Aircraft Certification
Part-21 (CAR 21) initial airworthiness — DOA and POA, the Type Certificate and TCDS, STCs; the Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Registration, the EASA Form 1 and the Permit to Fly.
Aircraft certification — summary notes
Free- Initial airworthiness — the certification of designs and products — is governed by Part-21 in (EU) 748/2012 (GCAA: CAR 21). It covers Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and Production Organisation Approval (POA).
- A new aircraft design that meets the certification specification is granted a Type Certificate (TC); its approved characteristics and limitations are recorded in the Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS). A change to a type by another organisation can be approved by a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC).
- Each individual aircraft receives a Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A) — issued once, and remaining valid so long as the aircraft is maintained in accordance with the rules and its Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) is kept current.
- The Certificate of Registration (C of R) records the aircraft's registration and owner with the State of Registry; the noise certificate records its noise compliance.
- A component released as serviceable carries an authorised release certificate — the EASA Form 1 (GCAA equivalent form) — certifying it was produced or maintained to approved data and is fit for fitment.
- Where a full C of A cannot be issued (e.g. new build not yet complete, experimental, ferry flight), a Permit to Fly may be issued for specific limited flying.
- ⚠ Exam trap: the TCDS is the approved data sheet for the TYPE; the C of A belongs to the INDIVIDUAL aircraft; and a component is released on an EASA Form 1, not a C of A.
- Initial airworthiness
- Part-21 in (EU) 748/2012 · GCAA CAR 21
- Type vs individual
- TC + TCDS = the type · C of A = one aircraft
- Component release
- EASA Form 1 (authorised release certificate)
- Design / production approvals
- DOA · POA · changes via STC
A serviceable overhauled component arrives in stores. Which document proves it may be fitted, and what does that document confirm?
The EASA Form 1 (authorised release certificate). It certifies the component was manufactured or maintained in accordance with approved data and is in a condition for safe operation — the traceable release document that permits fitment.
Where would you find the officially approved model designation, engine limitations and approved configuration for an aircraft type?
The Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS), which accompanies the Type Certificate. It is the definitive record of the type's approved characteristics and limitations, distinct from the individual aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness.
Aircraft certification concept map
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