Advisory US ~XlrTmenl or Transpor1a101 CircularfedefaAvkJtton Administration

Subjeci Ott 12 2 1 9 ACNo 2117-3 lnillaltdb) AIR-110 Chant

Iype Certificaticn of Very Light Airplanes Urrler FARsect 2117(b)

1 IlRIWE Ihis advisoy cirotlar (AC) prc711ides a means bJt mt the atly iwans far the type proiuctiCll ard ainiorthiness oe-tificatiCll of very light airplanes (VIA) ard designates the Joint AviatiCll Reguirestents for Very Light Aercplanes (JAR-VIA) issuai April 26 1990 by the Joint AviatiCll Authorities (JAA) of rurqe as an aaeptable ainiorthiness criteria that provides an equivalent level of safety urrler FARsect 2117(b) for Federal Aviaticn hhninistraticn (FAA) type certificaticn of VIA as a special class of aircraft SUnmary informaticn ard references are also provided en other aaeptable uses of the JAR-VIA middotin the United states (US ) aircraft catificaticn regulatocy system

a FAR Part 1 - Dafiniticns arrl abbreviaticns

b FAR Part 21 - Certificaticn proodures for prcducts arrl parts

c FAR Part 23 - Airworthiness starrlards ngtrmal utility acrdgtatic arrl ccmruter cateqocy airplanes

d FAR Part 33 - Airworthiness starrlards aircraft enir)eS

e FAR Part 35 - Airworthiness starrlards prcpellers

f FAR Part 36 - Noise starrlards aircraft type arrl ain-iorthiness certificaticn

g FAR Part 39 - Airworthiness directives

h FAR Part 43 - Maintenanoe preventive maintenanoe reblilding arrl alteratioo

i FAR Part 45 - Identificatian arrl registration markirq

j FAR Part 91 - (eneral qieratirq arrl flight rules

k FAR Part 183 - Representatives of the Administrator

1 JAA Joint Aviation Requirerrents for Very Light Aeqgtlanes (JARshyVIA)

AC 21 17-3 1 2 I 2 1 I 9

m JM Joint ~rthiness Requirements for Sailplanes arrl ~ Sailplanes (JAA-22)

n AC 23-8A Flight Test Qtide for Certification of Part 23 Airplanes dated February 9 1989

o AC 23-11 fype Certificaticn of Very Light Airplanes with Pl1werplants arxi Propellers Certificated to Parts 33 arrl 35 of the FErleral Aviation Re3Ulations dated Deoerrber 2 1992

3 ~shy

a he need to type certificate a nmi)er of orrplex high performance twinshyerqine small (12500 lbs maxinum takeoff weight or less) airplane designs CNer the past foor decades has loo the FM to prmulgate a large l1UITber of amerrlments to FAA Part 23 to provide adequate normal category airworthiness starrlards for those designs Ccrrments have been reoeiverl fran the microJblic that throxtl these StrOeSSive aznerrlmsnts many certificatioo requirements of FAA Part 23 (gearai for oore orrplex twin erqine airplanes) have beccme unnecessarily blrdensane for the design of very light sinple single-reciprocatirq-erqinepropeller ~ airplanes havirq low stall speeds owhich are cnly flown in the daytilre urder the visual flight rules (VFR) of FAA Part 91 Ihe FM agrees that there is an emergirq genre of such airplanes that are oot typical of the airplane designs envisaged by the present normal category airwOrthiness starrlards of FAA Part 23

b Ihe aircraft certificatioo regulatory authorities of several ~ 4 countries previcusly tei3ched a similar cxnlusioo arxi acxxrdirqly the Joint Aviatioo Authorities (JM) of Dlrq)e develqerl arrl issued their Joint Aviation Requirements for Very Light krqlanes kram as JAR-VIA on April 26 1990 Ihe FAR Part 23 was selected by the JM as a startirq point to provide the format arxi substarxe of the JAR-VIA Where it caitinued to be awrq)riate Considerirq the typical design features arxi cperatirq limitations of VIA (VIA definition providoo in secticn 5 of this AC) charges arrl deletions were made to the FAR Part 23 requirements Where the JM onllrlerl that a partiailar requiremnt was irrpractical aroor winecessary for safety

c Ihe fact that only three rew blo-place single-enJine airplane designs have been type certificatErl in the US unler FAR Part 23 in the last 10 years (~ designs were prcxlucal by non-uS manufacturers arrl type certif icaterl in the US) SlJH)Orts the oontentioo that FAR Part 23 in a rnnrber of sections has beccme inapprqlriate for the type certification of VIA Ihe FM believes this in turn has cxtltribrted to the (JlChTirq numbers of VIA designs being develqerl without atfmiddoteirptirq dilasign certification Qrrp)nents for these designs are being marufactured anl sold to private ruilders for assembly arrl ai~rthiness certificatioo as amateur-ruilt aircraft Anateur-ruilt aircraft are certified with a special airworthiness certificate urrler the experimental category withart awlyirq aJTf FM awrovoo starrlards for design prcduction quality ~or maintenarxe bull

