Aircraft Certification, CAR-21 (GCAA)
Type certification and the approved type design, the UAE Certificate of Airworthiness and A6- registration, minor and major changes, STCs, and minor and major repairs using approved data.
CAR-21 certification, summary notes
Free- CAR-21 covers the certification of products, parts and appliances and the approval of the organisations that design and produce them.
- A type is granted a Type Certificate once shown to meet the applicable certification specifications. The Type Certificate and its Data Sheet define the approved type design, the standard to which every aircraft of that type must conform. The GCAA generally validates or accepts the type certificate issued by the State of Design.
- Each aircraft on the UAE register is issued a Certificate of Airworthiness by the GCAA and carries an A6- registration. Parts are released with the appropriate authorised release certificate and must be traceable and serviceable before fitment.
- Changes to the type design are classified minor or major. A minor change has a negligible effect on mass, balance, structural strength, reliability, operational characteristics or other airworthiness characteristics. A major change requires authority approval, and a major change by a party other than the type-certificate holder is approved through a Supplemental Type Certificate.
- Repairs are likewise classified minor or major, and a major repair requires approved repair data. Any modification or repair must be carried out using approved data, recorded, and reflected in the aircraft records, weight and balance and configuration where required.
- Noise and emissions certification, including the aircraft noise certificate, also sits within the certification framework.
- Approved standard
- Type Certificate + Data Sheet = approved type design
- Change classification
- Minor (negligible effect) vs major (approval / STC)
- UAE registration
- A6- prefix; Certificate of Airworthiness issued by the GCAA
A third party wishes to install an avionics suite not covered by the type design. What approval is needed?
It is a major change made by someone other than the type-certificate holder, so it requires approval through a Supplemental Type Certificate, and the installation must follow that approved data and be recorded.
Why must a major repair use approved data?
Because it materially affects airworthiness characteristics such as structural strength, so the repair scheme must be shown to restore the item to an airworthy standard, which only approved data provides.
CAR-21 certification quiz
ProThis quiz is part of Engineer
Upgrade to unlock every quiz, mock exam and advanced simulation across all modules. Notes and mind maps stay free.