Page 24 - PDF_Flip_Book

Chapter 6 - Federal Aviation Regulations: How FAR Can We Go? 6-49

Two Types of Airworthiness Certificates
In the world of government paperwork, there’s never a
shortage of ways to create more paperwork. This is espe-
cially true when it comes to how the government issues
airworthiness certificates. You’d think there would be a
need for only one type of airworthiness certificate that
says, “This thing can actually fly.” Period. In a perfect
world with limited paper, this is all you’d need. But lo,
this wasn’t to be.
As it stands, when an aircraft comes off the produc-
tion line it is issued one of two types of airworthiness A
certificate, each having several sub-categories within
it. It’s given either a standard airworthiness certificate
(Figure 68A) or a special airworthiness certificate (Figure
68B). So, let’s examine each.
Standard airworthiness certificates cover aircraft certified
by the FAA in the normal, utility, acrobatic, commuter, or
transport category, and are also issued for manned free bal-
loons, and for aircraft designated by the FAA as special
classes of aircraft (Figure 68A).
Special airworthiness certificates (Figures 68B and 69)
are primary, restricted, limited, light-sport, and provi-
sional airworthiness certificates, special flight permits,
and experimental certificates. In general, aircraft
with special airworthiness certificates cannot be used
to carry passengers or property for hire. These air-
craft do not meet the FAA’s higher standards for safe-
ty that are established for those having standard air- B
worthiness certificates. They can, however, be safely
operated under the limitations established when their
special airworthiness certificate was issued.
For instance, those aircraft falling within the light sport
sub-category (Figure 70) are not certified by the FAA. Instead,
they are certified by their manufacturer to meet a set of stan- Fig. 68
dards developed in consensus with the light sport aircraft indus-
try, also known as consensus standards. These standards specify
certain design, manufacturing, testing and quality control
requirements and don’t involve FAA oversight or participation.
While it’s not necessary to know about all the different sub-
categories within each airworthiness certificate type, you should be familiar with three of the most common ones. I’m
speaking of the restricted, experimental and the primary category aircraft.

Fig. 70
Fig. 69

A LIGHT-SPORT AIRCRAFT