GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
(OP)
GAMA & FAA engineers have started discussing changes to the Part 23 aircraft certification process/requirements.
These changes could dramatically reduce the costs of certification by stratifying aircraft more along lines of complexity and/or weight and/or capacity. The lighter/less-complex/lower-capacity aircraft would face less challanging certification hurdles that are costing millions of dollars... which spawned the LSA catagory [low speed, 2-place, day-VFR].
Listen to the GAMA director of engineering and manufacturing describe what has been initiated... and hope that sanity prevailes. http://ww w.avweb.co m/podcast/ podcast/Au dioPodcast _GregBowle s_GAMA_Par t23Revisio ns_205273- 1.html?kw= AVwebAudio
These changes could dramatically reduce the costs of certification by stratifying aircraft more along lines of complexity and/or weight and/or capacity. The lighter/less-complex/lower-capacity aircraft would face less challanging certification hurdles that are costing millions of dollars... which spawned the LSA catagory [low speed, 2-place, day-VFR].
Listen to the GAMA director of engineering and manufacturing describe what has been initiated... and hope that sanity prevailes. http://ww
Regards, Wil Taylor
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RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
I don't know if I would agree with having less stringent part 23 certification requirements simply based on complexity/weight/capacity metrics. I would propose that the level of certification effort for any particular aircraft design should instead be based on a "risk" scale. The risk scale would take into account many variables, such as how/where the aircraft would be operated, how the aircraft is manufactured and maintained, what is the predicted overall failure/reliability rate of the aircraft, etc. If the aircraft design and operational envelope can be shown by analysis to present a very low risk to the occupants, other aircraft, and the general public, then there might be a good case for reducing some of the certification hurdles. However, I don't think it's a good idea to waive certification/safety procedures just because the aircraft is a VFR piston single seater with mechanical controls.
While I'm mostly a proponent of limited federal government regulation, I would accept that having FAA certification of aircraft designs intended to operate in the public airspace is a legitimate function of the federal government. And since the certification process is primarily for public safety, one thing that would be very helpful to GA aircraft manufacturers would be for the FAA to have a fixed cost and time period for the certification effort.
The recent history of GA aircraft is littered with small/start-up GA aircraft manufacturers that have failed during the certification process (Adams, Eclipse, etc.). For these small businesses, a delay of 12 or 24 months in certification causes them to go bankrupt due to lack of cash flow. If the cost and time involved in certification were fixed and predictable, it would be very helpful.
Regards,
Terry
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
I'm not convinced that there would be a big advantage, because these new aircraft manufacturers seem to insist on complexity: MFD's in the panels, all-composite wings, explosive safety features like parachutes and (soon) airbags. The consequences of failure of such things can quickly become catastrophic, requiring high high reliability, and then you get fault-tree analysis percolating throughout the machine... so much for the streamlined certification process.
The real problem may be that customers expect something in their brand-new aircraft that they just can't afford.
It does make me wonder if anyone has ever done a breakdown of FAR 23 requirements and tabulated what each one of them costs (approximately) the manufacturer in design, and the customer in ongoing maintenance. Take a random requirement, such as 23.997 Fuel strainers. The strainer itself costs a few bucks, the fitting and holder a few more, the drawing and factory assembly instructions take a bit of time, location and support may be debated a bit on the floor, and then somebody has to put it in the IPC and write a paragraph for the maintenance manual. Dollars. Then the customer has to pay his mechanic to clean it from time to time, part of regular maintenance and so on. More dollars. Simple calculation. But-
How the heck are you going to take regulations like that and decide that "it's not as important as we thought" and eliminate it!? If it's not that, is it "climb over a 50-foot obstacle", or "emergency procedures in the flight manual", or is the 9.0g forward ultimate load factor going to get shaved down?
Exactly what is going to go?
If it's about cost, then some bean-counter has to stick his head up and say that the estimated cost of the regulation "X" is much higher than the estimated cost of the failures "Y".
You wouldn't catch me up there making that argument! Ford tried that with the Pinto rear-end accident lawsuit(s) and it was a PR disaster.
Steven Fahey, CET
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
So sure its not perfectly efficient but it works. There are changes that can be made to the system BUT they are not going to reduce costs by more than a couple of percent. Any other changes would likely reduce the level of safety
Its not the reg's that are killing aviation its the reduction in peoples will to fly.
