Company May Hire, Train Designated Airworthiness Reps
Representatives with Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC, tell ANN it has
achieved "Organizational Designated Airworthiness Representative"
(ODAR) status with the Federal Aviation Administration. ODAR status
allows the company to conduct in-house airworthiness inspections
and approvals.
The recognition is especially noteworthy, Spectrum says, as it
was achieved much earlier than is typical in aircraft development
programs.
The ODAR appointment authorizes Spectrum to nominate, train and
manage its own Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DAR). DAR
specialists are responsible for determining design conformity and
overall airworthiness for the aircraft’s structure, systems
and component parts on behalf of the FAA. The Certificate was
presented to the company by Steve Palmer of the FAA’s
Manufacturing Inspection District Office located in Seattle,
WA.
"This is a genuine honor for Spectrum," commented Linden Blue,
Spectrum’s Founder and Chairman. "It represents a clear
expression of the FAA’s confidence in our team and the
company’s quality assurance system."
Spectrum’s Certificate of Designation reads, in part:
"...Spectrum Aeronautical. LLC has been found to have the
necessary knowledge, skill, experience, interest, and impartial
judgment to merit special public responsibility... with
authorization to act in accordance with the regulations and
procedures prescribed by the Federal Aviation
Administration..."
Spectrum associates K. "Dick" Vaughn and Juan Bailey, who were
instrumental in developing the company’s ODAR program, noted
that the FAA required rigorous proof that the company is able to
maintain high standards of conduct throughout the certification
process. Vaughn, who was named Spectrum’s ODAR Administrator,
also noted that "this will be a boost to the pace at which we can
move toward Type Certification."
The ODAR authorization came as a highlight during a design and
certification review between members of the company’s
development team and representatives from the FAA and the European
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The review was conducted at
Spectrum's development center near Provo, UT November 14 and
15.
Spectrum Aeronautical is the manufacturer of the six-to-nine
place Spectrum S-33 "Independence" and the mid-size Spectrum S-40
"Freedom" business jets. FAA certification of the Independence is
anticipated by mid-2009, with certification of the Freedom during
2010.