TECHNICAL GUIDANCE MATERIAL

AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUALS

SUBJECT: TECHNICAL GUIDANCE MATERIAL FOR APPROVAL OF AN AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL

EFFECTIVE DATE: 9 September 2021

APPLICABILITY

This TGM is applicable to Approved Design Organisations and holders of modification design approvals for aircraft,
aircraft engines and propellers.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this TGM is to provide information on Aircraft Flight Manuals (AFM), including approval of AFMs,
changes to AFMs and AFM supplements.

REQUIREMENTS

1. REFERENCE

It is intended that the following reference material be used in conjunction with this TGM:

i. Part 21 of the South African Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs), Certification Procedures for Products and Parts
ii. SA-CATS-21 of the South African Civil Aviation Technical Standards, Airworthiness Requirements

2. TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

TERM DEFINITION

Aircraft means an aircraft as defined in the CARs, including its engines, propellers, rotor,
components, parts, equipment, instruments, accessories and materials

Aircraft Flight Manual means a manual that is part of the certification basis of the aircraft, containing the
operating limitations within which the aircraft is considered airworthy, and any other
information required for the safe operation of the aircraft, including all amendments
and supplements for that manual.

Aircraft Type means all aircraft of the same basic design, including all modifications thereto,
except those modifications which result in a change in handling or flight
characteristics

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 Airworthiness Data means any information necessary to ensure that an aircraft or aircraft component
can be maintained in an airworthy condition.

Airworthiness Standards The design standards applicable to the Class I product for approval or certification
under Part 21.
Approved Design A design organisation approved under CAR Part 147 to carry out design activities
Organisation under Part 21. An ADO’s scope of approval may include approval and certification
activities for modification/repair designs under Part 21 and approval of changes to
flight manuals.

Authority means the National Airworthiness Authority of the certifying country or State of
Design

Class I Product means a complete aircraft, aircraft engine or propeller, that has been type
certificated in accordance with the appropriate airworthiness requirements and for
which the necessary type certificate or equivalent have been issued

Type Certificate Holder means the legal entity to which the type certificate is issued

Type Acceptance Certificate means acceptance of a design approval for Class I product issued in terms of the
CARs

ABBREVIATION DESCRIPTION

AD Airworthiness Directive

AED Airworthiness Engineering Department

AFM Aircraft Flight Manual

CAR Civil Aviation Regulations

E: AE Engineer: Airworthiness Engineering

E: ASO Executive: Aviation Safety Operations

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organisation

M: AE Manager: Airworthiness Engineering

NAA National Airworthiness Authority

SACAR South African Civil Aircraft Register

SA-CATS South African Civil Aviation Technical Standards

TAC Type Acceptance Certificate

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 TC Type Certificate

TCDS Type Certificate Data Sheet

3. BACKGROUND

3.1. Regulatory Requirements

3.1.1. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 8 requires that each aircraft be provided with a flight
manual, placards or other document stating the approved limitations within which the aircraft is considered airworthy
as defined by the appropriate airworthiness standards, additional instructions and information necessary for the
safe operation of the aircraft.

3.1.2. The CARs define an aircraft’s flight manual (AFM) as a manual, associated with the certificate of airworthiness,
containing limitations within which the aircraft is to be considered airworthy, and instructions and information
necessary to the flight crew members for the safe operation of the aircraft.

3.2. General

3.2.1. An AFM is part of the type design as required by the type certification basis that the aircraft was originally certified
to. In some cases the original certification requirements are changed by a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC),
mandating the provision of an AFM even though the original type certification basis did not require the provision of
an AFM.

3.2.2. An AFM is a manual provided for an aircraft which states the approved limitations within which the aircraft is
considered airworthy, as defined by the appropriate airworthiness requirements, including additional instructions
and information necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.

3.2.3. All AFMs are identified by a part number like any other critical part of the aircraft. The primary source for identifying
the AFM applicable to a particular aircraft is the Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS). If there is uncertainty as to
which AFM is applicable to a particular aircraft, the type certificate (TC) holder or the manufacturer can provide that
information based on the make, model and serial number of the aircraft.

