Type Certificate Process

A formal approval issued by the certifying authority that confirms a product's type design complies with the applicable airworthiness requirements. A TC is issued for aircraft, aircraft engines, and propellers upon successful completion of the type certification process, which involves demonstrating compliance with every applicable regulation in the certification basis through analysis, test, and inspection. The TC defines the approved type design, operating limitations, applicable regulations, and conditions and limitations.

A modification to an existing Type Certificate that reflects a major change in the type design. An Amended TC is sought when the TC holder (or a person with proper licensing agreements) proposes changes that are significant enough to be classified as a major change but do not warrant a new, separate TC. The certification basis for an ATC typically includes the original TC certification basis plus any additional requirements triggered by the nature and extent of the change, as determined by the authority.

A design approval issued to an applicant who is not the TC holder, authorizing a major modification to an existing type-certificated product. An STC grants the holder the right to modify the product as described in the STC design data and to produce the modification components (or have them produced). The STC holder becomes responsible for the continued airworthiness of the modification, including providing ICAs, addressing unsafe conditions related to the modification, and ensuring compatibility with the underlying TC.

A Supplemental Type Certificate that includes an Approved Model List, which specifies multiple aircraft models on which the modification may be installed. An AML STC enables a single design approval to cover installation of a modification (typically avionics equipment or interior modifications) across many different aircraft types, rather than requiring separate STCs for each aircraft model. The STC holder demonstrates compatibility with each aircraft model listed on the AML.

The classification of a change to a type design as either major or minor, which determines the approval process and regulatory path. A major change is one that has an appreciable effect on the weight and balance, structural strength, performance, powerplant operation, flight characteristics, or other qualities affecting the airworthiness of the product, or that is not done according to accepted practices or cannot be done by elementary operations. A minor change is one that does not meet the criteria for major. Major changes require more extensive compliance demonstration and authority involvement.

A minimum performance standard for specified articles (materials, parts, processes, appliances, or components) issued by the FAA under 14 CFR Part 21, Subpart O. A TSO defines the minimum performance criteria that an article must meet, typically by referencing industry standards (such as RTCA DO- documents or SAE standards). A TSO Authorization (TSOA) is issued to a manufacturer who demonstrates that their article meets the applicable TSO standard, authorizing them to produce and mark the article as TSO-approved.

A combined design and production approval issued by the FAA under 14 CFR Part 21, Subpart K, that authorizes a manufacturer to produce and sell replacement or modification parts for installation on type-certificated products. A PMA holder must demonstrate that the part meets the applicable airworthiness requirements (design approval) and that the manufacturing quality system can consistently produce conforming parts (production approval). PMA parts are approved for installation as alternatives to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.

The FAA regulation that prescribes procedural requirements for the issuance of type certificates, production approvals, airworthiness certificates, and related approvals for aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and articles. Part 21 defines who may apply for certification, what must be shown, and how approvals are issued, amended, and maintained. It is the procedural backbone of the FAA certification system.

The EASA Implementing Rule (Commission Regulation (EU) No 748/2012, Annex I) that establishes the certification procedures for aircraft, engines, propellers, parts, and appliances, as well as the requirements for design and production organisations. EASA Part 21 is functionally analogous to FAA 14 CFR Part 21 but differs in structure and process, particularly in its reliance on Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and Production Organisation Approval (POA) as the primary approval mechanisms.

The complete set of airworthiness requirements (regulations at specific amendment levels), special conditions, exemptions, and equivalent safety findings that an applicant must comply with to obtain a design approval. The certification basis is established by the certifying authority early in the certification project and is documented formally. For a new TC, the certification basis is determined by the applicable regulations in effect on the date of the TC application, plus any later amendments elected by the applicant or required by the authority.

Additional airworthiness requirements prescribed by the certifying authority when the existing regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for a particular design feature, technology, or operational use that is novel or unusual. Special conditions have the same legal force as the regulations themselves and become part of the certification basis for the specific project. They are used when the existing code was not written to address the specific design characteristic or technology being proposed.

A formal authorization granted by the certifying authority that allows an applicant to deviate from a specific regulatory requirement. An exemption relieves the applicant from the obligation to comply with a specific regulation, subject to conditions and limitations that ensure an adequate level of safety is maintained. Exemptions are typically time-limited and must be justified by demonstrating that compliance is impractical or that the exemption does not compromise safety.

A formal determination by the certifying authority that an alternative means of compliance, while not literally meeting the text of a specific airworthiness requirement, provides a level of safety equivalent to that intended by the requirement. An ELOS finding allows the applicant to use compensating factors, design features, or operational limitations that achieve the same safety objective through different means. ELOS findings become part of the certification basis for the specific project.

