The FAA certifies three types of aviation products: aircraft, aircraft engines, and propellers. Each of these products has been designed to a set of airworthiness standards. These standards are parts of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), published by the FAA. The airworthiness standards were developed to help ensure that aviation products are designed with no unsafe features. Different airworthiness standards apply to the different categories of aviation products as follows:
- Normal, Utility, Acrobatic, and Commuter Category Airplanes - 14 CFR part 23
- Transport Category Airplanes—14 CFR part 25
- Normal Category Rotorcraft — 14 CFR part 27
- Transport Category Rotorcraft—14 CFR part 29
- Manned Free Balloons—14 CFR part 31
- Aircraft Engines—14 CFR part 33
- Propellers—14 CFR part 35
Some aircraft are considered “special classes” of aircraft and do not have their own airworthiness standards, such as gliders and powered lift. The airworthiness standards used for these aircraft are a combination of requirements in 14 CFR parts 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, and 35 that the FAA finds appropriate for the aircraft and applicable to a specific type design, or such airworthiness criteria as the FAA may find provide an equivalent level of safety to those parts.
The FAA issues a type certificate (TC) for the product when they are satisfied it complies with the applicable airworthiness standards. When the TC is issued, a type certificate data sheet (TCDS) is generated that specifies the important design and operational characteristics of the aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller. The TCDS defines the product and is available to the public from the FAA website at www.faa.gov.
A Note About Light-Sport Category Aircraft
Light-sport category aircraft are not designed according to FAA airworthiness standards and are not issued a TC. Instead, they are designed to consensus standards agreed upon by members of the aviation industry. The FAA must accept these consensus standards prior to their use in the design or manufacture of light-sport category aircraft.
Light-sport category aircraft are designed and built under a manufacturer’s quality assurance system. Industry-developed consensus standards for the quality assurance system include the requirements manufacturers must comply with, such as configuration, documentation, and material control, inspections, audits, and personnel training.
When the aircraft is complete, it is inspected, and the FAA issues a special airworthiness certificate if the aircraft is found to be in a condition for safe operation. As part of the airworthiness certificate issuance, the light-sport category aircraft manufacturer provides a statement of compliance to applicable FAA-accepted consensus standards used in the design and manufacture of the aircraft. This airworthiness certificate must be carried in the aircraft during all flight operations. The airworthiness certificate remains effective as long as the duration requirements in 14 CFR section 21.181 for the light-sport category, such as conformity to its original configuration, are complied with.
Airworthiness certificates are classified as either “standard” or “special.” Standard airworthiness certificates are issued for normal, utility, acrobatic, commuter, or transport category aircraft. They are also issued for manned free balloons and aircraft designated as “special class.”
Special airworthiness certificates are issued for primary, restricted, limited, and light-sport category aircraft. They are also issued as provisional airworthiness certificates, special flight permits (e.g., ferry permits), and for experimental aircraft.
More information on airworthiness certificates can be found in Chapter 9, in 14 CFR part 21, and also on the FAA website at www.faa.gov.