Chapter 8.2.2

Amendments to Technical Information using the Advanced Information Leaflet or the Service Amendment Leaflet

Table of contents Paragraph

1          General1

1.1       Introduction. 1

1.2       Applicability. 2

2          Amendment by Advanced Information Leaflet (AIL)2

2.1       General2

2.2       Responsibilities of the Technical Information (TI) sponsor2

2.3       Responsibilities of the Publication Organization (PO)2

2.4       Follow-up actions. 3

3          Amendment by Service Amendment Leaflet (SAL)3

3.1       General3

3.2       Responsibilities of the TI sponsor3

3.3       Responsibilities of the PO. 3

4          Promulgation of an amendment by signal4

5          Layout of AILs and SALs. 4

5.1       AIL terminating notes. 4

5.2       SAL terminating notes. 5

6          References. 5

 

List of tables

Table 1.  Signal Layout of an AIL or SAL.4

 

List of figures

Figure 1.  Layout of an AIL or SAL.6

 

1                            General

1.1                       Introduction

The Advanced Information Leaflet (AIL) and the Service Amendment Leaflet (SAL) provide methods by which the Services can amend their Technical Information (TI) more rapidly than by formal amendment, either in advance of formal 4Design Organisation (DO)3approval or when the amendment is a result of a Service Modification (SM).  An AIL is used to promulgate advanced information of a change to the publication, or master data set, and can be used as an authority to carry out local amendments to the publication, such as a handwritten amendment.  A SAL is used to promulgate new information relating to an SM, which has not been cover-modified by the 4DO3and cannot result in any changes to the publication, or master data set.

 

1.2                       Applicability

This chapter is applicable to all TI sponsors required to issue amendments to TI by either an AIL or SAL.

2                            Amendment by Advanced Information Leaflet (AIL)

2.1                       General

An AIL allows the TI sponsor to instruct the Publication Organization (PO) to arrange for the rapid issue of a temporary amendment to TI in advance of formal amendment action.  An immediate notification process is at paragraph 4.  Formal agreement of the 4DO3is not required, but should be gained when the 4DO3has an input, (eg Topic 1, where the 4DO3has produced the original information being amended).  An AIL is to be issued in the following circumstances:

1          If routine amendment action cannot meet the needs of the TI sponsor within the appropriate timeframe.

2          As a follow-up action to a signal AIL.

An AIL cannot be issued if the need for amendment has arisen from embodiment of an SM, other than where Handling Squadron (HS) is the PO for Aircrew Manuals (AM).  If an SM necessitates a rapid temporary TI amendment, a further, superseding, SAL should be issued as detailed in paragraph 3. 

The incorporation of an AIL is to be recorded on the "Record of AIL Incorporation" sheet contained within the preliminary pages of the TI.  Although an AIL is not a formal amendment, its content is binding and is to be acted upon in place of the information that it replaces.  An AIL is superseded by the issue of a formal amendment.

2.2                       Responsibilities of the Technical Information (TI) sponsor

The TI sponsor requesting the issue of an AIL is solely responsible for the content of the AIL.  The master media AIL is to be submitted to the PO in the format shown at Figure 1 or in a format consistent with that used in the TI.  The covering letter is to contain the following information, where applicable:

1          Precise details of the publication to which the AIL refers.

2          Details of any actions already taken, eg issue of an AIL in signal form.

3          A statement to the effect that Logistic Information System (LIS) reference data is/is not affected and whether or not the relevant reference data management team has been tasked with assessing the impact of the AIL.

Where the TI sponsor determines that the production of a paper AIL is impractical (eg for amendments to the Topic 14, where the production of a blue AIL sheet is not considered feasible), they may authorize an amendment by another means, such as a signal promulgation of a handwritten amendment.  The TI sponsor is responsible for reviewing all outstanding AILs to ensure that formal amendment action is undertaken.  The review should be conducted at least every 24 months.

2.3                       Responsibilities of the Publication Organization (PO)

The PO is responsible for arranging the publication and distribution of the AIL through the normal TI publication and distribution procedures.  When the TI includes data owned or controlled by a 4DO3, the PO is to forward a copy of the AIL to the 4DO3.  If the request for issue of an AIL can be met by including the required amendment in an imminent schedule amendment, the PO is to obtain the approval of the TI sponsor and 4DO3for this course of action.  If this is not acceptable to the TI sponsor, an AIL is to be issued.  The production of an AIL is to be given priority during printing and distribution.  The PO is to notify the TI sponsor of the delivery date of the AIL to the distribution agency.  To ease subsequent identification, if the AIL is issued against a paper publication, it should be printed on blue paper.  The choice of paper colour shade should allow for photocopying of the document without loss of clarity of the information.  If the AIL is issued against electronic data or data held on other media, the change is to be notified in accordance with the appropriate standards, or TI-approved, procedures.

2.4                       Follow-up actions

Following the issue of an AIL, the PO is responsible for taking the actions required to issue an amendment to the TI concerned, cancelling the AIL.

3                            Amendment by Service Amendment Leaflet (SAL)

3.1                       General

The SAL replaces the Aircraft Branch Temporary Amendment Leaflet (ABTAL), RAFTAL and RNTAL for all future SMs.  Extant ABTAL, RAFTAL and RNTAL need not be replaced by a SAL until they are reviewed or amended.  A SAL is to be issued to introduce TI relating to an SM that has not been made the subject of a 4Design3cover modification.  It may be re-issued because of an amendment proposal.  The specific responsibilities for producing a new SM are at Chapter 10.4.  Whilst many SMs are subsequently replaced by cover modification(s), there are occasions where the Services will not pursue a 4Design3cover modification: in these instances the SAL is to remain extant for the life of the SM.  The incorporation of a SAL is to be recorded on the "Record of SAL Incorporation" sheet contained within the preliminary pages of the TI.  Although a SAL is not a formal amendment, its content is binding and is to be acted upon when working with the equipment to which it refers.  A SAL is to be cancelled by instructions for its removal from the IPT or Front Line Command:

1          As a result of the SM being subject to a Designer cover modification and its associated TI amendment.

2          Where the SM is no longer required.

The SAL is to be issued as an insertion to the affected TI and is not to require permanent alteration or defacement of the TI by adhesion, ink annotation or other means.

