Certification Authorities for Transport Airplanes (CATA)
The Certification Authorities for Transport Airplanes (CATA) comprises aircraft certification management representatives from ANAC (Brazil), EASA (EU), FAA (US), and TCCA (Canada). The CATA is tasked to identify and pursue, through collaborative activity, certification policy and guidance harmonization opportunities. The full CATA Charter has been established by the certification director-level Certification Management Team (CMT).
For further information, please contact the FAA CATA management representative:
James Wilborn, AIR-62A, James.Wilborn@faa.gov
CATA Harmonization Decisions
CATA harmonization decisions are documented in closed CATA Worklist Item (CWI) forms, signed by the CATA principals from all four authorities. CATA closure decisions vary depending on the nature of the issue.
Most CATA CWI forms document an agreed compliance methodology for the subject certification issue. If an applicant follows the documented methodology, and their certificating authority endorses that methodology for a certification project, the other three CMT authorities will accept the methodology for validation. The objective is to offer to industry harmonized compliance approaches, which if adopted, will streamline the validation process. Typically, the subjects addressed in CATA decision documents are those that have required significant authority and industry resource expenditure to resolve in multiple projects.
CATA Worklist Item (CWI) Decision Documents
| CATA Reference | Subject | Closure Date |
|---|---|---|
| FAA-003 | Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) Guidance Harmonization | 12/05/2024 |
| FAA-004 | Runway Excursion Hazard Classification | 11/26/2024 |
| EASA-002 | CS/FAR 25.867 Fire Protection: other components – 2D Nacelle | 10/23/2024 |
| ANAC-001 | Fuel Line Installation - Crashworthiness | 9/5/2024 |
| TCCA-006 | Evacuation slide system installed in non-pressurized compartment | 2/26/2024 |
| TCCA-005 | MRB Task Interval Escalation – Tasks Adopted from Candidate CMRs | 10/20/2022 |
| FAA-005 | Flight Control System – Operation Tests | 9/28/2022 |
| EASA-003 | Installed systems and equipment for use by the flight crew (25.1302) | 8/17/2022 |
| EASA-005 | Unusual Landing Operations | 9/20/2021 |
| TCCA-002 | In-Flight All-Engines-Out Restart Guidance | 8/18/2020 |
| FAA-003 | Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance Harmonization | 10/29/2019 (Interim Release) |
| TCCA-001 | High Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF) Testing | 10/24/2019 |
| FAA-001 | Flightcrew Emergency Exits Proximity | 9/24/2019 |
| TCCA-003 | Engine Rotor Lock Testing | 11/29/2018 |
| FAA-002 | Software Guidance Harmonization | 3/8/2018 |
| TCCA-004 | Aircraft Level Integration Testing | 3/8/2018 |
CATA Decision Document Use
As noted previously, if an applicant proposes to adopt the compliance methodology documented in a CATA decision document, and their certificating authority endorses that methodology for a project, the other three CMT authorities will accept the methodology for validation.
As with any policy, if a CATA member-authority becomes aware of circumstances that make it apparent that following the documented approach would not result in compliance with the member-authority's applicable airworthiness standards, then the terms of the CATA document are non-binding and the member-authority may require additional substantiation or design changes as a basis for determining compliance. Compliance approaches described in CATA decision documents are also non-binding for applicants. Applicants are free to propose alternative approaches.
CATA decision documents do not describe the means each member-authority will use to apply them to a project. Each authority will utilize their own system to manage project use of these documents. The FAA issued memorandum AIR600-21-630-DM10, dated June 16, 2021, to address use of CATA decision documents in the FAA system. This memorandum superseded memorandum AIR600-18-6C0-DM106, Revision 2, dated July 7, 2020. This memorandum permits reference to a CATA decision document in lieu of an issue paper for documenting a means of compliance. This approved deviation to FAA Order 8110.112 applies to both domestic certification and import validation projects.