Aircraft Certification Office
ACOSection 01: Organizations & Authorities
Definition
An FAA field office within the Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) responsible for the type certification, supplemental type certification, and design approval activities for aircraft, engines, propellers, and articles. ACOs are organized geographically into branches with specialization by product type. They serve as the primary FAA engineering interface for design approval applicants.
Where This Shows Up
The FAA reorganized its Aircraft Certification Service in 2017 to align ACO branches with geographic regions. The ACO is typically the FAA office that assigns certification project managers and leads the certification team for new TC and STC projects.
Primary Sources
Describes the roles and responsibilities of ACOs in managing certification projects.
Related Terms
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