Reuse and Certification Credit
Section 04: Certification Process Mechanics
Definition
The practice of leveraging existing compliance data, test results, analyses, and approval findings from a prior certification project to support a new or amended certification project, thereby reducing the scope of new compliance work required. Certification credit may be granted when a new design is sufficiently similar to an already-certified design that the existing compliance evidence remains valid and applicable. The applicant must demonstrate the basis for claiming credit, including the similarity of the designs, the applicability of the prior compliance data, and any differences that require additional substantiation.
Where This Shows Up
Reuse of certification data is a fundamental principle of derivative certification. When a manufacturer develops a new variant of an existing aircraft (e.g., a stretched fuselage, an engine upgrade, or a new avionics suite), the certification effort focuses on the changed and affected areas, with credit taken for areas that remain unchanged. The authority must agree with the scope of credit claimed.
Primary Sources
FAA rule governing how certification credit may be applied to changed products.
EASA provisions for determining the applicable requirements and credit for changed products.
Related Terms
Need help navigating certification?
Understanding the terminology is the first step. If you need expert guidance on DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754B, or any aspect of FAA, EASA, or TCCA certification, our team is here to help.