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
Needless to say this did not help their bottom line.
B.E.
The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
If you get the chance, look at the leading edge of a Lear 60. About every forth fastener, spanwise, you have a button head machine screw. The rest of the screws, scores of them, are flush. I was told the following by a very knowledgeable Bombardier tech rep:
"At some point in the process the aircraft was "tufted" and flown to observe airflow on the leading edge, with the "yarn" attached to the aforementioned button head screws. These tests were completed, and the aircraft proceeded through the certification process, but the button heads were never replaced by flush screws. At some point in time, this was noticed, & plans were made to install the proper countersunk screws, but the FAA would have none of it, without re starting the entire process."
This may be BS, but having had some contact with SOME FAA guys in the past, I would not be surprised if there was some truth in it.
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
Sometimes, the relationship between FAA DERs and the OEMs can get confrontational. On one hand, since the DER must sign-off on the design and thus take some responsibility for it, the DER tends to be very conservative and cautious. On the other hand, since the DER must take some responsibility for giving their approval, they are also given significant authority over the process.
The FARs themselves are also sometimes a bit subjective. The FAA has a difficult task when writing the FARs. They don't want to make them too specific, which would lead to incomprehensible FARs that resemble ObamaCare or IRS regulations. But at the same time, the FARs need to be specific enough to minimize any creative interpretations that might present a safety issue.
As I noted, anything that can be done to improve the working relationship between the FAA, DER and OEM would be of great benefit. Controlling certification costs and schedules, standardizing the certification process, and getting the DER intimately and continuously involved from the very beginning of the design process would all be very helpful.
With small OEMs, having an experienced DER point out potential certification issues early on would reduce costs and delays in the actual certification process. The FAA budget could surely afford to assign a dedicated full-time DER to any GA OEM that has applied to certify an aircraft. Such an approach would promote a proactive, cooperative relationship between the FAA and OEMs, instead of the reactive, adversarial relationship that seems to sometimes exist. Rather than having a situation where the OEM wants to get through certification with the minimum amount of effort, and the DER mostly wants to make sure he has his rear-end covered, we need a process that would encourage both parties to do the best job.
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
An interesting point on this is to look at history. Take a look at the number of NEW TCs issued since Part 23 went into effect in the early 1960s. I'd bet that there aren't more than about 100 or so. Thats 50 years of aviation history and very few new designs. Now look at the period from 1927 to 1939, just of=ver a 10 year period, and most of it during the depresion. During that period there were over 700 TCs issued. Something to be said for Aero Bulletin 7a and CAR 4a. Also take a look at the number of ADs issued on Part 23 airplanes and compare to airplanes certified under the CARs (with exception of the PA-28 and the Beech 18). Looks more like the newer designs are released before they are ready for prime time. There are lots of old airframes that have NO ADs yet stuff that comes off the line today have lots of ADs before the paint is dry.
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
Now consider this; if the metal always fails, then all of the certification tests for details (as per AC 20-107B) will always measure only the strength of the metal and we can look that value up in MMPDS-3. So why do all those tests? Just think of the reduction in certification costs by eliminating so many tests.
To take this approach requires a number of changes to design and process methodology. Firstly, the rediculous and invalid average shear stress design method must be scrapped and replaced with Hart-Smith's load capacity method where the variablity in strength of a joint caused by changes in thickness, elastic modulus, thermal expansion coefficients for adherends is accounted for by calculation, not meaningless tests. Design such that the bond is stronger than the structure and failure will always occur outside the joint. With the average shear stress method this is not possible so testing is always essential.
The next issue is to provide an adequate overlap to ensure that the joint can achieve the required overlap.
Next, there needs to be assurance of bond durability and that depends totally on the method of surface preparation, and in particluar how valid testing to demonstrate bond durability is undertaken.
These issues are explained in DOT/FAA/AR – TN06/57, May 2007. http:
As a separate issue, the application of damage tolerance to management of bonded joints needs to be carefully addressed, because current methods are only valid immediately after production. Application of damage tolerance to service defects is meaningless and unsafe because the current methods assume that the adhesive surrounding hte defect maintain virgin strength, when in reality if a joint is disbonding, then the surrounding bond is degraded so any assumption of pristine bond strength is invalid. See the reference attached.
