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Aircraft type certification
Aircraft type certification is the official approval of a new aircraft's design, including all components such as engines and propellers. It is a critical milestone that ensures the design meets all applicable airworthiness, safety, and environmental standards (such as noise and emissions) before it can enter mass production
Key Regulatory Authorities
Major aviation bodies responsible for issuing these certificates include:
- FAA (Federal Aviation Administration): Oversees certification in the United States.
- EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency): Responsible for the European Union and member states.
- Transport Canada (TCCA): Manages certification within Canada.
- ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency): The authority for Brazil.
The Certification Process
The process typically involves four primary stages:
- Technical Familiarization: Defining the Certification Basis, which includes the specific safety and performance standards the aircraft must meet.
- Establishment of Certification Programme: The manufacturer (applicant) outlines how they will demonstrate compliance for every aspect of the design.
- Compliance Demonstration: Rigorous analysis and testing, including ground tests (structural, systems integration) and flight tests to evaluate handling and performance.
- Technical Closure: The authority reviews all data. If the aircraft is compliant, it issues the Type Certificate (TC), making the applicant the Type Certificate Holder.
Related Documents and Certificates
- Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS): A companion document to the TC that lists the aircraft's specific technical specifications, limitations, and operational envelopes.
- Supplemental Type Certificate (STC): Required for major modifications to an existing type-certified design by someone other than the original manufacturer.
- Certificate of Airworthiness (CoA): While a TC approves the design, a CoA is issued for each individual aircraft produced to confirm it matches that design and is safe to fly.