2 r 1 r

AC 21 17-3 1 2 I 2 1 I 9

m JM Joint ~rthiness Requirements for Sailplanes arrl ~ Sailplanes (JAA-22)

n AC 23-8A Flight Test Qtide for Certification of Part 23 Airplanes dated February 9 1989

o AC 23-11 fype Certificaticn of Very Light Airplanes with Pl1werplants arxi Propellers Certificated to Parts 33 arrl 35 of the FErleral Aviation Re3Ulations dated Deoerrber 2 1992

3 ~shy

a he need to type certificate a nmi)er of orrplex high performance twinshyerqine small (12500 lbs maxinum takeoff weight or less) airplane designs CNer the past foor decades has loo the FM to prmulgate a large l1UITber of amerrlments to FAA Part 23 to provide adequate normal category airworthiness starrlards for those designs Ccrrments have been reoeiverl fran the microJblic that throxtl these StrOeSSive aznerrlmsnts many certificatioo requirements of FAA Part 23 (gearai for oore orrplex twin erqine airplanes) have beccme unnecessarily blrdensane for the design of very light sinple single-reciprocatirq-erqinepropeller ~ airplanes havirq low stall speeds owhich are cnly flown in the daytilre urder the visual flight rules (VFR) of FAA Part 91 Ihe FM agrees that there is an emergirq genre of such airplanes that are oot typical of the airplane designs envisaged by the present normal category airwOrthiness starrlards of FAA Part 23

b Ihe aircraft certificatioo regulatory authorities of several ~ 4 countries previcusly tei3ched a similar cxnlusioo arxi acxxrdirqly the Joint Aviatioo Authorities (JM) of Dlrq)e develqerl arrl issued their Joint Aviation Requirements for Very Light krqlanes kram as JAR-VIA on April 26 1990 Ihe FAR Part 23 was selected by the JM as a startirq point to provide the format arxi substarxe of the JAR-VIA Where it caitinued to be awrq)riate Considerirq the typical design features arxi cperatirq limitations of VIA (VIA definition providoo in secticn 5 of this AC) charges arrl deletions were made to the FAR Part 23 requirements Where the JM onllrlerl that a partiailar requiremnt was irrpractical aroor winecessary for safety

c Ihe fact that only three rew blo-place single-enJine airplane designs have been type certificatErl in the US unler FAR Part 23 in the last 10 years (~ designs were prcxlucal by non-uS manufacturers arrl type certif icaterl in the US) SlJH)Orts the oontentioo that FAR Part 23 in a rnnrber of sections has beccme inapprqlriate for the type certification of VIA Ihe FM believes this in turn has cxtltribrted to the (JlChTirq numbers of VIA designs being develqerl without atfmiddoteirptirq dilasign certification Qrrp)nents for these designs are being marufactured anl sold to private ruilders for assembly arrl ai~rthiness certificatioo as amateur-ruilt aircraft Anateur-ruilt aircraft are certified with a special airworthiness certificate urrler the experimental category withart awlyirq aJTf FM awrovoo starrlards for design prcduction quality ~or maintenarxe bull

2 r 1 r

1 2 2 1 9 2 AC 117-3

Ihe FM cxnltrled therefore that it was in the pJblic interest to review the equivalercy of JAR-VU for providinJ a rrore practical means of type certificating VU

d DJring a review urrlertaken by the Srall Airplane Directorate the FM faird that there are 225 sections of FAR Part 23 that are cxrisidered apprcpriate for VIA Ihe JAR-VU reJU)atory setions were essentially the same as 204 of these sections Ihe other 21 sections were either absent fran JAR-VU or foonl to be substantively different Ihe FM concltrled that continuirq to require full cxrrplianie with each of the FAR Part 23 sections that were either absent or different in the JARshyVIA woild irrpse an unnecessary blrden in type certificating typical VIA designs withoot increasing the level of safety of those designs

e Ihe JAR-VIA permits the use of erqines arrl propellers that meet the ixwerplant airworthiness requirements of JM JAR-22 for~ sailplanes Ihe FM agrees with the JM on the adequacy of using these erqine arrl prcpeller requirements for VU cperating urrler day arrl visual flight rule (VFR) conlitions of FAR Part 91 considerirq the law maximJm larrlirq configuration stall speed requirements irposed by the VIA definition Very light airplanes with erqines arrl propellers approved in acxxrdane with the provisions of JAR-22 SUlparts H arrl J respectively may JyenJt be operated in either night or instnnnent flight rule (IFR cxnlitions tnrler FAR Part 91 Ihe FAA has concltrled hciever that VIA operations at night arrl urrler IFR corrlitions wculd be acoeptable provided the VIA were certificated to the JAR-VIA requirements plus certain adlitional FAR Part 23 requirerrets inclutirq those related to night arrl

~ Im operations arrl that both the erqine arrl prqcller installed were type certificated tnrler FAR Parts 33 (JAR-E arrl 35 (JAR-P) bull Iastly the FM on11Xled that there was no safety justification to restrict VIA frcrn ~ial use tnrler FAR Part 91

