Civil aviation safety

Federal Aviation Administration

FAA approval pathways distinguish aircraft and product design, production, replacement articles and installation. An article authorization must be assessed within the relevant aircraft and approved-data context.

Read the source in its own scope

Federal Aviation Administration is represented in this collection through the specific publications listed below. Begin with the product, activity and responsible party identified by the source. A reference to an agency does not establish that every product in an industry follows the same pathway. Scope, definitions, exceptions and the status of an adopted technical document can change the conclusion.

Connect the publication to the product decision

Use the original publication to establish the requirement, then connect it to the actual model, configuration, process or transaction. Keep source dates separate from effective and compliance dates. Where several agencies are relevant, preserve a distinct conclusion for each framework. A test report, registration, approval, certification and voluntary program claim should be assessed for the precise object and conditions they cover.

3 source profiles

Publications and requirements in this collection

Federal regulationFAA

Aircraft Type Design and Production Approval

14 CFR Part 21, including Subparts B, F and G; production quality system at 21.137

FAA approval separates the aircraft or product's approved design from the system used to manufacture conforming examples. A production certificate authorizes production within its limitations under an approved type design. Individual aircraft airworthiness and continued operational obligations remain distinct. Part 21's production quality requirements are directly relevant to design-data control, suppliers, manufacturing, inspection, nonconforming products and corrective action.

Civil Aviation Products & Articles

Federal regulationFAA

Parts Manufacturer Approval for Replacement and Modification Articles

14 CFR Part 21 Subpart K; applicable identification under Part 45

A Parts Manufacturer Approval combines design and production approval for replacement and modification articles intended for installation on type-certificated products. FAA maintains article-specific PMA information in its Dynamic Regulatory System. The approval is tied to the identified holder, article and eligibility. It should not be inferred from a supplier's general aerospace experience, a quality-system certificate or a similarity claim about an unapproved replacement.

Civil Aviation Products & Articles

Government technical standardFAA

Technical Standard Orders and TSO Authorizations

FAA Technical Standard Orders; 14 CFR Part 21 Subpart O

An FAA Technical Standard Order establishes minimum performance requirements for a defined aviation article. A TSO authorization allows the holder to manufacture the approved article under the applicable production controls. FAA expressly distinguishes that authorization from approval to install the article on a particular aircraft. The TSO number, revision, authorized article configuration and installation limitations must therefore be read together.

Civil Aviation Products & Articles