3.2                       Responsibilities of the TI sponsor

In producing a SAL, the TI sponsor is required to consult all necessary agencies.  This consultation process is to include an assessment on the impact that the SAL may have on LIS reference data.  If it is found that reference data will be affected, or the effect is not known, a request for further investigation is to be raised and passed, with a copy of the SAL, to the LIS reference data management team.  The TI sponsor requesting the issue of a SAL is solely responsible for the content of the SAL.  The master media SAL is to be submitted to the PO in the format shown at Figure 1 or in a format consistent with that used in the TI.  The covering letter is to contain the following information:

1          Precise details of the publication to which the SAL refers.

2          Details of any actions already taken, eg issue of a SAL in signal form.

3          A statement to the effect that LIS reference data is/is not affected and whether or not the relevant reference data management team has been tasked with assessing the impact of the SAL.

The TI sponsor is to review all SALs annually.  Where cover modification action is undertaken, the TI sponsor is responsible for the follow-up actions required to procure a 4Design3cover modification leaflet or to cancel the SAL in conjunction with the PO.

3.3                       Responsibilities of the PO

The PO is responsible for arranging the publication and distribution of the SAL through the normal TI publication and distribution procedures.  The SAL is to be given priority during printing and distribution.  The PO is to notify the TI sponsor of the delivery date of the SAL to the distribution agency.  To ease subsequent identification, if the SAL is issued against a paper publication, it should be printed on yellow paper.  The choice of paper colour shade should allow for photocopying of the document without loss of clarity of the information.  If the amendment is to electronic data or data held on other media, the change is to be notified in accordance with the appropriate standards.

4                            Promulgation of an amendment by signal

The TI sponsor may issue an AIL/SAL by signal when there is a perceived risk to personnel or equipment, or if it is considered that the routine AIL/SAL procedure is inappropriate.  4However, sponsors need to be aware that not all units are fully served by the signal notification system and may not receive the AIL/SAL in the intended timescale.  In such cases, the sponsor is to ensure that recipients are notified by the most suitable and auditable method.3

The signal is normally to have a precedence of PRIORITY for action addressees and ROUTINE for information addressees and is to contain the following information:

1          Precise details of the publication affected.

2          Explicit instructions as to how to effect the required changes.

3          For AILs that necessitate the insertion of hand written text, either:

3.1         An exact copy of the text that will be issued as part of any forthcoming amendment action, or:

3.2         If the text may be subject to amendment 4post-DO3, or other authority, validation, the best available text.

4          In cases where LIS reference data is affected, a statement to that effect is to be included.

5          Details of any amendment action that will follow the signal and a statement that the signal is cancelled on receipt of the amendment action.

Table 1 gives the layout that is to be used for all submissions.  When information that cannot be sent by signal, eg a diagram or amendment to electronic TI is required to be transmitted, the TI sponsor is still required to send a signal notifying all organizations of the AIL or SAL and then forward that information by the most suitable means.  Once the initial requirement to notify holders has been met, the TI sponsor is to initiate formal amendment, AIL or SAL action as detailed elsewhere in this chapter.  Signal amendments are to be superseded by an amendment, AIL or SAL within 6 months.

Table 1.  Signal Layout of an AIL or SAL.

 

5                            Layout of AILs and SALs

The layout of an AIL or SAL is shown at Figure 1.

5.1                       AIL terminating notes

The following terminating notes are to be included in every AIL:

1          The information contained in this leaflet will be incorporated by normal amendment action.  If this leaflet is still extant after [insert date], contact xx for advice.

2          If, after receipt of this leaflet, an amendment list with a prior date and conflicting information is received, the information in this leaflet is to take precedence.

5.2                       SAL terminating notes

The following terminating note is to be included in any SAL:

1          A validity statement, stating one of the following:

1.1         The information contained in this leaflet will be incorporated by cover modification action.  If this leaflet is still extant after [insert date], contact xx for advice.

1.2         This leaflet is extant until the removal of [insert appropriate SM number].

2          If, after receipt of this leaflet, an amendment list with a prior date and conflicting information is received, the information in this leaflet is to take precedence.

3          The changes of information contained in this SAL result from the incorporation of [insert appropriate SM number].

Notes:

1          Square brackets [ ]indicate a field to be completed with additional informationin Italics.

2          Type the text of the AIL or SAL, using the same writing and paragraphing conventions and, where practicable, the same size of paper used in the parent TI.  Use the spacing required in the published AIL or SAL and not double spacing.

3          To achieve a rapid issue, the draft AIL or SAL will not be referred elsewhere for checking or comment.  The originator is therefore wholly responsible for the clarity, adequacy and accuracy of the draft.  If a draft AIL is being prepared, inclusion of all the detail as and where described in this layout, and the use of capitals and bolding where, and only where, shown, will materially assist the PO concerned.

4          Position the terminating note(s) at the bottom of the page as shown, regardless of where the text ends.

6                            References

This chapter refers to the following publications:

1          Topic 1 – Aircraft Maintenance Manual.

2          Topic 14 – Flight Reference Cards.

Figure 1.  Layout of an AIL or SAL.