Certification
Section 02: Regulatory Vocabulary
Definition
The process by which a civil aviation authority evaluates and formally approves that a product, part, appliance, organisation, or person meets applicable regulatory requirements. In the context of type certification, it is the comprehensive evaluation of a type design against the applicable airworthiness standards by the authority having jurisdiction over the applicant (the State of Design authority). Certification results in the issuance of a formal approval document such as a Type Certificate, STC, or organisation approval.
Where This Shows Up
Certification is distinguished from validation (which is the acceptance of a foreign certification by another authority) and from acceptance (which typically involves less comprehensive evaluation). Only the State of Design authority performs full certification; other authorities validate or accept the original certification.
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Related Terms
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