If an applicant follows the compliance methodology documented in a closed CWI, and their certificating authority endorses that methodology for a certification project, the other three CMT authorities will accept that compliance methodology for validation.

The applicant can indicate where CWIs have been used by referencing the CWIs in their certification plan and in other relevant certification documentation (e.g. validation work plans, compliance substantiation reports, etc.).

No, CWIs are non-binding. An applicant may choose to follow the compliance methodology in a closed CWI or use an alternative approach.

An applicant may use an alternative compliance approach by using existing guidance or agree to a new method by using the certifying authority’s existing issue resolution process. However, this approach might not be harmonized among the four authorities, which could result in additional time and effort in validation projects.

Yes, Industry can submit a proposal for a CWI to the CATA Chair through the Industry Lead. The CATA will discuss the proposal and decide how to proceed. The CATA Chair may also contact Industry with a request for additional information, if needed. The CATA Chair will inform Industry of CATA’s decision whether to move forward with a new proposed CWI that will be submitted for CMTS approval.

No. However, Industry may submit a CWI proposal to the CATA Chair as discussed above.

CATA would like industry to be aware of new, CMTS-approved CWIs that CATA is undertaking. CATA is not requesting industry comments on new CWI proposals, but Industry may provide comments if desired. Since CATA already has CMTS approval to work on the CWI as it has been defined, the Industry comments would not be able to influence whether CATA will undertake the project nor change the scope of the project.

No. Industry does not have the opportunity to comment on active CWIs that are in work internally in CATA. The CMTS-approved CATA Charter emphasizes the authority-only focus of CWI projects.

After the CMTS approves the CWI final decision for publication, CATA publishes the final decision and the CWI is considered closed. Industry may review closed CWI and provide comments to the CATA Chair via the Industry Lead. CATA will review the comments and decide whether further action is necessary. The CATA Chair will acknowledge receipt of the comments and provide an update to the Industry lead once a decision has been made. It is unlikely that industry comments will lead CATA to revise a closed CWI.

A member of the public may comment on a closed CWI by sending comments to the CATA contact provided on the CATA main page. CATA will review the comments and decide whether further action is necessary. The CATA Chair will acknowledge receipt of the comments and provide an update to the commenter once a decision has been made.

The CATA chair will request the information by contacting the Industry Lead.

An Industry member does not need to submit data to CATA through the Industry lead; instead, the data can be submitted directly to the CATA CWI lead or their CATA representative. CATA will share the data only with the CATA representatives and subject matter experts (SMEs) from each authority that are working on the CWI. The data will not be shared with other Industry members.

Typically, the SMEs consider authority and applicant positions in closed Issue Papers (IP) and Certification Review Items (CRI) and authority guidance in final/published advisory circulars (AC), acceptable means of compliance (AMC), and policy documents. The SMEs may also consider draft guidance documents (e.g. AC, AMC, and policy documents) and recommendation reports from advisory committees such as Aviation Rulemaking Committees (ARCs) and Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committees (ARACs). In addition, the SMEs may be able to consider the authority and applicant positions from IP and CRI that are currently open, provided that each applicant agrees to share its position and associated data with the SMEs from the other authorities to use in the CATA project. Note that the SMEs will not debate the merits of open IP/CRIs that apply to on-going validation projects, as this is outside the scope of CATA’s authority.

Closed CWI will be used to re-evaluate the SEI list and possibly lead to SEI removal.