The following conventions are used in this EUROCONTROL specification:

• ‘shall’- indicates a requirement that must be implemented to provide conformity with this specification;
• ‘should’ - indicates a requirement that is recommended to achieve the best possible implementation of this specification; and
• ‘may’ - indicates an option.

Annex B to this specification provides the conformity checklist indicating, per requirement, the level
of implementation to be achieved – see tables 4 and 5.

2. Conformance

The conformity checklist table is available in Annex B. It is provided in support of assessing
conformance with this specification.

ANNEX B – Conformity Checklist

This annex summarises the requirements to be met when assessing conformity to this
specification.

Table 5 lists each requirement in the specification using its identifier and title. It then states the
level of implementation to be achieved (see Table 4). In some cases, the implementation is
conditional which means that the requirement is to be implemented when the condition applies.

Table 4 – Level of implementation

According to the International Standards Organization (ISO), "conformity" is the fulfillment of a requirement.

ISO 9000:2000 said "conformance" is basically synonymous with "conformity," but deprecated. In other words, obsolete.

In short, when it comes to international standards, the term "conformance" is obsolete. The term used is "conformity" (and "nonconformity").

In the United States, however, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) still makes wide use of "conformance" and "nonconformance". It is synonymous with conformity. Some airlines favor "conformity" in their manuals, while others use "conformance". Both are correct. Both indicate the fulfillment of an internal requirement.

Some of the standards above once defined "compliance", but no longer. It basically meant meeting the requirements of a relevant regulation. The dictionary says it is the disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others. In other words, compliance is viewed as externally imposed. For example, an airline complies with a governing body's (FAA, IATA, etc.) regulations, and conforms to its manuals.

Conformance is voluntary adherence to a standard, rule, specification, requirement, design, process or practice.

Compliance is forced adherence to a law, regulation, rule, process or practice.

Conformance - Choosing to do something in a recognised way (following standards such as ISO 9001 or recognised methods such as agreed test methods for ring tests under ISO 17025).

Compliance - Doing what you are told (i.e. abiding by the law, meeting legislative requirements).

Justification for the confusion- If someone mandates you meet the requirements of a standard or test method then conformance becomes compliance (i.e. your conformity is required in order for you to comply).