4 bull DJllliMINATION Acxorcling1y the FAA has determined

a hat very light airplanes as defined in paragramicro1 5 of this AC are sufficiently different fran normal cateqory airplanes envisaged by FAR Part 23 to be considered a special class of aircraft urrler FAR sect 2117 (b) arrl this finling is consistent with the FAR Partmiddot 1 definition of class as used with respect to the certification of aircraft arrl

b hat the JAR-VIA provides acceptable airworthiness criteria equivalent in safety to those portions of FAR Part 23 determined cqplicable to VIA as defined in paragramicro1 5 of this AC when certain ~tinJ limitations are imposed

5 YtA APPLICABILITY AS A SPECIAL CIASS For the puiose of designatirg a_wlicable arrl acceptable airworthiness criteria urrler FAR sect 2117(b) a VIA is considered to be a special class of aircraft ard is defined as an airplane with a sirgle erqine (spark- or arrpression-ignition) not lilOre than two seats a maxbrum certificated takeoff -weight of oot rore than 750 kg (approximately 1654 prrrls) ard a stallirg speed of not nore than 45 gtcrxts (CAS) in the lardirg configuration Ihe operation of these

3Par 3

AC 21 l 7-3 122192

airplanes is limited to normal catamicroy manruvers ard to day-VFR cperaticns cnly urrler FAR Part 91 Ihese airplanes are eligible for starrlard airworthiness certificates urrler FAR sect 21 183 Ihis definitia is identical to that for very light airplanes in JAA-VIA

6 AIRPIANE IYPE CERlIFICATICN mxElJRES

a AWlicatia

(1) AtPlicatiai for type oertificatia 11lSt be made in aoordance with the recpirements of FAR sect 2115 It is recs errled that awlicatien be made to the Aircraft Certificatien Office (NJJ) havirg gecgraprlc resprlSibility for the tusiness locatioo of the awlicant or~ the majority of grctrd ani flight testirg will be caxpletecl AtPlicants base1 in the US are however free to make awlicatioo to aey other NJJ within the us considered by the awlicant to be to their advantage In makinJ the choice to awly to an NJJ other than the ae closest to the awlicant the a_wlicant should cxnsider the difficulties that may later be EnXlll11tered in cbtainirg a Prcxructia certificate P) or an AWroved Prcductia1 Inspectien System (APIS) for the prcdutia of individual airplanes

(2) An awlicatioo for type certificaticn of a VlA as a special class of aircraft is effective for 3 years as specified by FAR sect 2117(c) arrl (d)

(3) lhe Small Airplane Directorate has been assigned the naticna1 tedlnical policy starrlardizatioo functicns cxrcernirq the use of JAR-VIA in the US inclXliJq the type certificatioo of VlA as SE)ECial class aircraft urrler FAR sect 2117b) New VIA type certificatia projects Ghculd be cxnsidered as significant projects in accordance with Order 81005 Aoxgtrdingly Smul Airplane Directorate or Chicago NJJ erqineers arrl flight test pilots may participate at their discretien in VIA type certificatia projects unierway in other NJJs Ihis will ensure that the JAR-VlA ismiddotp~ly arrl consistently interpretoo arrl awlied

b Type Certificatia Basis

(1) lhe type certificatia basis reflected en the Type certificate Data Sheet (IXD3) for VIA certificated as special class aircraft will be stated as FAR sect 21 17 (b) ootirg that JAA-VlA was aglied When the erqine arrl propeller are type certificated as part of the airplane usirq the airwerthiness criteria of JAAshy22 ~ H ani J these criteria will also be roted en the lS Miltianally the qieratirq limitation rormal catEqory rnaneNers shalld be specified

(2) Special conlitions may be specified un1er FAR sect 21 16 hen cxnsidered necessary by the FAA to adlress revel ard unusual design features If special onliticris are aglied they shalld also be roted on the lS

c IYPe Certification Procedures he general arrl prcxedural reJUlations of FAR Part 21 SUlparts A arrl Bare aglicable to the type certification of VIA as special class aircraft Ille details of these p~ are beyond the scqgte of this AC lherefore awlicants who are unfamiliar with FAA Part 21 ard the FAA type certificatia procedure shcwd confer with the ACO where they inteni to nake aglicatioo to assure that they urrlerstarrl the prcxess

4 Pnr 5

122192 AC 2117-3

d Flight Test Guide Because of the similarities between FAR Part 23 arrl JAR-VIA awlicants may fini the FM AC 23-BA flight Test Qude for the Certificatioo of Part 23 Airplanes lseful in pl~ and executinJ their flight test prrgram

e Airplane Flight Manual An airplane flight manual that meets the requirenents of FAR sect 21 5 is required he criteria of the JAR-VIA SUqiart titlei Aeroplane Flight Marual and lqprovei Manual Material will satisfy the requirements of FARsect 21s

f InstructiaJS for emtinued Airworthiness Ihe Maintenanoe Manual criteria of JAR-VIA 1529 are adequate to meet the requirements of FAR sect 2150

g 01arqes to VIA Type Certificates The requirements of FAR Part 21 SUlparts O arrl E are awlicable for a_wrovirq ddeglan1es to type certificates issued for VIA designs incluiirq the issuance of SUWlemental type certificates (SC) Normal FM field awrt1-1a1 procErlures may also be a_wlied for d1arges made to inlividual airplanes

