We use necessary cookies to make our website work. We'd also like to use optional cookies to understand how you use it, and to help us improve it.

For more information, please read our cookie policy.

UK Civil Aviation Regulations

These are published by the CAA on our UK Regulations pages. EU Regulations and EASA Access Guides published by EASA no longer apply in the UK. Our website and publications are being reviewed to update all references. Any references to EU law and EASA Access guides should be disregarded and where applicable the equivalent UK versions referred to instead.

Validation of design approvals

Guidance on validation processes and bilateral arrangements

We would like to hear from you

The CAA is committed to improving how we deliver services, please help us by completing a short survey about your experiences today



Bilateral arrangements in the form of Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements (BASA), Working Arrangements (WA) or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) are in place between the UK/ Civil Aviation authority (CAA) and other countries and their aviation regulators. These enable design approvals of one country to be used in the other by a process of Acceptance or Validation. The processes are specific to each BASA or WA and are detailed in Implementation Procedures.

Details of the bilateral arrangements that the UK/CAA has in place.

There are two processes for validation:

  • When the CAA is the Validating Authority (VA) for designs certificated by a Foreign Certification Authority (CA) seeking validation in the UK.
  • When the CAA is the Certificating Authority (CA) and assists a UK Applicant in obtaining validation by a Foreign Validating Authority (VA) - also referred to as Certification Support for Validation (CSV).

Validations typically fall into one of three main categories, but the details within the Implementation Procedures specific to each bilateral arrangement must be checked before submitting an application:

Acceptance

For simpler design approvals such as minor changes/repairs and equipment approvals the VA accepts the approval issued by the CA without any further technical or administrative involvement.

An application is not required and no validating approval certificate is issued.
Streamlined Validation

Typically for simpler Type Certificates (TC)/Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) and major changes.

An application is required and a validation certificate is issued without the need for a technical investigation.
Technical Validation

For complex TCs and STCs and major changes.

The VA may conduct a technical investigation but is generally limited to the areas of novel technology, safety significance or where there are significant differences between the certification standards of the CA and VA.

An application is required and a validation certificate is issued.
Administrative Validation

This simplified process requires no technical investigation by the CAA and is used in two cases:

  1. Applications from non-UK Type Certificate Holders for the administrative amendment of UK CAA Validated Type Certificate Data Sheets (VTCDS) or Validated Type Certificate Data Sheets Noise (VTCDSN); and
  2. Applications for UK CAA validation of design approvals under the Further Working Arrangements with ANAC (Brazil), FAA (USA) and TCCA (Canada). This case is valid only until 31 December 2022.


Eligibility

Holders of a foreign Design Approval may apply to CAA for validation of their designs in the UK. That application should be made via their Certificating Authority (CA).

UK Design Approval Holders may apply via the CAA for validation of their designs by a foreign Validating Authority (VA)

For projects that are subject to Technical Validation, applications are also acceptable where a concurrent certification and validation is requested.

How to apply

An application for Streamlined or Technical Validation is made using CAA Form SRG1726NR.

An application for Administrative Validation is made using CAA Form SRG1727.

The process outlined here is generic and details may vary according to the Implementation Procedures associated with the respective BASA or Working Arrangement.

Application Process (simplified) for Validation

CAA as Validating Authority



Streamlined Validation

Applicant
responsible
for

CAA
responsible
for

Foreign
Certificating Authority
responsible
for

Activity

x

 

 

Submit application for CAA validation to own National Aviation Authority as Certificating Authority (CA) including completed CAA Form SRG1726NR and the Data Pack as required by the respective Implementation Procedures.

 

 

x

Confirm eligibility for Streamlined Validation.

Check completeness of data pack and provide to CAA.

 

x

 

Verify completeness of Data Pack

 

x

 

Issue Validation Certificate

Technical Validation

Applicant
responsible
for

CAA
responsible
for

Foreign
Certificating Authority
responsible
for

Activity

x

 

 

Submit application for CAA validation to own National Aviation Authority (as CA) including completed CAA Form SRG1726NR and the Data Pack as required by the respective Implementation Procedures.

 

 

x

Confirm criteria for Technical Validation.

Check completeness of data pack and provide to CAA.

 

x

 

Verify completeness of Data Pack

x

x

x

Achieve Technical Familiarisation

 

x

x

Establish validation Certification Basis

 

x

 

Produce a Validation Plan (VP) and agree the Means of Compliance (MOC) and Level of Involvement (LOI)

x

x

x

Determine compliance as per the VP

 

 

x

Provide statement of compliance with VA Certification Basis

 

x

 

Issue Validation Certificate and Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS)/ Type Certificate Data Sheet Noise (TCDSN) as necessary

Administrative Validation

Applicant
responsible
for

CAA
responsible
for

Foreign
Certificating Authority
responsible
for

Activity

x

 

 

Submit application for CAA administrative validation to own National Aviation Authority (as CA) including the completed CAA Form SRG1727 and either:

  • the Data Pack as required by the respective Further Working Arrangement; or
  • the data necessary for CAA to update the VTCDS/VTCDSN.

 

 

x

Confirm criteria for Administrative Validation.
Check completeness of data and submit to CAA.

 

x

 

Verify completeness of the Data Pack (for validation under the Further Working Arrangements) or the data necessary to update the VTCDS/VTCDSN, as applicable.

 

x

 

Issue Validation Certificate or update the VTCDS/VTCDSN as necessary.

 

Close CAA as Validating Authority

CAA as Certificating Authority (Certification Support for Validation)



Streamlined Validation

Applicant
responsible
for

CAA
responsible
for

Foreign
Certificating
Authority
responsible
for

Activity

x

 

 

Submit application on CAA Form SRG1726NR and the Data Pack as required by the respective Implementation Procedures.

 

x

 

Confirm eligibility for Streamlined Validation.

Check completeness of data pack and provide to Validating Authority (VA)

 

 

x

Verify completeness of Data Pack

 

 

x

Issue Validation Certificate

Technical Validation

Applicant
responsible
for

CAA
responsible
for

Foreign
Certificating
Authority
responsible
for

Activity

x

 

 

Submit application on CAA Form SRG1726NR and the Data Pack as required by the respective Implementation Procedures.

 

x

 

Confirm criteria for Technical Validation.

Check completeness of data pack and provide to VA.

 

x

 

Verify completeness of Data Pack

x

x

x

Achieve Technical Familiarisation

 

x

x

Establish validation Certification Basis

 

x

 

Produce a Validation Plan (VP) and agree the Means of Compliance (MOC) and Level of Involvement (LOI)

x

x

x

Determine compliance as per the VP

 

x

 

Provide statement of compliance with VA Certification Basis

 

 

x

Issue Validation Certificate and TCDS/TCDSN as necessary

 

Close CAA as Certificating Authority (Certification Support for Validation)

News from UK Civil Aviation Authority

  1. SaxaVord Spaceport granted range licence by Civil Aviation Authority
    • Published on:
    • Category: News Item
  2. Range control licences: Giving space space
    • Published on:
    • Category: Blog Post
  3. Nearly half of consumers think airports and airlines are ready for their summer getaway
    • Published on:
    • Category: News Item