3.2.4. An AFM is usually clearly identified as an AFM. For some older aircraft, the AFM may be referred to as the Pilot’s
Operating Handbook (POH), Owner’s Handbook or Owner’s Manual.

3.2.5. In order for the AFM to be approved, the applicant must satisfy SACAA that the manual would comply with the
applicable airworthiness standards. For type certificated aircraft, the applicable airworthiness standards are
included in Parts 23, 25, 27 and 29 (and similar, as applicable).

3.3. Format of AFMs

3.3.1. An AFM may consist of approved and unapproved parts.

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3.3.2. Approved parts of the AFM are approved by the applicable national aviation authority (NAA), based on the type
certification requirements effective at the time of certification. The content of approved parts of the AFM must satisfy
requirements of FAR 23.2620, 25.1581, 27.1581 or 29.1581, or equivalent, as applicable.

3.3.3. Unapproved parts of the AFM are provided by the manufacturer additionally, as deemed necessary for the safe
operation of the aircraft, and cannot conflict with approved parts of the AFM. Each approved part of the AFM should
be clearly distinguished from any unapproved part of that AFM.

3.3.4. Some older AFMs comply with older airworthiness standards and may contain only unapproved information,
provided by the manufacturer as deemed necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.

3.4. Provisions of AFMs

3.4.1. Aircraft must be provided with a type of AFM, placards or a combination of AFM information and placards, as
applicable, according to the relevant certification basis.

3.4.2. Aircraft certificated under older certification requirements or under some special categories may not be required to
be provided with an AFM. The following aircraft may not be required to have an AFM:

3.4.2.1. aircraft up to a MTOW of 2,722 kg (6,000 lb) manufactured and flown prior to 1 March 1979
3.4.2.2. historic and ex-military aircraft
3.4.2.3. hang gliders
3.4.2.4. ultralight aircraft
3.4.2.5. gyroplanes
3.4.2.6. weight shift controlled aeroplanes and powered parachutes

3.4.3. Gliders, powered sailplanes and manned free balloons are required to have an AFM if required by the applicable
airworthiness standards.

3.4.4. Aircraft, other than those mentioned under paragraph 3.4.2 are all required to have an AFM.

4. APPROVAL OF CHANGES TO AFMs

4.1. If a design change (e.g. modification/repair design or STC) or compliance with the regulations necessitates a change
to the AFM for the applicable aircraft, then the AFM change must be approved. This would include designs that change
the crew/aircraft interface or the aircraft configuration (and are not already covered by the existing AFM).

4.2. The applicant for the design change, the applicant for complying with other specific regulations or the registered
operator of the aircraft may apply for a change to the AFM.

4.3. In order for the change to be approved, the applicant must satisfy SACAA, that the manual, as changed, would comply
with the applicable airworthiness standards or with the intended regulation, as applicable. For type certificated aircraft
this should include 23.2620, 25.1581, 27.1581 or 29.1581 (or similar, as applicable).

4.4. The showing of compliance for a change to an AFM associated with a modification/repair design should be covered
in the technical data approved for the modification/repair design.

4.5. The showing of compliance for a change to an AFM generated by requirements of a specific regulation, including
applicable operational regulations, should be covered in the technical data prepared in accordance with the
requirements supporting the applicable regulation.

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4.6. The AFM amendment or supplement should be in the same format and structure as the existing AFM, and should
clearly specify the design change or other approval to which the amendment or supplement relates. It is not necessary
to exactly replicate every aspect of the AFM format, but the amendment or supplement should be as similar as
practicable in order to facilitate its use.

4.7. If the aircraft does not have an AFM and a design change or the compliance with a specific regulation affects the
information that would normally be contained in an AFM, then an AFM supplement must be generated and approved.
However, if the information that would normally be provided in an AFM is provided by placards in the aircraft, and a
design change necessitates a physical change to the placards, then that change should be approved as part of the
design change.

4.8. Compatibility with the Applicable TC or STC

4.8.1. An approved AFM supplement can only be used with an aircraft’s AFM if its certification basis is compatible with
that AFM. AFM supplements usually have a statement at the front of the document clarifying the applicability of
the information included in the supplement. Such statements may include listing AFM part numbers, aircraft serial
numbers, variants of the applicable aircraft model, year of manufacture, etc.