h USe of Csectignated Erginemirg Representatives (DERsl bull Applicants are erxniraged to use the services of FAA IERs incluling IER flight tests pilots to the maximnn extent practicable A list of self shyexployed IERs is available fran the NX) or the awlicant may wish to naninate their own qualified erqineers and flight test pilots for designatia urrler FARsect 18329 F1rther zrlvice cri the use of IERs may be obtained fran the ACO Ihe Drns authorized to make findings of arrpliane with FAR Parts 23 33 or 35 are also authorized to make findings of ampliane with the carparable secticns of JAR-VIA and JAA-22 SUlparts Hand J In all cases IER_findings nust agtIIesprd to their technical areas of delegated authority

7 OOISE RE)Jl]TI(FS Ihe mise certificatioo requirements of FAR Parts 21 and 91 and the mise stardards for aircraft type and airworthiness certificatioo of FAR Part 36 SUlparts A arrl Fare aiplicable to VIA beirq certificated as a special class aircraft

8 PBQYISICWL TiPE CERITFICATES Ihe Provisional Iype Certificate provisias of FAR Part 21 SUq)art c are awlicable to VIA beirq type certificated as a special class aircraft

9 UtINE NO mgtPELIER TfPE CERITFICATIOO OPria-lS The EnJine arrl Propeller Directorate is respcnsible for starrlardizirq national technical policy for the certificatioo and continued airworthiness of erqines and pq)ellers as awrova1 by FAR Parts 33 and 35 respectively Also upgtn request the Erqine and Propeller Directorate will zrlvise and camsel anycne certifyirq VIA erqines and pIq)ellers in acxordane with sutparts Hand J of JAR-22

a If the powered sailplane pielplant airworthiness starrlards of JAR-22 SUlparts H arrl J are USErl for type certification of the erqine arrlor propeller respectively the erqine anjor prcpeller are a_wroved

5Par 6

122192AC ~l17-3

as an integral part of the airplane The awlicant for type certification of the VIA is resJX)nSible for shcdrg cxrpli~ with the requirements Sepilrate type certificates will rci be issued for either the enrine or propeller FM approval of an erqine ardor prcpeller installoo in one VIA design does not in ard of itself cxnstitute awroval of the sane enJine ardor prqeller in another VIA type design FM approved data develqed in an earlier certification project will be used to the maxirrum extent possible within the guidelines governin prqrietary data ~liers of enrines ard propellers to VIA type certificate applicants may wish to sut=POrt the airplane designers certification arrl retain rights to use data awrovel by the FM in the process to assist other awlicants

b Ergines or propellers type certificated by a JM member authority urrler JAR-E or JAR-P respectively arrl manufactured in a camtry with which the US has cxnlu1ed a bilateral airworthiness agreenent cxverirg enines arrl propellers may be separately type certificated by the FM usinJ the procedures for inport prooucts urrler FAR sect 21 29 Drrirq FM type certification the FM considers the ergines arrl propellers certificated urrler JAR-E arrl JAR-P respectively to be equivalent to e1yen1ines arrl prcpellers type certificated urrler FAR Parts 33 arrl 35 resieotively Iherefore VIA type certificated by FM to JAR-VIA usinJ JAR-E e1yen1ines arrl JAR-P prqiellers may be certificated as FAR Part 23 unormal categocy (ie rot special class) airplanes See AC 23-11 for mgtre information

10 rnocucrroo CERITFICATION To be eligible for a starrlard airworthiness certificate urrler FAR sect 21 183 (a) the VIA must be manufactured urrler one of the prcxluction approval systems identified in FAR Part 21 SUlparts F arrl G Mvisocy Circular 21-lB Prcduction Certificates provides information ard gui~ on the aoeptable zreans for canplyirq with the regulations concemirg Fes For inported airplanes to be eligible for a starrlard airworthiness certificate they will have to meet all of the requirements of FAR sect 21 183 (c)

11 ATIM)RIHINESS CERIFICATI(tJ For VIA to reeive a starrlard airworthiness certificate urrler FAR sect 21 183 (a) the airplanes must have a type certificate arrl be manufactured urrler an FM approved prcrluction system The airplanes will be issuai starrlard airworthiness certificates FM Fenn 8100-2 in amiddot m~ like that for any other aircraft reeivirg the saroo certificate Since the VIA is type certificated as a special class of aircraft the category in FM Fann 8100-2 block 4 will be identified as VIA-Special Class For VIA to rea2ive a spcial a~rthiness certificate for a prrpose identifiErl in FlgtR sect 21 175 (b) use FM Form 8130-7 Special Airworthiness Certificate ll1e Sam procedures would awly as specified in current FAR arrl FM policies

12 IMR)RlED VIA The import product type certification requiremnts of FAR sect 2129 arrl import prcrluct airworthwss certification requirerents of FAR sect 21183(c) are applicable to VIA designel to rreet the criteria of JAR-VIA The FM type certification basis for inport VIA with JAR-22 ~ines arrl prqellers installed will also be sham on the KI6 as FAR sect 2117 (b)

