scope:

a. This order defines the process for the approval of technical data for major repairs and major alterations. This order does not provide guidance for making decisions on major or minor changes in type design.

b. The use of the term(s) major and minor are sometimes inappropriately applied or misunderstood. A major change in type design can be approved only by an ACO as an amended type certificate (TC) or supplemental type certificate (STC). A major alteration requires the use of FAA-approved technical data. Minor alterations only require data that is acceptable to the FAA. During an evaluation, an anticipated major alteration may be subsequently classified as a major change in type design, and thus would require application for an amended TC or STC.

c. In order to assist the applicant, the Major Repair and Alteration Data Approval Job Aid associated with this order may be used. The job aid lists those alterations that fall within the authority of this order and those that the FAA has determined must be processed as major changes in type design.

Purpose of this Order.

This order provides guidance applicable to the data approval process for major repairs and alterations including field approvals.