scope:

Purpose of This Order.

a. This order defines the components of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) certificate management (CM) program for production approval holders (PAH). Section 44713 of Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.) requires the FAA to inspect aircraft during manufacture. CM is the FAA's method for meeting this requirement, and auditing is the key component of CM. The purpose of an audit is to verify that a PAH has established and continues to follow approved procedures in the production of products, articles, and parts that conform to their approved type design and are in an airworthy condition for safe operation.

b. Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 21, Certification Procedures for Products, Articles, and Parts, includes requirements for PAHs and FAA production approval applicants. Specifically, part 21 requires a PAH to obtain FAA approval of a written description of its quality system that ensures each product, article, and part conforms to its approved design and is in a condition for safe operation. This written description must include procedures for each of 14 quality system elements in 14 CFR § 21.137. Sections 21.146, 21.316, and 21.616 also require a PAH to maintain this quality system in compliance with these approved procedures and ensure each completed product, article, or part conforms to its approved design and is in a condition for safe operation.

c. As some audit processes in the Certificate Management Information System (CMIS) are automated, there may be differences in CMIS processes and the stated manual processes defined in this order. Where this is the case, the automated process in CMIS takes precedence over the manual process stated in this order.

Note: The use of the word "should" throughout this order refers to a recommended practice. The associated activity is not a requirement; therefore, a record of completion is not required.