13 IDEmIFICATION AND RffiISTRATION MAKING The identification arrl reistration markinJ requirerrents of FAR Part 45 are applicable to VIA type certificated as a special class of aircraft Advisory Circular 45-2 Identification and

AC 21limiddot-3

Registration MarkinJs provides guidance arrl Worm3tion corcernirq the identification arrl mrrkirq requirenpoundnts of FAR Part 45 This AC provides a referenoe for aiplyinJ arrl locatinJ these markinqs

14 REFQRJIK FAIUJRES MAUUNCTIO-JS amp~ DErEXTS Holders of a type certificate for VlA type certificated as a special class of aircraft are required to report failures malfunctions arrl defects unier FAR sect 21 3 1hese reportirg requirements also aiply to the engine ardor plq)eller vhen they are certificated as a part of the VlA

15 AIJM)RIHINESS DIRECTIVES

a Airworthiness Directives (ADs) may be issued on VlA type certificated as a special class of aircraft in acxxrd3nce with FAR Part 39 If the )Otential unsafe corrlition is with either the JAR-22 engine or propeller the AD will be issued against the VlA type certificate ie not the engine or propeller type certificate because the engine arrl propeller are type certificated as an integral part of the VIA If engines or propellers of the same basic design are aiproved for installation on other VlA type designs additional ADs may be issued to protect all affected VIA types

b Holders of VIA type certificates are required to develop actioos to resolve all significant in-service safety diffiauties resultirg fran either design or prcrluction quality inadequacies If the FM determines that an AD is~ the type certificate holder will be expected to develop the neagtssary service instructions as required by FAR sect 21 99

16 APPIJCABIE OPERATIONS AND ~CE RmJIATIONS All privileges arrl requiremnts of FAR Parts 43 arrl 91 aiplicable to aircraft havirg a starrlard airworthiness certificate are aipl icable to VIA holdirq a starrlard airworthiness certificate in the VIA-Special Class category VIA-Special Class aircraft type certificated unier FAR sect 21 17 (b) are eligible for starrlard airworthiness certificates unier FAR sect 21 183 arrl shculd oot be thcught of as aircraft holdirg a special airworthiness certificate as envisaged by FAR sect 21175(b)

17 aIHER APPLICATI0-1S OF THE JAR-VIA STANDrRC6 rn THE US AIRCRVJ CERITFICATION SYSTEM

a The apperded figure and notes on Airworthiness Certification Options for Small Airplanes are provided to shaw the interrelationship between the varicus classifications categories arrl kirxis of airworthiness certificates issued in the US aircraft certification regulatory system Fran this figure arrl its notes one can see haw the JAR-VU may be used leading to the issua11C8 of starrlard airworthiness certificates in either the nonnal category or VIA-Special Class category It is also arparent that the JAR-VIA m1y be used le1din to the issuance of Primary category type arrl airworthiness certification as -well If the primary catcxJory aircraft is nunufacturoo uroer a prcrluction certificate or APIS or assembled unicr the ~ision of a prcrluction certif icateAPIS holder it m1y be given a special

r n r l 3 ~

I

AC 2117-3 122192

airw1orthinest1 certificate It also shculd be noted that aircraft of a design type ~ificatecl in the Primacy categlcy with cxmpnents and palts prcrluoed urrler a FC or APIS that are assentgtled by a private ruilder withaIt the marufacturers supervisiai may receive a Kit-aii1tdeg experimental~ certificate his procedure is awlicable even thaqh mgtre ttan so peroant of the cxnpnants and parts are provided to the ruilder

b Perscns interested in ootairunJ a rormal ca~ type oertificate usinJ JAA-VIA havinJ an enJine type certificated urrler FAR Part 33 and a prqeller type certificated urder FAR Part 35 shculd refer to N 23-11 for rore details

18 JtJmE TO OBrA1N 1HE ~ JAA Cqies of the JAA Joint Aviatiai ReqUirements for Very Light Aercplanes (JAR-VIA) and Joint Airworthiness ReqUirements for sailplanes and~ sailplanes (JAA-22) may be plld1asErl fran

Civil Aviatia IUthority PrintinJ and Flblicatia Services Greville Hcuse 37 Gratta Road Chelterbam Gl~ GL50 2ffi Ergland

19 hHERE IO OOID murncm FM FUBLICATICNS All FAR pmlicaticnsreferened in this N may be obtained fran

SUperintendent of Dxunents US Gavernoont PrintinJ Office WaJshirgta oc 20402

or fran US GoVemnent Printin Office book stores located in major cities ~ the US

rrhe CXl6t of N 23-SA Flight Test Guide tor Certificatia of Part 23 Airplanes stock Nlmt)er (SN) OS0-007-00S17-l is $1200 Serrl cneck or nxney order with ycmshyrequest payable to SUperinteooent of Dxuments

