what is an airworthiness certificate

What is an Airworthiness Certificate and What Do You Need to Get One?

A lot of documents are important requirements at the time of getting your aircraft documentation, but not all of them are as self-explanatory as the registration certificate. For example, you might be wondering what is an airworthiness certificate, and why it’s so important for the process. Here you can find all the answers you need.

What is an Airworthiness Certificate?

In accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration rulings meant to regulate and create a standard when it comes to national aviation, it will be necessary for all aircraft to receive an airworthiness certificate that deems them suitable for regular use. After all, flying an airplane is not something to be taken lightly. For the sake of personal and public safety, it’s important that before any aircraft sets flight, it is properly evaluated and certified. This process is fairly straightforward, but it will call for a few different components of the aircraft to be thoroughly tested and looked at. Once that’s done, you will be able to apply for an airworthiness certificate.

What Needs to Be Certified?

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there are certain components of the process that will define the overall application for an aircraft airworthiness certificate. These are the following:

 

  • Aircraft Design, Structure, Avionics – The first step in the road to certifying an aircraft is airworthy will be to determine whether or not the design and structure are suitable to fly in a safe and responsible way.
  • Electrical and Mechanical Systems – Next, the certification team will take a look at the mechanical and electrical systems that allow for flight to take place and whether they are up to the task or not.
  • Power Plants – The aircraft’s power plants need to be evaluated for safety and efficiency in order to ensure its proper functioning.
  • Equipment – All additional equipment in the aircraft will also need to be evaluated and certified a part of the airworthiness process.
  • Engineering Flight Tests – Lastly, the aircraft will be evaluated by way of particular engineering flight tests that will further confirm that the aircraft in question is ready to be operated regularly.

How Are These Approved?

So, these are very specific components of an aircraft’s structure. How  are they going to be evaluated? Well, like anything else, it’s a process, but it will be done by:

  • Reviewing and verifying the design and performance data;
  • Supervising and performing several ground and flight tests; and
  • Ultimately awarding the relevant Federal Aviation Administration type certificates.

what is an airworthiness certificate

Get Your Aircraft Documentation in Order

Filing aircraft documentation with the Federal Aviation Administration, like any kind of bureaucratic paperwork, can be kind of annoying to get through. Lucky for you, here at the National Aviation Center, we are always looking to make the experience a lot easier for you. Here on our platform, you will be able to find all the forms and applications that you might need as part of your documentation process. And, should you have any questions about any of the forms, you can always reach out to us with any questions through our contact page. You will soon be able to get all your registration documents in order without any trouble.