Chapter 8.1
Through Life Management of Technical Information
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Table of contents Paragraph |
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2 Policy on the use of Technical Information (TI)
4.2 Distribution of data as physical products
4.3 Distribution of data through electronic means
6.2 Management of physical documents and publications
7.1 TI sponsor responsibilities
7.2 Subject Matter Expert (SME) responsibilities
7.3 Publication Organization (PO) responsibilities
7.5 Stn/Ship/Unit responsibilities
This chapter details the policy on the production, delivery, output and maintenance of Technical Information (TI) within the Military Air Environment (MAE). Whilst the conversion of legacy TI to Electronic TI (ETI) is encouraged, there will remain a significant number of paper-based publications.
TI is the information necessary to operate, maintain, repair, support and dispose of equipment throughout its life. It includes paper, fiche, drawings, Computer-Aided Design data, electronic text and non-textual data (eg graphics, video) for:
1 Illustrated Parts Lists.
2 System description and operation.
3 System servicing and maintenance.
4 Diagnostic support.
5 Repair information.
6 Supporting flow, system and wiring diagrams.
7 Software documentation.
8 Logistic Support Analysis reports.
9 Policy documents.
10 Aides Memoirs.
11 Training information.
JSP 420 - Publishing your MOD Book and JSP(D) 543 - Defence Technical Documentation - Policy and Requirements give further guidance on the MOD approved publication and distribution procedures.
The publication standard and issue status of MAE TI is promulgated in AP 100Z-0001.
The following publications give further guidance on the MOD policy on ETI and the specific standards for ETI:
1 4Acquisition Operating Framework 3– MOD Technical Documentation Policy Statement.
2 ASD Specification 1000D – The International Specification for Technical Publications Utilising a Common Source Database.
3 ASD Specification 2000M – The International Specification for Military Materiel Management.
The JSP 180 series gives further guidance on the specific standards for legacy TI.
This chapter is applicable to the MAE.
2 Policy on the use of Technical Information (TI)
TI is to be produced, delivered, output and amended in an electronic format, as ETI, unless it can be shown that this does not meet the operational requirement, user needs, or is not cost-effective for the life cycle of the equipment. Def Stan 00-60, Part 10 details the MOD standard for the ETI production process, plus subsequent control and amendment. A concession is to be sought from Assistant Director Continuing Airworthiness Support Division (AD CASD) for TI to be produced to standards other than those detailed in Def Stan 00-60, Part 10.
ETI is to be produced in a neutral, non-proprietary, data format and is to be viewable with any Internet browser software with minimal requirements for non-standard plug-in software modules. Where plug-in software modules may be required, they are to be provided with the source data.
Where TI has been produced to standards other than Def Stan 00-60, either as legacy TI or via a concession, it is to be maintained and administered in accordance with the publishing standard and the associated processes to which it was written.
TI production is the creation of the original data and content of the document. Additional procedures for producing and maintaining maintenance schedules and Fight Test Schedules are detailed at Chapter 8.1.1 and Chapter 8.1.2 respectively.
TI production should be managed using an Integrated Support Plan, which will include requirements for First and Second Verification of TI as appropriate.
In verifying TI as ‘fit for purpose’ the TI sponsor is to identify what information is critical for the airworthiness of a platform or a system and should conduct full verification of such data. Verification should involve undertaking the task in representative conditions, or, if this is not possible, via simulation.
TI delivery is the means of providing the information at the point of use. Whilst TI has traditionally required the distribution of physical products such as books, the use of Internet technology and shared data environments means that ETI distribution may not require the movement of any physical items. However, when distribution of a removable media, ie a CD-ROM or DVD, is required to promulgate ETI, the distribution procedure detailed at paragraph 4.2 should be used.
4.2 Distribution of data as physical products
The delivery of data as physical products, either as books or as ETI on removable media, is provided by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) distribution system. The TI sponsor may approve an alternative method of delivery provided that it is at least as robust as that provided by DSDA.
4.3 Distribution of data through electronic means
The Publication Organization (PO) is responsible for ensuring that electronically-distributed data, either in shared data environments or by means of a distributed database, will use delivery procedures that are at least as effective as those detailed in Def Stan 00-60, Part 10.
TI output is the means of presenting the data to the user. For paper-based TI, this is dictated by the publication standard used. For ETI, the data output is dependent on the data layout determined by the publication standard, the viewing software used and the physical display hardware.
Where an aircraft or equipment is provided with ETI and paper TI, the layout of the ETI and paper versions of the TI must be the same, within the limits of the different media used.
The TI sponsor retains responsibility for the airworthiness of ETI, including the interaction with the browser software on which ETI is viewed. In particular, as it is possible to amend electronic data without the amendment being apparent to the user, the TI sponsor and PO are to satisfy themselves that suitable procedures are adopted for ensuring data source integrity at the time of use.
TI maintenance is the action taken to preserve it in good order. TI maintenance involves both amending the TI and managing the amendment procedure.
TI is to be amended through a "closed loop" auditable system. The procedure for amending TI is at Chapter 8.2. As detailed in Chapter 10.5.3, a Routine Technical Instruction (RTI) or Urgent Technical Instruction (UTI) should not be used to amend any MOD-administered publication.
