Aug 23, 2011

A new ASTM International standard will be used to aid in the creation of auditing programs within the light sport aircraft industry. ASTM F2839, Practice for Compliance Audits to ASTM Standards on Light Sport Aircraft, was developed by Subcommittee F37.70 on Cross Cutting, part of ASTM International Committee F37 on Light Sport Aircraft.   

The new practice specifies the minimum methods and procedures that any audit program should contain, according to Severin Kempf, owner, Streamline Designs LLC, and leader of the task group that developed ASTM F2839. “In this regard, the standard does not specify what must be audited, but how one must go about auditing or, generally speaking, how one would set up an audit program,” says Kempf. “This approach proved to be successful in getting all interested parties to consensus.”

Kempf notes that the new standard sets the minimum requirements for the audit program, how it is structured, how to ensure confidentiality of information, qualifications of auditors and communication among all parties involved in the audit. “ASTM F2839 sets the stage for the self-regulating light sport aircraft industry to monitor itself, which will increase the confidence of both the regulators and users in the industry,” says Kempf.

“The light sport aircraft committee is always open to increased participation from users, producers and those with a general interest,” says Kempf. A task group has recently formed to begin work on an audit program for first article inspections that will be included in a future revision of F2839 as an appendix.

In addition to the new ASTM F2839, F37.70 is at work on a proposed new standard: ASTM WK33644, Guide for Compliance with Light Sport Aircraft Standards.

“The existing F37 LSA standards already cover what is required from LSA manufacturers,” says Anna Mracek Dietrich, chief operating officer, Terrafugia Inc., and an F37 member. “The proposed guide is intended to help with the ‘how’ from an organizational perspective, without being overly prescriptive. WK33644 will provide an outline of the compliance process, guidelines on the type of documentation that should be kept and other information in an attempt to clarify the spirit of the LSA standards and provide a common bar that all manufacturers can understand — and then hopefully exceed in their own way — for a declaration of compliance.”

All interested parties are invited to join in the standards developing activities of F37.

To purchase ASTM standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation number, or contact ASTM Customer Relations (phone: 610-832-9585; https://www.astm.org/contact/).  ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

ASTM Committee F37 Next Meeting: Nov. 2-3, 2011, October Committee Week, Tampa, Fla.
Technical Contact: (F2839) Severin G. Kempf, Streamline Designs LLC, Greenwood, Ind., Phone: 317-379-4853; severin.kempf@sportplanedesign.com; (WK33644) Anna Mracek Dietrich, Terrafugia Inc., Woburn, Mass., Phone: 781-491-0812; anna@terrafugia.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Christine DeJong, Phone: 610-832-9736; cdejong@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #8951