scope:

a. Type certification, the subject of this order, is one way the FAA promotes safety of flight. Although the FAA is organized to focus on the various aspects of safety through separate internal organizations, these aspects are not independent. For example, before manufacturing a product, an applicant must have a design approval (that is, TC, STC, amended TC, amended STC) and a PC or other FAA production approval. Similarly, before manufacturing a component or spare part (for sale) the applicant must have a PMA or a TSO authorization. These approvals require concurrent work between the ACO and the MIDO. This order focuses on the design approval process conducted by ACOs. It also addresses other aspects of safety, such as airworthiness (airworthiness certificates), manufacturing (production approval), maintenance, and operations (continued airworthiness) as they relate to design approval (type certification). For a more complete understanding of aircraft certification, see the related material listed on the FAA web page and particularly the FAA orders listed in paragraph 1-9, Related Publications, below.

b. The experienced applicant recognizes value in addressing various safety aspects in a unified, coordinated approach. The FAA encourages applicants to develop a plan for working with their geographic ACO that considers all safety aspects. Find guidance on developing such a plan, known as the Partnership for Safety Plan (PSP), in The FAA and Industry Guide to Product Certification (www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/design_approvals/media/CPI_guide_II.pdf). This plan:

(1) Is a tool that helps determine how much attention the various safety aspects warrant and helps the FAA establish priorities that best promote safety,

(2) Addresses the unique characteristics of the applicant's affiliation with the FAA,

(3) Remains independent of specific projects,

(4) Identifies expectations and develops specific interface procedures between the applicant and the FAA, within the limits of FAA regulations and policy, and

(5) Helps the FAA build a constructive relationship with the applicant, including how the FAA and the applicant hold each other accountable.

c. Although The FAA and Industry Guide to Product Certification is broader in scope than this order, we mention it because its principles and tools are intended to improve the efficiency of the type certification process described here.

PURPOSE.

This order is for the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Aircraft Certification Service, Flight Standards Service, Aircraft Evaluation Groups (AEG), and persons and organizations designated by the Administrator associated with the certification processes required by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 21. It prescribes the responsibilities and procedures the FAA must follow to certify new civil aircraft, aircraft engines, and propellers, or changes thereto, as required by 14 CFR part 21.