6.2 Management of physical documents and publications
When data is distributed as physical documents, the amendment procedure requires that the superseded pages be destroyed once their replacements have been included within the TI. Where removable media is used, care must be taken to ensure that superseded media cannot be inadvertently used after it has been superseded. If the original media is not returned to a central point for destruction, the individual who carries out the amendment is to ensure that the old removable media is rendered unreadable by destroying or damaging it, eg by scoring the optical surface of a CD-ROM.
7.1 TI sponsor responsibilities
The TI sponsor is responsible for:
1 The overall coherence of the publication and, where appropriate, integration of individual instructions.
2 Approval of all content prior to publication of TI.
3 The airworthiness of the published TI.
4 Specifying the publication standard of the TI including, where applicable, ETI and its delivery system in accordance with paragraph 2.
5 Initial procurement of the TI, inclusive of ETI and its viewing system.
6 Ensuring that TI is sponsored for use within the appropriate Services, meets the user requirements and that processes are in place to action discrepancies when they are identified.
7 Ensuring that the required through-life management procedures are in place for the TI. These procedures are to cover Post-Design Service contract requirements, TI delivery, content review timescales, amendment, printing, distribution and regular review of distribution lists.
8 Ensuring that the TI amendment procedures are appropriate, given the operational requirements/capabilities of the platform on which the aircraft or equipment is used.
9 Ensuring that software and hardware is available both to produce and read ETI throughout the life of the TI.
10 Where ETI is to be hosted on existing Information Systems, ensuring that any necessary hardware updates are identified and embodied, regression testing has been conducted and clearances obtained to allow hosting of the ETI data, and viewer software where appropriate, prior to introduction of the documentation.
11 When issuing hardware to support ETI:
11.1 Ensuring that the System Administrator is provided with the appropriate information to produce System Security Procedures and Security Operating Procedures in accordance with JSP 440, including mechanisms for the control of access to classified information.
11.2 Ensuring that any hardware is cleared for use in all necessary environments. In particular, Electro-Magnetic Capability and RadHaz clearances should be obtained for use on board ship and in the close vicinity of aircraft.
12 Appointing a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to manage specialist content of the TI when appropriate.
13 Appointing a PO.
14 Assuring the quality of a TI deliverable.
7.2 Subject Matter Expert (SME) responsibilities
An SME is required to ensure that the content of any TI that the SME produces on behalf of a TI sponsor is accurate and understandable. In addition, for ETI, the SME is to ensure that it is produced to a consistent manner by use of Document Type Definition or another appropriate set of rules. Unless otherwise contracted, the SME is responsible for:
1 Providing the sponsor with complete and technically accurate information. When a Designer, or other non-MOD organization, acts as an SME for ETI, it is to provide data that is first verified and certified.
2 Notifying the TI sponsor of requirements for new instructions or amendments to maintain the completeness and technical accuracy of the information that they provide.
3 Reviewing existing instructions at least every three years and notifying the TI sponsor of changes that are required to update the instruction.
4 Notifying the TI sponsor of the requirement to cancel an instruction as soon as there is no further need for it.
7.3 Publication Organization (PO) responsibilities
The PO is responsible for:
1 Ensuring that TI, including ETI and its delivery system, are specification-compliant.
2 Ensuring the quality of a TI deliverable.
3 Arranging TI publication and distribution on behalf of the TI sponsor.
4 In respect of ETI, the PO is also responsible for:
4.1 Ensuring that the amendment system does not affect the correct operation of the ETI viewing software.
4.2 Obtaining the agreement of the network authorities for the delivery and hosting of the data, where ETI is delivered via corporate Wide Area Networks and Local Area Networks, eg INCA, RLI and LDCN.
7.4 Safety & Engineering - Through Life Support - Technical Documentation (S&E-TLS-TD) responsibilities
S&E-TLS-TD is responsible for:
1 Providing and promulgating MOD TI policy.
2 Providing TI Quality Assurance Representative support to TI sponsors.
3 Providing advice and guidance to TI sponsors on the implementation of MOD TI policy.
7.5 Stn/Ship/Unit responsibilities
4Stns/Ships/Units are responsible for the distribution and control of TI that they receive and for providing required TI to personnel at the point of use. In addition, Stns/Ships/Units are to publish local orders that3:
1 Ensure suitable accounting and control processes are in place to maintain their TI in an airworthy state. This will include processes by which individual TI holders can:
1.1 4Ensure that TI is at the latest issued amendment state.3
1.2 Demand amendments for TI when discrepancies are identified.
2 Detail suitable management checks to ensure the airworthiness of their TI holdings.
3 Detail suitable procedures for data security as required by JSP 440.
4 Ensure the timely and accurate distribution of TI amendments within their organization.
5 Detail procedures for disposing of superseded removable media.
This chapter refers to the following publications:
1 4Def Stan 00-60 Part 10 – Integrated Logistic Support, Electronic Documentation. http://www.dstan.mod.uk/data/00/060/10000500.pdf
2 JSP 440 – Defence Manual of Security. http://www.defence.mod.uk/jsp440/JSP440.htm3