Department Design Organisation

The management task comprises the core EB with FX employees (disciplinary subordination), employees of the peripheral EB who are assigned to the institutes, as well as some external experts who supplement the skills portfolio of the development organisation.

DLR is the only major European research organisation to operate a fleet of aircraft that are used for aeronautical research or as "flying laboratories". The wide range of scientific work usually requires modifications to the aircraft.

To ensure that these modifications can be carried out with the necessary flexibility, DLR is a design organisation recognised by the German Federal Aviation Office and EASA. This recognition authorises DLR to develop modifications for its own aircraft and to carry out and certify the type tests required by law to demonstrate continued airworthiness. This applies to the aircraft listed in the scope of approval of the design organisation; these include small (CS 23) and large (CS 25) aircraft, as well as small (CS 27) and large (CS 29) helicopters.

This enables users from DLR research institutes, external research organisations, industry and public authorities to carry out a wide range of scientific experiments from a variety of disciplines. In addition to an Airbus A320 and a Falcon 2000, the "Flying Helicopter Simulator" FHS is available for aeronautical research. This helicopter is a modified EC 135 with "Fly by Light" controls.

The second focus alongside aeronautical research is the use of aircraft as flying laboratories. The range of applications here extends from atmospheric research to earth observation and transport research. A Cessna Caravan and two DO 228 turboprops, a Falcon F20 jet and a Gulfstream G 550 are available for this purpose.

The entire certification process is coordinated and monitored by the type certification control centre, which also performs sovereign tasks when issuing the certification. The quality of the development and certification activities is guaranteed by a development assurance system monitored by the German Federal Aviation Office.

All employees of the design organisation must complete an induction phase in accordance with a process defined in the design organisation manual, during which they are familiarised with the processes of the EB and the requirements of aviation law. Only after successful completion of the familiarisation phase may they release EB documents, such as certificates and construction documents, under their own responsibility.

In addition to the core EB, qualified development and type test engineers (EI / MPI) from a wide range of disciplines from the various DLR institutes and facilities as well as external specialists work for the development organisation. This means that almost all specialist areas required for the certification of modifications to aircraft can be covered:

• Flight performance (including flight testing, flight characteristics, flight manuals)
• StructureAerodynamics, aeroelasticity
• Electrical systems (including EMC and protection against HIRF)
• Lightning protection
• Icing conditions
• Avionics
• Cabin equipment
• Mission systems (including lasers and hazardous materials)

The core EB has been further expanded in terms of personnel in recent years in order to provide sufficient capacity for the increasing demand for projects.

The Airbus A320 ATRA is the only aircraft in the fleet to be operated in the EASA-recognised EB. This special status was chosen in order to be able to co-operate closely with Airbus. This makes it possible to carry out joint projects as well as to fly projects on behalf of Airbus under the responsibility of the DLR EB. Both EBs can mutually recognise certificates and construction documents without further examination, thus avoiding additional cost-increasing expenditure. The DLR EB has been granted the privilege by EASA to issue Flight Conditions and Permit to Fly itself for non-significant changes if all areas of the change are covered by the EASA "Terms of Approval".