Different Functions Of An ODA Engineering Company

By Edward Perry


Guaranteeing the well being of passengers on all aviation designs is the most important function of the Federal Aviation Administration. Obviously, the department does not have the capacity to supervise all aspects of flight, hence, the ODA was created in 2005. The Organization Designation Authorization helps extend the oversight of the FAA into other aspects of aviation through the delegation of other organizations in handling specific responsibilities. A single ODA engineering company may look after repairs, while another supervises knowledge tests.

Private companies qualified for an ODA usually perform a considerable amount of tasks for the FAA. ODA became fully implemented in November 2009 when the department instructed all other delegates to comply with the new policy. RSBT is another system also known as the Risk Based Resource Targeting created in 2007 in order to help engineers identify the projects with the highest risks involved and also needed more supervision.

The department can choose which private companies or aircraft manufacturers perform certain functions. Hence, there are different types of authorizations for which qualified organizations may apply. A company with a Type Certificate or a TC authorization may issue airworthiness certificates or engineering and manufacturing approvals.

The Supplemental Type Certification enables holders to handle repair stations, manufacturers, and operators. Production Certification qualifiers can perform evaluations regarding production records, approve modifications to the quality control manual, and determine conformity. Qualifiers of a Parts Manufacturer Approval may assess computation and test approvals, STCs, and licensing agreements to identify whether a manufacturer is worthy of a PMA certification or not.

Technical Standard Order Authorization or TSOA holders may regulate conformity of articles, test articles, and test setups of aviation projects. Organizations with an MRA or Major Repair, Alteration, and Airworthiness ODA approve major repairs and alterations. They also perform aging aircraft inspections and record reviews.

An Airman Knowledge Testing certification gives the power to command the distribution of knowledge tests, supervise management testing centers, and give out test results to the applicants. Some portions in the process leading to the release of a Rotorcraft External Load Operator Certificate may be conducted by holders of an Air Operator ODA. All qualified applicants of ODAs are basically enabled by the FAA to assess flight safety with new designs.

However, there are concerns that the ODA allows companies to select other individuals to accomplish tasks with little or no supervision from the FAA itself. Additionally, there are also complaints that the RBRT system, which is largely based on subjective inputs, inhibits engineers from assessing projects with medium or low risk since higher risk ones are prioritized. ODA companies may even allow units with evidence of poor performance in the past to conduct approvals on certain projects.

Compliance reviews may even be neglected because of lack of involvement of the main agency. Engineers also fail to detect instances of noncompliance. The RBRT was consequently disabled in 2009 because of the technical difficulties it posed. Revisions were planned for a better more comprehensive system to combat the issues encountered.

At present, these systems created by the agency have undergone many revisions and still have to address existing difficulties. Nevertheless, the agency and other organizations are all working toward a common goal of building a system that allows airline companies and manufacturers to keep each other on track and responsible for their own specific roles. Ultimately, the leading objective is to make flight a safer and more economical means of transportation.




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