General Part 1

Question 1

What is Type Certification?

Answer 1

It outlines the procedures for evaluating and approving aircraft, engine and propeller type design data and changes to approved type design data. Order 8110.4, and Part 21

Question 2

What is a Type Certificate (TC)?

Answer 2

Design approval issued by FAA when the applicant demonstrates that a product complies with the applicable regulations.

Question 3

What is included in the Type Certificate?

Answer 3

The TC includes the type design, the operating limitations, the TCDS, the applicable regulations and other conditions or limitations prescribed by the administration.

Question 4

What is an Amended TC?

Answer 4

An approval for a change to a TC.

Question 5

Who can apply for an amended TC?

Answer 5

TC Holder only.

Question 6

What is a certification plan?

Answer 6

Applicant’s intended means for showing compliance with the applicable regulations.

Question 7

What does a certification plan contain?

Answer 7

It contains general design concept, planned operating envelope, cert basis, schedule and compliance checklist, post cert activity

Question 8

What is a production certificate (PC)?

Answer 8

An approval by the FAA to manufacture a product after having shown compliance with an approved type design.

Question 9

What is a Type Certification Board (TCB)?

Answer 9

FAA management team responsible for acquainting the applicant with the cert process, resolving significant problems and establishing a schedule for the overall accomplishments of the type cert project.

Question 10

What is a compliance checklist?

Answer 10

A formal method of documenting compliance to all applicable regulations during certification.

Question 11

What is included in the compliance checklist?

Answer 11

It contains regulations, means of compliance, responsible ARs, and all evidence of compliance (ie engineering report numbers etc).

Question 12

What is a Partnership for Safety Plan (PSP)

Answer 12

An agreement between a design approval applicant and the FAA describing how they will work together to certify and maintain integrity of the design approvals. Focus on safety, significant issues, and continued airworthiness.

Question 13

What is Type Design?

Answer 13

The engineering definition of a particular product.

Question 14

What is included in Type Design?

Answer 14

(Drawings and specifications),
(dimensions, materials and processes),
(airworthiness limitations),
(special inspection and preventative maintenance programs),
(Other data to describe the product design, and to determine the airworthiness, noise characteristics, fuel venting and exhaust emissions).

Question 15

What is the change product rule?

Answer 15

Outlines the procedures to establish the certification basis for changed products per 14 CFR 21.101 (Designation of applicable regulations) and 21.19 (Changes requiring a new type certificate).

Question 16

What are an AR’s rolls and responsibilities?

Answer 16

Find compliance, witness test, provide technical guidance including determining cert basis, coordinate as required with FAA and ODA Technical Advisors

Question 17

What is an issue paper?

Answer 17

IPs provide a structured means for describing and tracking the resolution of significant technical, regulatory, and administrative issues that occur during a project. The IP process establishes a formal communication for addressing significant issues between the applicant and the FAA.

Question 18

Name types of issue papers.

Answer 18

o Certification Basis
o Determination of Compliance
o Environmental Considerations
o Import/Export Country Requirements
o Method of Compliance
o ELOS, Special Conditions and exemptions
o Type Validation
o Unsafe Feature or Characteristic
o Areas of New Technology
o Changes to Interpretation

Question 19

What is an equivalent level of safety (ELOS)?

Answer 19

Literal Compliance will not be shown; same level of safety as provided by regs, but by method of compliance different than that stated acceptable to the FAA; compensating features are key to establishing equivalency. No unique or novel design features may exist. Handled via issue papers. Not rulemaking (preferred over special conditions and exemptions).

Question 20

Give an ELOS example.

Answer 20

Emergency exit windows, G650 gear breakaway

Question 21

What is a special condition?

Answer 21

New or novel design feature exists such that the current regulations do not adequately or appropriately address safety. Existing airworthiness standards are not adequate. It provides a level of safety equivalent to that established by existing regulations defined in the cert basis. Considered rulemaking. Handled via Issue Papers.

Question 22

Give a special condition example.

Answer 22

GV high altitude operation,
Composites
Fly-by-wire
Lithium ion batteries

Question 23

What is an exemption?

Answer 23

A grant of relief from a specified airworthiness standard. Must be a benefit to the public as a whole. Does not adversely affect safety and will provide a level of safety at least equal to that provided by the rule from which relief is sought. Considered rulemaking. Handled via Issue Papers.

Question 24

Give an exemption example.

Answer 24

GV bird strike speed.

Question 25

What is an Organization Designation Authorization (ODA)?

Answer 25

An authorization by the FAA for an organization, comprised of an ODA Unit using approved procedures, to make approvals on behalf of the FAA.

Question 26

Name the types of service documents.

Answer 26

o SRM (Structural Repair Manuals)
o CB (Customer Bulletins)
o ASC (aircraft service change)
o Service Letters
o AFM Flight Manual

Question 27

An AR approves what parts of service documents?

Answer 27

ARs approve engineering data which is not part of an open TC project only (design data & substantiation data), not parts pertaining to:
o Compliance times
o Background info
o Manpower estimates
o Cost estimates
o Recommended maintenance actions / inspections that do not require FAA approval
o Tooling and facility requirements
o Step-by-step procedures

Question 28

What is the Transport Airplane Issue List (TAIL)?

Answer 28

Formerly TAD issues list. Contains all known common current safety issues for transport airplanes. Updated quarterly, found on FAA website and linked on ODA website.

Question 29

List several current TAIL issues.

Answer 29

• Damage tolerance of bonded joints
• Additive manufacturing
• Establishing LOV

Question 30

What is an Advisory Circular?

Answer 30

Informal documents produced by the FAA to provide information and guidance. “Acceptable, but not the only means for showing compliance”.

Question 31

Is an Advisory Circular regulatory?

Answer 31

It is not binding nor regulatory.

Question 32

What are the 5 phases of certification?

Answer 32

• Conceptual Design
• Requirements Definition
• Compliance Planning
• Implementation
• Post Certification Activities

Question 33

What needs to be considered for a Design and Construction review?

Answer 33

Load paths, materials, finish and process codes, fasteners and installation requirements, protection of structure, accessibility, inspectability, interchangeability, drainage & ventilation, AD’s, configuration, environmental factors, General dwg review.

Question 34

What is a process specification?

Answer 34

Document or standard that provides a repeatable and reliable result. Can be company or industry. Company process specs are FAA approved.

Question 35

What is a service document?

Answer 35

A publication that conveys useful info about safety, product improvement, operational or maintenance practices. See AC 20-176

Question 36

When do you require process specifications?

Answer 36

When you need close control over results.