Now if the issue of bond durability is addressed, there is a potential to significantly reduce the cost of NDI for the aircraft owner because bond degradation should not occur. The only need for inspection then is to evaluate physical external damage.
Regards
Blakmax
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
Unbreakable composite bond breaks.
http://ww
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
Which is exactly why I said the processes must be validated. In that particular case, I am told that the bonds were performewd in a hot environment and the workers had used fans fitted with water jets to coll them down. Water and adhesive bonds just do not mix.
Get the design right, get the processes right and the bonds should not break.
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
... and the factory climate control, and the training of the technician, and the quality control of the adhesive supplier, and the NDT inspector's tool calibration... It's endless.
How many of us have assembled two sheets of aluminum with a series of MS rivets, pulled until the rivets broke, and checked the failure load? It would give you a lot of confidence in the Mil-Hdbk-5 numbers.
Try the same thing with composites, and you find the results scatter all over the place.
Steven Fahey, CET
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
If you did the same with an adhesive bond which had been designed and processes correctly the failure load should approach Fult as per MIL HDBK 5 (now published as MMPDS). You can never achieve anything approaching that value with fasteners.
I agree with your comments about processing issues with composites. It is very easy to produce a bad composite and also a bad adhesive bond if you do not know what you are doing. However, this is not the fault of the technology; it is a problem with education and implementation.
Regrads
Max Davis
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
Spot on, I agree completely.
But unfortunately life outside the lab is driven by bang-for-the buck, and what's the first thing that falls by the wayside in bad times?
Training, IMHO
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
The economics don;t stack up. A quick and dirty process that saves a few hours but which is repeated frequently is not more economical that a validated effective process that is done well....Once.
Regards
Max
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
tbuelna - "The FAA budget could surely afford to assign a dedicated full-time DER to any GA OEM that has applied to certify an aircraft. " > ah no; the FAA does not employ DER's; all DER's are paid by companies, either as direct employees or as consultants. In theory the FAA has engineers in the ACO's to help applicants, but those engineers are overwhelmed with work as it is now. Increasing the FAA budget - good luck getting that thru Congress.
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
Anyone attempted an RVSM approval lately?
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
(I should point out that the following are personal opinions, I guess).
I don't run down composite structures, I just debate how appropriate they are when the full life-cycle of an aircraft structure is considered. There are some direct operating costs that can be saved by producing aircraft structures with composites, and the first owner will probably realize these benefits.
My world revolves around the airframes that are still flying after 30 years (40, 50, 60, 70, even) and they've changed hands dozens of times. It's a very different perspective.
The argument that a well controlled factory can produce a superior aircraft is not in question. I'd agree with that. It's the continued airworthiness costs that are my concern. A de-lamination zone in a CF spar - scrap the wing. Find corrosion on the web of an aluminum spar - clean/replace/reinforce and it's on its way.
Once the composite airframe design becomes the norm, then aircraft will not live as long as they did with metallic airframes. The utility, economy, and accessibility of general aviation is something that we take for granted today. Making airframes cost 5x more and last 1/2 as long will be detrimental to the industry as a whole.
Steven Fahey, CET
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
""A de-lamination zone in a CF spar - scrap the wing. ""
Then why would you have a repair schedule from some manufacturers for a 100 to 1 scarf joint to take out the damaged area.
Your statement does not fly.
B.E.
The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
However I am also not a fan of scarf repairs as suggested by BE, especially at a scarf ratio of 1/100. Suppose you have a structure which is 0.25 inches thick. If a scarf of 1/100 is applied then the scarf will be 25 inches long, on both sides of the defect, giving a 50 inch repair. I can't see any DER approving a process to remove 50 inches of good material.
Now my expertise is mainly in metal bonding, and if Steven's metal aircraft were bonded using appropriate design methods and valid processes, they would last even longer than the alternate mechanically fastened method.
Regards
Max
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
I have been whacked by FAR 25/23/27/29.613 enough times to be wary of composites. Maybe I'm just unlucky, but the airframe types I've been dealing with don't use materials in Mil-Hdbk-17. No data, then no proof, so no approval.
Since I am not the OEM, I don't have the proprietary data on hand to back up analysis of a repair. To get it would cost as much as a new wing. To develop the data would cost more than a new wing. The client buys a new wing.
