Alex Whittingham
24th May 2021, 13:53
There are some definitions of Performance Classes A and B floating around EASA legislation that do not match the applicability set out in CS25 (Amendment 21) and CS23 (Amendment 5) and this is creating confusion in my simple mind which persists in thinking CS.25 = Class A, CS.23 = Class B (quite possibly incorrectly). I look at EASA type certificates and I find jets below 5700 kg certified under CS.25 (although this is outside the applicability stated in CS.25 I can live with this) and their type certificates all clearly state 'Performance Class A', which is what I would expect. When however VLJs are certified under CS.23 or equivalent there is no corresponding Performance Class given, it just says 'normal, utiliy' . Normal, utility is a CS.23 category and this wouldn't indicate the Performance Class unless CS23 = Performance Class B is a rule. Going against this is a definition in the front of EU-OPS which says that 'Performance class A aeroplanes’ means multi-engined aeroplanes powered by turbo-propeller engines with an MOPSC of more than nine or a maximum take-off mass exceeding 5 700 kg, and all multi-engined turbo-jet powered aeroplanes; So by that definition even VLJs certified under CS.23 would be Class A, but why doesn't the type certificate say that?
I think the answer to my confusion will be found if I can determine whether VLJs certified under CS.23/FAR.23 (such as the CJ) are actually operated to Performance Class B rules in Part.CAT or to Performance Class A rules but I can find no document which will confirm this. Of course the criteria in CS.23 for high speed multis are very similar to CS.25 so its not always easy to see in practice when you look at the data in the AFM. I look on the type certificate - its not there, maybe it is in the Operations Manual? Can anyone help me with definitive information, please?
I think the answer to my confusion will be found if I can determine whether VLJs certified under CS.23/FAR.23 (such as the CJ) are actually operated to Performance Class B rules in Part.CAT or to Performance Class A rules but I can find no document which will confirm this. Of course the criteria in CS.23 for high speed multis are very similar to CS.25 so its not always easy to see in practice when you look at the data in the AFM. I look on the type certificate - its not there, maybe it is in the Operations Manual? Can anyone help me with definitive information, please?