STEPS FOR OBTAINING AAR APPROVAL FOR RAILROAD COMPONENTS

(This document serves only as a general guideline for the component and facility approval process. Specific steps
must be confirmed by the appropriate AAR Committee.)
1. Obtain and Review AAR Publications
The AAR Administrative Standard S-060-00 describes how to request approval:
http://www.aar.com/aar_standards/pdf/as_00.pdf
The AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP) index lists publications that may be required:
http://www.aar.com/aar_standards/pdf/MSRP-A1.pdf
Contact the appropriate AAR Committee Manager to verify the specifications listed on page 2 of this document are those
required for a given product. Managers are listed at:
http://www.aar.com/aar_standards-contact_us.htm
Publications can be ordered at the AAR Publication Office, contact:
Ms. Kathy Trujillo at (719) 584-0538, or pubs@aar.com (for consistency with webpage)
2. Submit Application/Design and Obtain Approval (fee is required, fee is listed in the AAR Office Manual in
Appendix E)
Submit design drawings and fees (per component) to the Committee Manager (It takes four to ten weeks to review
with the appropriate AAR committee)
Product designs can be presented to the appropriate committee at semi-annual meetings
Note: Committees are made up of member railroad employees who confirm what evaluations, inspections and/or tests
may be required.
3. Conduct Test, Obtain Test Approval (fee required)
In many cases, component testing of some type is required as specified by the MSRPs.
An official test observer appointed by the AAR must be present, and costs must be covered by the applicant
4.

Obtain Facility Technical Approval (fee required)

Technical Inspection is required for all major components according to the MSRPs.
Facility must be producing the product applied for
An official technical inspector will be appointed and conduct the inspection, and costs must be covered by the
applicant.
Inspector costs and Facility Approval fee are covered by applicant
5. Obtain Facility QA Approval (fee required) (See QA Section of this document)
Quality Assurance Inspection is usually required according to the MSRPs.
Contact the QA Program Manager for M-1003 Certification at (qa@aar.com). They will supply the process for this
Approval.
Inspector costs and Quality Approval fees must be covered by applicant
Can be concurrent with the Facility Technical Approval
6.

Request Conditional Approval

Once all the above approvals are in place, conditional approval for the component is awarded
Conditional approval periods (usually two years) place a limit on the number of components that can be sold
The Applicant is required to provide sales and service reports to the Committee.

7. Request Unlimited Approval

Granted upon satisfactory product performance and completion of Conditional Approval

MSRP SECTIONS REQUIRED BY COMPONENT TYPE

In addition to the AAR Administrative Standards, acquire and review the following AAR Manuals of Standards and
Recommended Practices. Specification revisions can be obtained by obtaining an AAR CIRCULAR LETTER LICENSE.
The AAR Circular Letter system is web-based and is used by the AAR to communicate new, revised and proposed rules
to the subscribers, covering all aspects of railroad mechanical systems. Contact Kathy Trujillo to obtain access to the
Circular Letter system.
For Air Brake Systems
Section E: S-462, S-4001, S-344, M-300, S-477, S423, or S-475 (bsc@aar.com)

For Coupling Systems

Section S (Casting Details): M-201; M-205; M-211, M-214, or M-215 along with the pertinent sections of M-211
(cstcc@aar.com)
Section S-III (Coupler and Yoke Details): Coupler and Yoke Design (cstcc@aar.com)
Section J (Specification for Quality Assurance, M1003) (qa@aar.com)

For Car Construction

Section C: S-2034 (eec@aar.com)
Section CII: M-1001 (eec@aar.com)
Section CIII: M-1002 Tank Cars (kdorsey@aar.org)
Section J (Specification for Quality Assurance, M1003) (qa@aar.com)

For Truck Systems

Section C: M-976 (cstcc@aar.com)
Section CII: M-1001 (either eec@aar.com or cstcc@aar.com, whichever is appropriate.)
Section D: S-286 (cstcc@aar.com)
Section S1: M-201; M-202; M-203; M-210 (cstcc@aar.com)
Section S2: Side Frame and Bolster Design (cstcc@aar.com)
Section J (Specification for Quality Assurance, M1003) (qa@aar.com)

For Wheels
Section G: M-107; M-208 (wabl@aar.com)
Section J (Specification for Quality Assurance, M1003) (qa@aar.com)
S-660 (wabl@aar.com)

For Axles
Section G: M-101; S-649 (wabl@aar.com)
For Quality Assurance
Section J (Specification for Quality Assurance, M1003) (qa@aar.com)
In addition to the technical specifications that you may need to meet for North American Interchange Service, you will
need M-1003 (Quality Assurance) Certification.
Contact the QA Program Manager for M-1003 Certification (qa@aar.com). The requirements and application for AAR
Specification M-1003 can be found in Section J of the AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices.
Process for obtaining Quality Assurance approval, includes the following:
1. Complete an application (AAR Specification M-1003 figures 3.1 & 3.2) and send it to QA Program Manager.
2. When QA Program Manager receives your application they will assign an AAR Accredited Auditor. You will
receive an M-1003 application approval letter from the QA Program Manager with the auditing agency the QA
Program Manager assigned to your facility. The letter will have your facility QA Code on it. The M-1003
application approval letter and all information provided for the application will be sent to the auditing agency that
was assigned to your facility. The AAR Auditor will schedule an audit of your facility at a time convenient to
both of you, and request payment of audit fees, as mandated by Appendix E of the AAR Office Manual of
Interchange Rules.

3. You will need to send a copy of your QA Manual and completed QASE (in English) and (in a PDF electronic
format only) 60 days before the audit to that Auditor.
4. After the audit takes place you must satisfactorily respond to any findings resulting from the audit. The auditor
will then send his recommendation for certification, along with a copy of the report, findings, and the finding
responses to the QA Committee for evaluation. Note: All Technical approvals must be approved by appropriate
committees before QA Committee will approve M-1003 certification see circular letter c-11906 for time frame.
5. After QA Committee Approval, Certification is granted.
6. On an annual basis an AAR Auditor will schedule and complete an audit of your facility to maintain your M-1003
Certification.