Understanding AS9102 Form C Requirements

The AS9102 standard, specifically Form C, is a critical component in the aerospace industry's First Article Inspection (FAI) process. This comprehensive guide will help quality teams understand and effectively implement AS9102 Form C requirements.

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What is AS9102 Form C?

AS9102 Form C, also known as the "Characteristic Accountability, Verification, and Compatibility Evaluation" form, is used to record dimensional measurements and other characteristic verifications required by the design. It is one of three forms that make up a complete AS9102 FAI report:

• Form 1: Part Number Accountability
• Form 2: Product Accountability - Materials, Special Processes, and Functional Testing
• Form 3 (Form C): Characteristic Accountability, Verification, and Compatibility Evaluation

Key Requirements for AS9102 Form C

Form C is where most of the detailed inspection data is recorded. Here are the key requirements:

1. Characteristic Identification

Each design characteristic must be listed separately with a unique identifier (balloon number). This is where ballooning your drawings becomes essential—each dimension or feature needs a unique reference number that corresponds to the form.

2. Reference Location

The document where the characteristic is specified must be identified, including:

• Drawing number and revision
• Specification number and revision
• Other reference documents

3. Characteristic Designator

Special characteristics must be identified using the appropriate designator:

• Critical (CC)
• Major (MJ)
• Safety (SF)
• Key (KY)

4. Requirement

The specified requirement for each characteristic must be documented, including:

• Nominal dimensions
• Tolerances
• Notes and specifications

5. Results

The actual measured value must be recorded. For multiple characteristics, a representative sample must be recorded.

6. Nonconformance Number

If a characteristic is found to be nonconforming, a reference to the nonconformance document must be provided.

7. Designed Tooling

Any designed tooling used for verification must be identified.

Benefits of Using Digital Tools for AS9102 Form C

Traditional methods of completing Form C involve manual ballooning of drawings and manual data entry, which can be time-consuming and error-prone. Digital tools like Balloonist.io offer several advantages:

• Automated ballooning for faster characteristic identification
• Direct export of data to AS9102 Form C
• Reduced transcription errors
• Consistent format for compliance

Conclusion

AS9102 Form C is a critical document in the aerospace quality assurance process. Proper completion ensures that all design characteristics have been properly verified, contributing to the overall quality and safety of aerospace components.

By leveraging digital tools like Balloonist.io, quality teams can streamline the ballooning and FAI process, reducing errors and improving efficiency while maintaining full compliance with AS9102 requirements.