European military aircraft design organization approval

More than 20 years after the work started on establishing a common set of European military airworthiness requirements, Norway and Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) have received its first military aircraft design organisation approval according to European Military Airworthiness Requirements (EMAR).

Published: 21. December 2023

Thanks to EMAR, Norway has been able to base its airworthiness approval of the new maritime patrol aircraft P-8A Poseidon on already issued British approvals, thereby saving a considerable amount of man-years. Photo: Tiril Haslestad / Norwegian Armed Forces

In October 2023, NDMA Air Systems Division at Kjeller air base, was awarded its EMAR 21 Design Organization approval, opening up for other nations that are on the EMAR airworthiness regime to reuse changes and additions that NDMA ASD has introduced to Norwegian aircraft.

- To be able to exchange the design of modifications and repairs is a valuable asset in an international cooperation setting. Having a common set of requirements is making it easier to cooperate in multi-national projects, according to brigadier Jarle Nergård, CO of NDMA ASD.

An example of this is the approval of a medical isolation and transportation unit for air transport of high risk infectious patients, from which the Norwegian effort for AW101, Sea King and C-130J could be reused by the British armed forces for similar purpose.

Medical transportation unit in front of a helicopter — Work performed in Norway on a medical isolation and transportation unit for air transport of high risk infectious patients could be reused by the British armed forces for similar purpose. Foto: Onar Digernes Aase / Norwegian Armed Forces

Another example is the airworthiness validation of the new maritime patrol aircraft P-8A Poseidon, that thanks to EMAR, could reuse a large amount of British effort for the same aircraft, saving approx. 50 FTE man-years.

- Resale of aircrafts and parts becomes simpler when an agreed international set of requirements is the basis, and it will affect the value of the material in a positive direction. Therefore, this is highly advantageous for Norway, according to Nergård.

Man in uniform in front of a blue wall — Brigadier Jarle Nergård, CO of NDMA ASD. Photo: NDMA

Since Norway in 2017 decided to implement EMAR, extensive work has been done to train personnel, and then certify the organisation.

Jon Olsen, the head of Military Airworthiness Authority – Norway (MAA-NOR), formally issues the approval certificates based on the work performed by NDMA ASD. He sees the design organisation approval as an important milestone.

Profilbilde Jon Olsen.jfif — Jon Olsen, head of Military Airworthiness Authority - Norway (MAA-NOR)

- Having an EMAR 21 approval enables NDMA ASD to support the Royal Norwegian Airforce with aircraft modifications, for example introducing new equipment, and in the future repair design for Norwegian military aircraft. An enormous effort has been made by many competent employees, according to Olsen.

EMAR Air Systems Division