UK National Aerospace NDT Board
NAndtB/10 - Policy on Recognition of PCN Aerospace Certificates for NDT personnel operating under EASA Part 145
In accordance with the requirements within EN 4179, the NANDTB is entitled to recognise equivalency, and in this regard the UK National Aerospace NDT Board has agreed to recognise that the PCN/GEN Appendix A (aerospace sector) certificates issued after 28th November 2004 satisfy the qualification criteria of EN 4179 until 31st March 2011, after which date only certificates issued under PCN/AERO (which supersedes PCN/GEN Appendix A on 1st April 2006) will be recognised by the Board as satisfying the qualification requirements of EN 4179.
It remains the responsibility of the Nominated Level 3 (as defined in the UK CAA Generic Requirement number 23) to determine whether additional job-specific training and examination, covering the NDT processes and products utilised by the employer, is required.
TRANSITION FROM PCN GEN APPENDIX A TO PCN AERO
Important information for holders of PCN Levels 2 and 3 Aerospace certificates
PCN Aerospace certificates issued as a result of examinations commenced on or before 31st March 2006 were issued under the rules defined in PCN/GEN Appendix A, and would be eligible for renewal without examination using document CP16 after 5 years.
With effect from 1st April 2006, all PCN aerospace examinations - and certification - will be in accordance with PCN/AERO, and on that date, PCN/GEN Appendix A was withdrawn.
It should be noted that PCN/AERO complies with the qualification criteria of EN 4179, which does not allow renewal without examination, and requires recertification every 5 years through examination.
All holders of PCN certification issued under PCN/GEN Appendix A should therefore make preparation for conversion of their existing PCN/GEN Appendix A (Aerospace) certification by recertification under PCN/AERO during the transition period to 31st March 2011.
However, the UK Aerospace NDT Board, which controls PCN Aerospace examinations, has decided that it will recognise certificates issued under PCN/GEN Appendix A rules until 31st March 2011.