A program-level document prepared by the applicant and agreed with the certifying authority that describes the overall strategy, schedule, and approach for completing the certification project. The certification plan typically includes a description of the product and proposed changes, the certification basis, the means of compliance for each requirement area, the organizational structure and responsibilities, the schedule and milestones, the data submittal plan, and any known certification risks or issues. It serves as the project roadmap.

The formal determination by the certifying authority (or an authorized delegate such as a DER, ODA unit member, or DOA compliance verification engineer) that the applicant's type design meets a specific airworthiness requirement. A compliance finding is the outcome of the authority's evaluation of the applicant's compliance data (reports, test results, analyses). Each regulation in the certification basis requires a positive compliance finding before the certificate can be issued. The aggregate of all compliance findings constitutes the authority's basis for issuing the design approval.

The documents prepared by the applicant (or the applicant's suppliers) that present the evidence of compliance with specific airworthiness requirements. Compliance reports summarize the analysis, test, or inspection activities performed, the methodology used, the results obtained, and the conclusion regarding compliance. Test reports document the setup, procedures, results, and conclusions of specific tests. Analysis reports document analytical methods, assumptions, inputs, calculations, and conclusions. These reports constitute the substantiation data that the authority evaluates when making compliance findings.

A structured, stage-based framework used by the FAA to define the authority's oversight and involvement at key milestones during a certification project. The SOI framework divides the certification process into defined stages, and at each stage the FAA performs evaluations, audits, or reviews to assess the applicant's progress, the adequacy of processes, and the quality of compliance data. The SOI approach enables the FAA to calibrate its level of involvement based on the applicant's demonstrated capability and the risk profile of the project.

The systematic evaluation performed by the applicant to determine the scope and extent of a proposed design change's impact on the type design, the certification basis, and the existing compliance showing. A change impact assessment identifies which areas of the type design are directly changed, which areas are affected by the change (even if not directly modified), which regulatory requirements apply to the changed and affected areas, and whether the existing compliance data remains valid or must be updated. The CIA is the starting point for defining the scope of an STC or TC amendment project.

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.

The person or organization that applies to the certifying authority for a design approval (Type Certificate, STC, TSOA, or other approval). The applicant bears the responsibility for demonstrating compliance with all applicable airworthiness requirements and for providing the authority with the data, test results, and analyses necessary to support findings of compliance. The applicant must have the technical capability and resources to complete the certification program.

The government agency or body responsible for evaluating and approving (or rejecting) an applicant's compliance showing and issuing the certification approval. The certifying authority is typically the civil aviation authority of the State of Design. The authority establishes the certification basis, agrees on means of compliance, evaluates compliance data, conducts audits and inspections, makes findings of compliance, and ultimately issues or denies the requested approval.

The group of authority personnel (and designees, where applicable) assigned to manage and execute a specific certification project. The certification team typically includes a project manager (or project officer), technical specialists in relevant disciplines (structures, systems, flight test, propulsion, electrical, software, human factors), and manufacturing inspectors. The team evaluates the applicant's compliance showing, conducts audits and conformity inspections, and makes the findings that support certificate issuance.

The process of identifying and agreeing with the certifying authority on the specific methods (analysis, test, inspection, demonstration, simulation, or a combination) that will be used to show compliance with each applicable airworthiness requirement in the certification basis. Means of compliance selection is a collaborative process between the applicant and the authority, typically conducted early in the certification project and documented in the certification plan and compliance checklists.

A comprehensive document that lists every applicable regulation in the certification basis and tracks the status of compliance demonstration for each requirement. The compliance checklist (or compliance matrix) identifies for each regulation: the applicability determination, the selected means of compliance, the associated compliance document(s), the status of the compliance finding, and the responsible engineer or organization. It serves as the master tracking tool for the entire compliance demonstration effort.

A formal FAA document used during a certification project to identify, discuss, and resolve specific certification issues between the FAA and the applicant. Issue Papers document the FAA's position on matters such as special conditions, equivalent safety findings, means of compliance, and interpretive questions related to the certification basis. Each Issue Paper includes the issue description, FAA position, applicant response, and the agreed resolution. Issue Papers are the primary mechanism for formal regulatory dialogue in FAA certification projects.

A design approval issued for a major modification to the type design of an existing type-certificated product (aircraft, engine, or propeller). The STC approves the design change and the associated installation instructions, maintenance data, and, where applicable, flight manual supplements. The STC holder has the authority to produce the modification kit and the obligation to provide Instructions for Continued Airworthiness.

The regulatory framework that governs the certification of aircraft, engines, propellers, and articles (parts and appliances), including procedures for type certificates, supplemental type certificates, production approvals, airworthiness certificates, and export airworthiness approvals. Part 21 is the foundational regulation that defines how a product progresses from design approval to production and operational service.