Responsibilities Convening Authority CA

Part 2 ✈ Chapter 1 - Airworthiness Audit Policy and Procedures Page 17 Part 1 - Civil Aviation Audit Policy and Procedures MRA – 1st Edition September 1998 d approve the audit plan; e attend the entry meeting if possible; f attend the exit meeting, when practicable; g approve the covering letter and audit report and ensure that the auditee receives the report within twenty working days; h ensure that action is taken in an appropriate, timely manner for critical safety issues identified by the audit manager during the physical audit; i ensure that appropriate follow-up action is completed after the physical audit; and j send a letter to the auditee confirming that all audit findings and corrective actions are complete and that the audit has been closed.

3.2.3 Audit Manager

3.2.3.1 Terms of Reference

The CA will appoint an audit manager for each audit. This individual will be an airworthiness engineer or an operations or airworthiness inspector. For a large air operator, the audit manager should be appointed at least two months prior to the planned audit. This will allow sufficient time for research, familiarisation with the terms of reference, the selection of the audit team and the development of an audit plan. The audit manager: a will report directly to the CA for all audit matters. Team leaders and team members will report to the audit manager until released from their audit duties; and b will immediately contact the CA with a recommendation for action in the event of an imminent threat to aviation safety;

3.2.3.2 Qualifications

The audit manager shall: a have completed the applicable Speciality Course and Audit Procedures Course; b have experience related to the type of organisation to be audited; c possess a sound knowledge of aeronautical legislation and regulations; Page 18 Part 2 ✈ Chapter 1 - Airworthiness Audit Policy and Procedures MRA – 1st Edition September 1998 Part 2 ✈ Chapter 2 - Airworthiness Audit Policy and Procedures d have demonstrated communication and management skills; and e have acted as team leader for at least two audits.

3.2.3.3 Responsibilities

The audit manager shall: a plan, organise, direct and control the audit process; b negotiate dates sufficiently in advance to allow adequate planning prior to the audit; c select team leaders in consultation with the CA; d maintain an audit file, which will include all working notes, copies of audit-related documents and a copy of the audit report; e develop an audit plan for approval by the CA. The plan shall include the audit schedule and an indication of sampling sizes for audit files or records to be used to obtain information during the audit; f notify the auditee by letter of the planned audit at least one month prior to the audit dates. A sample letter can be found in Appendix 2; g ensure that the pre-audit documentation review is complete; h ensure that team members are knowledgeable in their assigned functional areas; i convene a pre-audit team meeting; j establish contact with the CA to relay fieldwork progress, potential problems, changes in the objectives, scope or depth of the audit, and other significant matters arising during the pre-audit phase; k co-ordinate and chair the entry meeting with the auditee and maintain a liaison with the auditee’s senior management; l advise the CA immediately of any critical safety issues identified during the physical audit; m ensure that any decisions to be made by, or approvals required from, the CA during the physical audit are received in a timely manner; n exercise line authority over audit team members and observers;