Ibis AC 2117-3 N 23-11 and AC 45-2 may be dltainerl fran the US Departlrent of Transpgtrtaticn ceneral Services Sectioo H-4432 washirgtcn OC 20590

ll~~ 1~-6Imiddotmiddot MC Beard Director Aircraft certificatia Service

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AR-VLA 35

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middot Utility

middot Acrobatic

middot Manned Free Balioon

middot Special Classes -

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Acceptable Airworthiness

Standards

middot FARS 23 27 amp 3i

middot JAR-VLA

Purposes 11 middot Others TBD

NAIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATION OPTiONS -N

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tor ( 1)

SMALL AIRCRAFT i ~

Airworthiness Certificate Classifications (FAR 21175) (81 I 5 l

Special (FAR 21175(b) ---+---Standard (FAR 21175( aj)

Compensation amp Hire Not Allowed

middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot---~-i-~-~~--~- Very Light Airplane

(JAR-VLA withmiddot Exhibition

Kinds of Aiiworthiness Certificates (FAR 21 Subpart H)

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csee NlDbers in Figure 1)

(1) Small Airqaft are definerl by FAR Part 1 as aircraft ( e g airplanes heliapters gliders hot air ballcxns airships etc havirg a maxinum certificatoo tth=Dff 11eight limitation of 12500 pomis or less

(2) Ieyel of Certitule is a term usai a the d1art to inlicate a relative level of sureness (or cxnfidence) in the safety of the aircraft in questioo as a prcrluct of the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) aircraft certification praes ard ma~ requirements Ihus the level of certitlrle sham on the chart shculd be seen as a measure of cxnfidene in the safety of a genre of aircraft (or vehicles) by virtue of the cxrrbinerl effects of the airworthiness starrlards or criteria awlied for type design awroval (type certificatioo) the depth of FM involvement in evaluatirg the design durirq the type certificatioo p~ the rigor of the prcrluctioo quality assurane system review for FM awroval pirposes the inspecticns required of the aircraft durirq marufacture ard the awlicable ma~ perfo~ regulaticns TIle level of safeiy of any partiallar aircraft or aircraft genre may be greater than the level of certibne arrl often is - deperrlirXJ on the partiailar aircraft s design attribFes (required or oot) plus the quality of canstruction ard maintenarxe actually perforrred The level of safety of an aircraft can only be determined by the aircrafts actual safety perfo~ in service

(3) Even thcJutl shown on the cnart l1tralight vehicles are oot cxnsiderai to be airraft by the FAR ard are not issued any form of an FM airworthiness certificate Ultralight vehicles are defined by FAR Part 103 ard their qierations are regJlatoo arrl highly restricted by that part Amateur-btilt ultralight vehicles inlulirg vehicles that exceed the ultralight pa~ters of FAR 103 nay cbtain experimental amateur-ruil t ai~rth iness certificates Uirler FAR sect 21 191 (g) They are then oonsidered to be aircraft as def inerl by FAR Part 1

(4) Airvirthiness certi f i cates are middotissued by the FM urrler one of two classifications starrlard or ~ial

5) Starrlard ai~rthiness certif icates are issued on FM Fonn 8100-2 urrler the starrlard classi f ication 1he II cateqory designated on a starrlard ai~rthiness certif icate irrlicates the category of type agtrtificate (TC) issuro to af1Jrove the type design Ccmruter arrl transport categories are not sh~n in

7-3 X J

~ CERIJf1CATICti OPrICN3 tor

moLLAIRPIJNEB

csee NlDbers in Figure 1)

(1) Small Airqaft are definerl by FAR Part 1 as aircraft ( e g airplanes heliapters gliders hot air ballcxns airships etc havirg a maxinum certificatoo tth=Dff 11eight limitation of 12500 pomis or less

(2) Ieyel of Certitule is a term usai a the d1art to inlicate a relative level of sureness (or cxnfidence) in the safety of the aircraft in questioo as a prcrluct of the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) aircraft certification praes ard ma~ requirements Ihus the level of certitlrle sham on the chart shculd be seen as a measure of cxnfidene in the safety of a genre of aircraft (or vehicles) by virtue of the cxrrbinerl effects of the airworthiness starrlards or criteria awlied for type design awroval (type certificatioo) the depth of FM involvement in evaluatirg the design durirq the type certificatioo p~ the rigor of the prcrluctioo quality assurane system review for FM awroval pirposes the inspecticns required of the aircraft durirq marufacture ard the awlicable ma~ perfo~ regulaticns TIle level of safeiy of any partiallar aircraft or aircraft genre may be greater than the level of certibne arrl often is - deperrlirXJ on the partiailar aircraft s design attribFes (required or oot) plus the quality of canstruction ard maintenarxe actually perforrred The level of safety of an aircraft can only be determined by the aircrafts actual safety perfo~ in service

(3) Even thcJutl shown on the cnart l1tralight vehicles are oot cxnsiderai to be airraft by the FAR ard are not issued any form of an FM airworthiness certificate Ultralight vehicles are defined by FAR Part 103 ard their qierations are regJlatoo arrl highly restricted by that part Amateur-btilt ultralight vehicles inlulirg vehicles that exceed the ultralight pa~ters of FAR 103 nay cbtain experimental amateur-ruil t ai~rth iness certificates Uirler FAR sect 21 191 (g) They are then oonsidered to be aircraft as def inerl by FAR Part 1

