This document provides an industry recommended framework for establishing a multi-party agreement to support approval of electronic components (e.g., actuation system, reading light, inflatable restraint, IFE, etc.) integrated in aircraft seats and provide a framework that allows seat manufacturers to build and ship completed, integrated, and approved seat assemblies with electronics included. The primary purpose of this document is to provide roles, responsibilities and accountabilities to meet AC 21-49 Section 7.b ‘Type Certification using TSO-approved seat with electronic components defined in TSO design'. This document may be applied to all applicable seat TSOs (C39(), C127()...etc).

The approval for the integration of the electronics will fall, in part or in full, under the type design authority of the Seat Installer rather than the Seat Supplier shipping the integrated seat. The defined responsibilities, areas of authority and accountability of each party, as well as necessary communication protocols, must ensure configuration management, design control and quality control. These definitions, controls and protocols are agreed (thru normal commerical agreements and binding contracts) and adhered to by all parties ensuring all parts in the supply chain remain approved (e.g. certified and conformed).

Table A1 of Appendix A of this document contains information which details the key characteristics of electronic equipment that require review to ensure proper compliance with the TSO requirements per Table 1 of AC 21-49.

Regulatory and Business Model

It is important to recognize that industry and the FAA have different needs when it comes to getting a seat with electronics approved for use in an aircraft. The FAA looks at certification strictly from a regulatory point of view and to whom they issue the various approvals. The FAA holds the approval holder responsible for ensuring all aspects under that approval are met, regardless of how industry establishes the business arrangements. For industry, we have to meet regulatory obligations under each approval, but have the flexibility of establishing business arrangements to achieve those obligations. This document will define the responsibilities from both a regulatory perspective and a business perspective. Without commitment to establish and maintain these business arrangements, success will not be achieved in meeting regulatory responsibilities.

There are many different ways a seat with electronic components can be approved for use in an aircraft. However, the guidance that follows is based on one acceptable model that has widespread use and involves three entities - a Seat Installer, a Seat Supplier, and an Electronics Manufacturer as defined below.

Seat Supplier: The party that attains a TSO approval for the seat with integrated electronic components. A TSO approval can be either a TSO authorization (TSOA) or letter of TSO design approval (LODA).

Seat Installer: The party that attains a TC (or STC) for the installation and activation of the seat with integrated electronic components in the aircraft. The TC/STC approval covers the seat's installation into the aircraft and the installation and activation of the electronic components into the aircraft.

Electronics Manufacturer: The party that manufacturers electronic components to be used in the installation and collaborates with both the Seat Supplier and the Seat Installer. The Electronics Manufacturer may be a production approval holder.