4.8.2. In some cases, aircraft of the same type and model may have different type certification bases requiring different
AFMs. For example, an aircraft that has received both EASA and FAA certification will have separate AFMs
approved by each NAA. In this case, an FAA approved AFM supplement cannot be used directly with the AFM
approved by the EASA as the two TCs will differ in some details from each other.

4.8.3. In other cases, aircraft of the same type and model and the same type certification basis may have different AFMs
according to serial number and year of manufacture.

4.8.4. Each aircraft is manufactured in accordance with an approved TC and TCDS. For foreign aircraft type certificated
by the NAA of a recognised country, these are referenced in the SACAA type acceptance certificate (TAC). When
the aircraft is modified and a new AFM supplement or AFM amendment is required, the applicable certification
basis for the finding of compliance and approval of that supplement or amendment must be decided in accordance
with Part 21 requirements and the TC/TCDS/TAC applicable to the manufactured aircraft, as recorded on its data
plate.

4.8.5. The registered operator of an aircraft is responsible for ensuring that only compatible AFM supplements are used
with a particular AFM.

4.9. Airworthiness Statements Related to Aircraft Configuration, Operational Capability and Other Limitations

4.9.1. Some design changes require the AFM or AFM supplement to include an airworthiness statement regarding the
configuration, operational capability and/or limitations of the aircraft for certain operations. In such cases, it is the
responsibility of the applicant for the design change to include all required airworthiness statements in the AFM
amendment or AFM supplement when applying for approval of the AFM or AFM supplement. For specific
information on airworthiness statements, the applicant should refer to the regulations and guidance material
relevant to the design change.

4.9.2. Airworthiness statements in an AFM or AFM supplement are related to the configuration, operational capability
and/or limitations of the aircraft and do not constitute as operational authorisations or approvals for the registered
operator of the aircraft.

4.10. Minor Design Changes for which an AFM Supplement is not Required

4.10.1. An AFM supplement for a design change is not required if ALL the following conditions are met:

4.10.1.1. Does not restrict, displace, or limit the use of required equipment.

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 4.10.1.2. All new limitations can be addressed via placards.
4.10.1.3. The aircraft performance is not negatively affected.
4.10.1.4. Does not require a placard per TC or STC.
4.10.1.5. VFR use only.
4.10.1.6. The equipment is non-essential to safe flight of the aircraft.

5. MAINTENANCE OF AFMs

5.1. The registered owner or operator of an aircraft must ensure that the AFM is always appropriate for the aircraft, having
regard to:

5.1.1. any direction issued by SACAA relating to the AFM

5.1.2. any modifications to the aircraft that would require amendment of the AFM (refer to section 4 for further
details on approval of changes to an AFM)
5.1.3. any instructions in relation to the AFM from the holder of the TC, STC or modification/repair design
approval that applies to the aircraft.

5.2. In some cases, an aircraft may be issued with an AFM that contains AFM supplements available for the aircraft type,
which have not been incorporated or are not applicable for the specific aircraft. In such cases, it is the responsibility
of the registered owner or operator to clarify which supplement is and which one is not applicable to the specific
aircraft. This can be achieved through several methods; however, it must be clear from the AFM document what
method has been utilised for controlling non-applicable supplements.

5.3. The registered owner or operator of an aircraft may nominate a representative for maintaining the AFM for that aircraft;
however, the responsibility for the update status of the AFM remains with the registered operator of the aircraft.

6. DOCUMENT AUTHORISATION

DEVELOPED BY:

KIRAN DEBIPESAD 9 SEPTEMBER 2021

SIGNATURE OF CE: NAME IN BLOCK LETTERS DATE

REVIEWED BY:

JABULILE SIBEKO 9 SEPTEMBER 2021

SIGNATURE OF M: AED NAME IN BLOCK LETTERS DATE

VALIDATED BY:

LOBANG THABANTSO 9 SEPTEMBER 2021

SIGNATURE OF SM: NAME IN BLOCK LETTERS DATE

APPROVED BY:

SIMON SEGWABE 9 SEPTEMBER 2021

SIGNATURE OF E: ASO NAME IN BLOCK LETTERS DATE

END

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