(4) Airvirthiness certi f i cates are middotissued by the FM urrler one of two classifications starrlard or ~ial

5) Starrlard ai~rthiness certif icates are issued on FM Fonn 8100-2 urrler the starrlard classi f ication 1he II cateqory designated on a starrlard ai~rthiness certif icate irrlicates the category of type agtrtificate (TC) issuro to af1Jrove the type design Ccmruter arrl transport categories are not sh~n in

1~ l middot ~ - rl _i-_

Figure l l)ecause these do not nonnally qualify as small aircraft The airwOrthiness starrlards (L e the design starrlards used durirg the tyre certificatioo of aircraft are provided in FAR Parts 23 25 27 29 31 arrl 3 4 The airwOrthiness starrlards of the ergines arrl prqiellers installed oo these aircraft are provided by FAR Parts 33 arrl 35 respectively Also FAR sect 21 17 (b) provides a prcoedure for the FAJ to spcify aeoptable air-orthiness criteria for type certification of special classes of aircraft in the event that a_wrcpriate a~rthiness starrlards have not been axlified in the FAR for the class Gliders (sailplanes) irships arrl very light airplanes (VIA have been designatal as special classes11 of aircraft Aircraft havirg stanlard a~rthiness certificates are those prcducied urrler an FAA ~roved prcduction quality assuraro system eg a prcxruction oertificate (FC) or are inportal with an EXt)Ort oertificate of ajrworthiness issued by a reccgnized aircraft oertificatio=-t authority of another camtry It is inpgtrtant to note that aircraft of a type design oertificatal as a special class are eligible to receive starrlard a~rthiness oertificates Ihus there is no cxgtnrletion between aircraft havinJ a special classification of airworthiness certif i cate arrl aircraft haVlJX1 ~ type certificatal as a special class eg VIA-Special Class for the prqxse of definirq the awlicable a~rthiness certificates

(6) sereral kin1s arrl categories of a~rthiness oertificates are issued urder the sectJ2euroCial classification of airworthiness certificates irchrlirg experimental restricted category limited category provisiaial category special flight pennit arrl primny category air-orthiness oertificates (Experimental ani special flight pernits are not refen-ed to in the regulations as categories) Only the experimental ard prima-y category airworthiness oertificates are errp1a5ized on the figure Aircraft havinJ special airworthiness oertificates (issued on a pink FAA Fonn 8130-7) are not interrled for cxmnercial operations (~tion or hire) do not rreet the requirements of ICNJ Annex 8 for international operations arrl litfrac14Y not (depenlirq on tl1e particular certificate category) be required to rreet the sane rnaintenance requirements as aircraft havinJ starrlard air-orthiness oertificates Ihe operatinJ limitations for aircraft havirg special a~rthiness oertificates are nore restrictive than for those havirg starrlard airworthiness certifi cates

(7) Airplanes of a design rreet-inJ the follcirq requirements m1y be issued a starrlard a irwOrthiness oerti f i cate in the 1nornal categol) 11

(i) Be type certificatel un3er FAR Part 23 usirg JAR-VIA to~ equivalency plus additional FAR Part 23 requirements as necessal)middot arrl

( ii) Have an erqine anl prqeller installed of a design type certificated urrler FAR Parts 33 arrl 35 resp-ctively

niese airplanes may be operated at night anVar unicr the instn1mant flight rules (IFR) of FAR Part 91

bull i ~ IO)bull _ J J I_AC 21 bull i 7-3

Apptgtndi l

(8) Very light airplanes (lLrll have been introruced as g new SJXCial class of aircraft urrler FAR 21 17 (b) arrl are eligible for stardard airworthiness certi tication urrler FAR 21 183 bull The Dlrq)ean Joint Aviation Reguirenents (~ign stardards) for Very Light heroplare (JARshyVIA) dated April 26 1990 have been detennined by FAA to be an acxeptable airworthiness criteria for type Certification of airplane designs that neet the awlicability provisions of the JAR-ViA VIA as envisaged by JAR-VIA are sinle or two place sinle rociprocatirq ergine (spark- or cxrnprltSSion-ignition) airplanes havin a take off weight of not mire then 750 kg (awrox 1654 pmls) arrl a larrlin amfiguraticn stall spee1 of not JrDre than 45 knots VIA are not interrlel to cperate at night or urrler instrurrent flight rules (IfR) JAA-VIA provides for the use of pciered sailplane ergine arrl prcpeller (perplant) airworthiness requireloomiddot1ts of JAR-22 sutparts H arrl J respectively for type certification of the ergines arrl propellers designs installed oo VIA Use of JAR-22 pierplant requirements are also acxepted by the FM rt)en the ergine arrl prcpeller are type certificated as an inteJral part of the airplane design These airplane design when type certificated by the FM are eligible for a stardard airworthiness rertificate in the VIA-Special Class category rut are limited to dayvisual flight rules (dayVFR) qerations only

