Company Approved To Perform Testing, Certification Of Avionics Installs

AeroMechanical Services Ltd. announced this week it received the designation as a Design Approval Organization (DAO) from the Canadian Minister of Transport.

This designation will greatly expedite the installation process of AMA's data monitoring, recording and satellite communications equipment on its customers' aircraft both in Canada and abroad, resulting in increased throughput capacity and cost savings. It will also allow AMA to authorize minor changes to the design of its Automated Flight Information Reporting Systems (afirs) approvals on behalf of Transport Canada Civil Aviation and to expedite major changes (Supplemental Type Certificates or STC's) in coordination with Transport Canada.

By holding the DAO designation AMA has been delegated by Transport Canada the ability to perform engineering, integration, testing and certification for avionics equipment installations.

The DAO designation is reserved for a select few organizations that develop and demonstrate competency and accountability for certification of aircraft modifications. Fewer than 40 companies in Canada have been granted this status. In order to obtain the designation as a DAO, AMA developed and has committed to detailed engineering and organizational procedures against which it will be audited for compliance.

AMA says the designation is also a result of the confidence that has built up over more than six years of close cooperation with Transport Canada on the numerous approvals (34 LSTC and STCs) already obtained for the company's products on a variety of aircraft -- including the Dash 7, Dash 8, Airbus A319/320/321, Boeing 737, 757, 767, Fokker F100, CRJ, McDonnell Douglas DC-10 (shown below), and Hawker Beechcraft 800XP series.

In addition to the Canadian approvals, many of these STC's have been approved by other agencies around the globe, this allowing use of AFIRS in other regions: 11 in the US (FAA), 6 in Europe (EASA), 4 in China (CAAC), and one in Egypt; others are pending or in process.

"This designation recognizes the engineering capability of AMA. The DAO will further enhance the design approval and support services available to our customers," said Jeff Brunner, Manager of Certification Engineering and DAO Administrator for AMA.

AMA President Richard Hayden added, "This designation is a credit to our engineering team and processes. STCs are required for any equipment to be installed on any aircraft around the globe and the DAO designation will allow AMA to expedite the STC application process, representing a significant competitive advantage for AMA."

FMI: www.amscanada.com, www.flyht.com