NCQM — National Committee for Quality Management

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Civil Aviation Products & Articles

Aviation approvals distinguish design, production, articles and installation. The approved data, eligibility and traceability of a part are central to its acceptance; a TSO authorization alone does not authorize installation in every aircraft.

A product-specific review

Move from scope to evidence

  1. Define the product and activity

    Identify whether the work concerns an aircraft, engine, propeller, replacement article or other aviation item. Establish the relevant design and production approval pathway. Approved data and installation eligibility are essential to the definition of the supplied object.

  2. Connect requirements to evidence

    Connect material, process, inspection and conformity records to the approved design. Review source and part identity through the supply chain. A TSO authorization establishes a defined article approval but does not, by itself, approve installation in every aircraft or system.

  3. Review interfaces and changes

    Assess design, source and process changes under the applicable approval arrangements. Maintain airworthiness and continued-use information with the part’s records. Commercial similarity, fit or a general quality certificate cannot substitute for the required aviation eligibility and approval evidence.

3 source profiles

Requirements and technical resources

Review the references relevant to your product and activity. This selected federal collection does not replace a separate review of applicable state, local or contractual requirements.

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

Build a defensible review record

Identify the product configuration, the controlling provision and edition, the evidence required and the person authorized to make the decision. Keep a reason for exclusions and unresolved questions alongside confirmed requirements.

Revisit the record when design, materials, suppliers, software, claims or the applicable source changes. An earlier report remains useful only to the extent that it supports the current configuration and requirement.

Practice guidance