I'm not talking about dropped screwdrivers, either. Everybody reading this thread knows you can find that kind of repair in the Maintenance Manuals of any aircraft. I'm talking about hangar rash that cracks the LE. Birds nests in the landing gear well. Fuel seepage. Disposition after a lightning strike. All the fun stuff that happens to airplanes in their lifetimes. That doesn't get written up in the MM because every case will be different.
Nobody can cope with these repairs unless they have access to coupon strength/humidity/temperature test data. As I said, that belongs to the people who developed it for the type certificate.
To make statements that "it's easy" means you either you work for an OEM, have a deal with one to license the data, or acquired the data by "other" means... and I'll leave it at that.
Steven Fahey, CET
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
I agree with you.
When I shut down my repair station I had 11 plastic wings from various manufacturers that were unrepairable because the repairs needed were outside the scope and detail of the maintenance manual (We burned them.), and it was cheaper to buy a new wing than engineer a repair. Another thing driving this was the customer who very often felt that a new wing would just be better than one that was fixed.
Right now in the USA there is one manufacturer of plastic single engine land aircraft, who is charging far more than cost for engineering expertise for relativly simple repairs that are outside the somewhat limited scope of his repair manual, just to ensure that damaged aircraft are totaled out instead of being repaired.
B.E.
The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
Had a "plastic" aircraft attempt to taxi with the tail tie down still attached, damaging the attach point. The repair (and associated paperwork) cost thousands of dollars to acquire.
At the time of the incident, the type was in the field for years. You can't convince me that that this hasn't happened before. If so, and the data was approved, why wasn't the repair scheme added to the maintenance manual?
Because all you have to do is double click a file, and send an invoice for $1500.00, and the end user has to pony up the money.
Cha-Ching!!!
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
Most of my experience has been with German (Plastic.) aircraft where repair schedules came with the necessary spare parts at a reasonable price, and if the manufacturer said it was cheaper to produce a new wing than engineer a fix for the broken one I believed them.
Your case in point is what I am talking about.
A relatively simple repair of a type that is likely to happen again should be added to the repair manual.
B.E.
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
"In a report (PDF) completed last month, the U.S. Government Accountability Office examined "safety concerns" about the use of composites in commercial aircraft. Based on research and interviews with experts, GAO investigators identified four key safety-related concerns with the repair and maintenance of composites in commercial airplanes, but added that none of the experts they talked to believed these concerns were insurmountable or posed "extraordinary safety risks." The FAA is taking action to help address its concerns, the GAO said, but added that "until these composite airplanes enter service, it is unclear if these actions will be sufficient.
The four concerns cited by the study are: (1) limited information on the behavior of airplane composite structures, (2) technical issues related to the unique properties of composite materials, (3) standardization of repair materials and techniques, and (4) training and awareness. Boeing's 787 is the first mostly composite large commercial transport airplane to undergo the FAA certification process. Since existing safety standards are often based on the performance of metallic airplanes, the GAO said, the agency was asked to review the certification processed used by the FAA and EASA. The 787 is about 50 percent composite by weight, not counting the engines, according to the report"
It appears that your concerns (berkshire and through the fence) about repairability of composite structures is supported at a high level.
My background is in the development of bonded repair technology for composite repairs of metallic structures. This technology has a proven history on military aircraft extending over 36 years with high reliability, substantially better fatigue performance compared to mechanical repairs, better NDI and demonstrated cost savings. Even with this track record, the number of bonded repairs included in repair manuals is incredibly small.
I am not sure if this and the repairability of composite structures are due to characteristics of the materials and technology, a lack of understanding of the specific requirements for repair of new materials, a lack of intestinal fortitude in development of repairs or just commercial opportunism by manufactures in wanting to make the most of a lack of operator capability in the field.
Clearly, these are important issues and need to be resolved if composites and bonded structures are to achieve their full potential.
Regards
Blakmax
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
"the number of bonded repairs included in repair manuals is incredibly small" - is not correct; there are lots of bonded repairs included in every Boeing SRM from the 737 thru 787.
SW
RE: GAMA and FAA: in talks to explore changes to Part 23 Certification
I needed to be clearer about bonded repairs in SRMs. There are many bonded repairs for honeycomb sandwich panels, but the number of repairs for non-sandwich structure (for example wing or fuselage skins) is extremely low.
Regrads
Max