Military certification work performed by Brazil and the USA will be validated in a faster way between the two countries
Fonte: IFI, por Sargento Anderson – Agência Força Aérea
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and the National Airworthiness Council (NAC), the United States of America (USA) body that brings together the technical authorities of military airworthiness of the US Air Force, US Navy and US Army, respectively, signed the revalidation of the Military Airworthiness Authority (MAA) recognition certificates, providing the maintenance of mutual validation of inspection, certification, production and continued airworthiness activities of aerospace products and systems under the responsibility of both countries.
The Brazilian document was issued on July 17, 2022, and signed by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior; and by the Director-General of the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA), Air Lieutenant Brigadier Maurício Augusto Silveira de Medeiros. The American certificate, in turn, was issued on February 22, 2022, by Mr. Darrow Keith Robison, of the US Army.
The work of approaching the NAC began in 2015, and included the analysis of technical-administrative documentation and technical visits. In 2016, a team from the Institute for Industrial Promotion and Coordination (IFI) visited NAC and held meetings with its members, in order to start the procedure for mutual recognition of activities between the two countries.
The following year, NAC members visited IFI’s facilities in São José dos Campos (SP). On that occasion, it was verified that the IFI had the necessary processes, procedures, expertise, capabilities and authority for FAB to be recognized as a Military Airworthiness Authority by the U.S. government.
As a result of the visits, FAB and NAC signed, in 2018, the first AAM recognition certificates, initiating bilateral cooperation in that sector. Since then, the activities performed by the Aeronautics Command (COMAER) and the US agency have become mutually recognized. Since the standards and activities related to this recognition are revisited by both national authorities every four years, periodicity in which the certificate is renewed, FAB and NAC have recently executed a bilateral re-evaluation process in order to renew, or not, the agreement.
According to the IFI Director, Aviator Colonel Luiz Marcelo Terdulino de Brito, the revalidation demonstrates the quality of the certification work carried out by FAB, enabling greater insertion of Brazil’s aerospace and defense industry in the world, especially in the North American market. “In addition, it facilitates the exchange of information about mutually operated products, contributing to guarantee the performance, safety, and availability of aircraft operated by both countries, as in the case of the Brazilian A-29 Super Tucano,” he said.
Photos: IFI *** Translated by DEFCONPress Team ***