Aircraft Type Design and Production Approval

A type certificate addresses the approved design of a product against its applicable certification basis. A production certificate addresses the capability to manufacture products and articles conforming to the approved design and in a condition for safe operation. An individual aircraft's airworthiness certificate has a further role. Treating these documents as one interchangeable FAA certificate obscures the different evidence and responsibilities involved at each stage.

FAA evaluates a production-certificate applicant's organization, facilities, quality system and approved design and quality data. The production limitation record identifies the authorized products or articles. A general corporate quality certificate does not extend this scope. Establish which design approval supports the application and which facilities and activities are included before describing a manufacturer or supplier as approved to produce a particular aviation product.

Section 21.137 requires a documented quality system. Its subjects include design-data control, document control, supplier control, manufacturing processes and inspection and testing. For implementation, production personnel need the correct approved drawing, specification and configuration rather than an uncontrolled engineering copy. Changes should be reviewed for their effect on conformity, especially when a supplier or manufacturing route is altered after the original design was established.

The production approval holder's system must address supplier-provided products, articles and services and supplier reporting of subsequently discovered nonconformities. Inspection and testing should establish conformity to the approved design. Traceability and acceptance records need to identify what was inspected and against which configuration. Outsourcing a process or relying on a supplier's commercial certificate does not eliminate the approval holder's responsibility for its production system.

Part 21 addresses changes to the production quality system and notification of changes affecting inspection, conformity or airworthiness. Nonconforming material, corrective action, records and internal oversight are part of the required framework. A production approval is therefore supported by continuing controls, not only an initial facility audit. Review the specific privileges and limitations before issuing release documents or representing a supplier-delivered item as FAA approved.

A purchasing file should identify the part or product, approved configuration, applicable production authorization and the release evidence appropriate to the transaction. A supplier outside the approval-holder role may still perform work under that holder's controlled system; its exact status should be described accurately. Part 21 requirements and FAA production guidance provide the reference structure, while contractual aerospace quality standards can add requirements without replacing the federal approval framework.