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Quality and ISO in Aviation and Airports

4 min read

In aviation and airports, quality and ISO determine how confident passengers feel and, more importantly, how far organisations trust a service provider both internationally and locally. Developing and prioritising quality is important in each of the following areas:

  1. Safety and reliability: AS 9100, a quality management standard based on ISO 9001, focuses on quality in the aviation industry. It supports product safety, reliability and regulatory compliance.
  2. Improving the supply chain: AS 9100 certification helps organisations improve their supply chain and build mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers.
  3. Better chances of winning government tenders: ISO certification increases an organisation’s chances of winning government tenders.
  4. Access to global markets: ISO certification increases an organisation’s opportunities to export its products and reach global markets.
  5. Controlling quality standards and measures: ISO certification ensures that organisations control quality standards and measures from purchasing right through to product delivery and after-sales service.
  6. Achieving continual improvement: AS 9100 requires a process approach to managing continual improvement.

In addition, ISO certification ensures that organisations control quality standards and measures from purchasing right through to product delivery and after-sales service. Finally, AS 9100 requires a process approach to managing continual improvement. All of this shows how important quality and ISO certifications are in aviation.

Which certifications are required to establish an airport?

Establishing an airport requires numerous certificates and licences. According to the civil aviation authority, these include:

  1. Pilot and aircraft licences: pilots and aircraft must hold the appropriate licences.
  2. Aircraft maintenance engineer certificates: maintenance engineers must hold the required certificates.
  3. Air traffic controller licences: air traffic controllers must hold the appropriate licences.
  4. Medical fitness certificates: pilots, air traffic controllers, firefighters, rescue personnel and technicians must hold medical fitness certificates.
  5. Service provider licences and certificates: service providers must hold the appropriate licences and certificates.
  6. Aircraft registration: aircraft must be registered in, and deregistered from, the civil aviation registers.

Individuals and organisations must comply with civil aviation law when engaging in aviation-related activities. It is important to obtain the licences, approvals and certificates required by the civil aviation authority before carrying out these activities.

What are the quality management standards in the aviation industry?

Quality management standards in the aviation industry are based primarily on the AS/EN 9100 series. These standards include:

  1. AS 9100: the core standard focusing on quality in the aviation industry. It supports product safety, reliability and regulatory compliance.
  2. AS 9110: covers maintenance in the aviation industry.
  3. AS 9120: covers distributors in the aviation industry.

All of these standards are based on the international quality management system standard ISO 9001, with additions and interpretations specific to the aviation sector. They help organisations achieve compliance, reliability, a transparent commitment to the safety of the global supply chain, and excellence in quality.

Which certifications are required to establish an aircraft factory?

Establishing an aircraft factory requires numerous certificates and licences. According to information from the Arab Organization for Industrialization, these include:

  1. Approval certificates from the civil aviation authority: the factory must obtain approval certificates from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority in non-destructive testing, welding, painting and certain laboratory calibration capabilities.
  2. Civil aviation authority approval certificate: the factory must obtain an approval certificate from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority to manufacture a list of spare parts for French civil aircraft, as well as pipes, hoses, brackets and fittings.
  3. Quality certifications: the factory must obtain internationally recognised quality certifications such as ISO 9001 or AS9100.
  4. Government licences: the factory must obtain the appropriate government licences for operation and production.
  5. Environmental permits: the factory must obtain the environmental permits needed to ensure that manufacturing operations comply with environmental laws and regulations.

Names and procedures may vary according to the policies and practices of different countries, but they all aim for the highest levels of compliance in order to meet quality standards and obtain local and international certification and accreditation. Airports and aviation services reflect a country’s strength and quality, and organisations working internationally rely on them when choosing an aviation service provider, because these providers are the public face presented to every international partner.

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