimile: (613) 952-3298

Original signed on February 12, 2007 by

D.B. Sherritt
Director,
Maintenance and Manufacturing

RESTRICTED CERTIFICATION AUTHORITY (RCA) REQUEST

In accordance with STD 566.02, in certain circumstances, persons who are not the holders of an appropriately rated Canadian AME licence may be permitted to issue a maintenance release, as provided in CAR 571.11.   A Restricted Certification Authority (RCA), for a Canadian registered aircraft, may be issued provided:

1. The applicant or company demonstrates to the Minister that a Canadian AME licence holder with a rating and/or training appropriate to the aeronautical product being maintained is not available within a geographical area accessible within one hour by surface transportation;
2. The individual to whom the RCA is to be issued has sufficient knowledge of the aeronautical product being maintained, has received the necessary training, is familiar with the fundamentals and conditions associated with the signing of a maintenance release under the Canadian Aviation Regulations; and
3. Aviation safety is not compromised by the issuance of the RCA.

The granting of an RCA is intended to prevent hardship directly caused by a lack of available licensed personnel, provided that suitable justification for the need has been demonstrated. 

Transport Canada Centres (TCC) are required to provide the following information to support the request for RCA issue:

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General Information

Date of request:
Transport Canada Centre (TCC):
Aircraft Owner/Operator: Name - Address - Phone number
Aircraft: Registration - Make - Model
RCA fee payment - CAR 104 schedule VI

Aircraft Technician and Employer Information

Aircraft Technician: Name Licence number including ratings, and endorsements Licence issue and expiry dates Country of issue
Employer: Name and address AMO/OAC number (if applicable)

Technical and Regulatory Background Information

Reason for RCA request
Aircraft technician’s training and length/nature of previous experience on aircraft similar to that for which the RCA is requested.
Prior action taken by requestor to find suitably licensed and trained AME to certify work completed on aircraft.
Has an RCA been previously requested by owner/operator for similar maintenance functions?  If so, identify RCA number and date of issue.

Transport Canada - Recommendation

TCC Recommendation: This information must include specific details with respect to why they are recommending the issue of the RCA and the scope of privileges to be covered by the RCA.
TCC Inspector/Officer Name and Date of recommendation: