Procedures

NA-016 Mutual Recognition of NANDTBs

Background

The international nature of aerospace was enhanced with the harmonisation of EN 4179, NAS 410 and other national standards. Each of these standards identifies a role for a NANDTB. It is important that there is an equivalence among these Boards, otherwise there is the potential for NDT inspections performed in one country having to be repeated in another, because there is a perceived difference in qualification and competence of the original inspection personnel.

The establishment of agreed minimum requirements for a NANDTB is necessary if training, examination, qualification and other matters recognised by one NANDTB are to be accepted by another. This procedure outlines the assessment criteria to be satisfied for those minimum requirements, which would underpin the mutual recognition of another NANDTB by the NANDTB of Australia.

For reciprocal recognition, the Australian Board would need to satisfy the requirements of that other Board. A NANDTB is free to qualify its recognition if it considers it to be necessary.

Assessment Topics

1. Is the NANDTB recognised by its NAA?

Notes: It is essential that a NANDTB be recognised by the country's Airworthiness/Safety Regulator, otherwise it does not meet the definition as shown in EN4179. There should be a written statement of recognition by the NAA.

2. Does the NANDTB have a charter and operational documents which ensure transparency, impartiality, independence and good governance?

Notes: A charter document sets out the role and authority of the NANDTB, but operational documents are necessary for the conduct of its business. Such documents may be procedural or policy documents for such matters as; the calling and conduct of meetings, resolution of disputes, avoidance of conflicts of interest, recognition of NDT qualifications, recognition of NDT training providers, requirements for examinations, election/appointment of members, financial arrangements, and others. To be acceptable, these documents should be sufficiently comprehensive to fully describe the policy or process and be judged to be workable.

3. Are the NANDTB members drawn from the nation's aerospace and related organisations?

Notes: The NANDTB's members should have aerospace or related background with a sound understanding of the role of NDT in the production or maintenance of aeronautical product. Academic or managerial qualifications will not be sufficient if they are not in combination with some NDT knowledge.

4. Is the NANDTB active? Has it conducted business in the past six months?

Notes: The NANDTB should be active and effective. However, activity does not necessarily ensure that the Board is effective. If the Board has not met or conducted business in the previous six months it may not be meeting the needs of its aerospace industry. While activity levels will vary from country to country, for recognition it must be established that the Board is performing its role as per EN 4179.

5. Does the NANDTB have the capacity to administer procedures for qualification and certification if required to do so?

Notes: EN 4179 permits the Responsible Level 3 or the NANDTB to administer the NDT qualification and certification program of an organisation. When an aerospace organisation without a NDT Level 3 requests the NANDTB to conduct this function, the Board should have the resources and expertise (or access to them) to do this effectively, and in a timely manner. Or it should be able to provide useful guidance to the organisation on how it can otherwise satisfy its EN 4179 requirements.

6. Does the NANDTB have sufficient number of members as suits its national aerospace NDT activity?

Notes: The amount of manufacture of aeronautical products will vary from country to country. It is reasonable to expect larger, more sophisticated NANDTBs in countries where the aerospace manufacturing industry is large. Smaller countries may have less members on their Board but each should be assessed for recognition by their effectiveness and ability to satisfy the country's requirements arising from EN 4179.

7. Does the NANDTB membership represent a sufficiently wide range of interests?

Notes: Not all countries will have the same level of activity in the manufacture of aeronautical products. Smaller countries may be equally or more involved in aerospace maintenance or operations. These areas also require EN 4179 for the qualification and certification of their NDT personnel. Accordingly, membership will inevitably include persons from maintenance, operations, training and the like. Members from these areas are equally acceptable to those from manufacturing organisations. There must only be one member (voting) from each represented organisation.

8. Are qualified NDT Level 3s on the NANDTB?

Notes: Although EN 4179 does not specifically state that NDT Level 3 persons are required on the NANDTB, it is a common approach by most if not all Boards, for at least some of the members to be qualified NDT Level 3. Membership of the NANDTB should include NDT Level 3 qualified persons.