(9) Egtqerimental airworthiness certificates are only issued for the prrpgtSes specified urrler FAR sect 21 191 The prrpgtSes of exhibiticn air racirq amateur-ruilt arrl kit-built are etrp)aSized in Figure l Experimental airworthiness certificates ney also be issuei for the puposes of research arrl developrent (RampD) shawirq orrpliane with the raJUations crew traininJ arrl market surveys There is very little FM involverrent in assessirq the design or quality of construction of aircraft when i~ experimental airworthiness certificates for those puposes listed in Figure 1 with the exception of the new experLental kit-built aircraft Aircra~t havirq an experimental kit-ruilt airworthiness certificate are of a design type certificated in the primary category arrl the kit cxxrpgtnent are prcduced Uirler an FAA approved prcrluction quality assurance system

(10) The prirrary category airworthiness certificate 1o5 reeltly intrcxruad to fill the level of certitude gap be~ the genre of aircraft usually qerated as egtperirrental aUteur-built aircraft arrl ircraft that are eligible for a stardard airworthiness certificate Ihus the new primary category anenlments to FAR Parts 21 4 3 arrl 91 shcwd be seen as a new system of type certification original airworthiness certification arrl maintenance perfo~ regulations awlied for a category of sma11 sirple aircraft interrled for private use The level of certitude is not interrled to be as high as that for aircraft having standard airworthiness certificates however it represents a considerable ircrease over that of the large rnlrlber of experimmtal amateur-ruil t aircraft in wide-spread q-eration tcday Ihe new primary category regulations provide for

(a) Awlication of existirg FM airworthiness st~l1ards acagtptane of other cnintries airworthiness st1rl1iis or acx-ept~e of

4

l~ 2 1 1 7 - 3

(b) prcxe-ss

A less rurdenscne (reducei FM involverrent) ty~ ~ification

( C)

arplicant G i V irq greater crali t to certification staterrents made by the

(d) Manuacturer-supervised pilotcrner participat ion in the constructioo ani manufacturin) inspection process arrl

(e) Greater eligibility for pilotawners to r-e~icipate in the maintenance of their 0wn aircraft urder FAR Part 4J

(11) Ki t-tuil t aircraft type certi f icated under prim1ry cata)Ory may be issued an airworthiness certificate in either the priIrary category or experimental category On the special airworthiness certificate-primary category side if the airworthiness starrlards cxxlified in the FAR ie FAR Part 23 27 31 33 arrl 35 are used for type certification of an aircraft in the primary category it sha1ld be easier for sane priJMry category aircraft designs to be type certi f icatro in one of the stardard categories at a later date Because the only difference in the type certificaticn process between aircraft reoeivirg primary category airworthiness certificates arrl aircraft reoeivirg starrlard airworthiness certificates is the level of FAA involvement On the experimental airworthiness certificate side a wilder asserrblinJ an air=raft of a design type certificatErl in the primary catsgory rut not urder the prilte manufaltturers quality assurarxe supervision may qualify for an experimental kit-ruil t airworthiness certificate urrler FAR sect 21 191 (h) providirg the ~ts used~ manufactured urrler an FAA arproved prcrllrtioo quality~ system The microrrchaSEgtr or C1w11er of the kit is not required to assentgtle nor fabricate any specific portioo of the kit assistance for sane or all of the work may be cirtainel frcrn other sairoes such as the prcduction holder or sane other fabricator

(12) As inticatel within the area defined by the dashoo line the E)uq)ean JAA-VLA rray be ~tilized in fcur (4) different w-ays in the US aircraft oertificatioo systeI for very light airplanes

(a) Ihey may be used as a part of the certification basis to obtain a oorrral category type certificate Uldegrler FAA Part 2J ll1e JARshyVIA are cxnsidPred equivalent to the arrespniirg FAR Part 23 ~ts for VIA type certif ication Therefore the JAA-1A reqrirenents plus certain adlitional FAR Part 23 requiranents ~iY be usai as the certificatioo basis for very light airplanes provided the erqine arrl prcpeller installed have been type ~rtificatel by the FM urrler FAR Parts 33 arrl 35 respectively Operation at night arrl urrler IFR cxrditia1S ~d be acceptable providro the aoiitional FAR Part 2J requireoonts ircllrle those rel atoo to night arrl I FR qicgtrati CXS

(b) hey nay be a~lied to cbtain a type certif iC-lt-ite as a special class aircraft urder FAR 21 17 (b) utilizirg ergines ard p~llers frunl to CCJTPlY with JAR-22 or better These airplanes will be eligible

AC 2117-3 122192Appendix 1

for starrlard airwcrthiness certificates in the VIA-Special Class category rut will be limitei to dayVFR flight only

(c) Ihey may be used to obtain a prirery category tyJie certificate urrler the new procedures of FAR sect 21 24 ard a special airworthiness certificate in the primary category urrler new FAR sect21184 - provided the airplane is produced urrler an FM approved production quality assurance system (includinq PC holder supervised pilotowner construction ard inspection) or is appropriately certified to the FAA by a reaxJnized airworthiness authority of another country

(d) Experimental kit-built airworthiness certificates may be issued for pilotowner assembled kits of a design type certificatei by the FM usinq primary category procedures ard the JAR-VIA provided the kit carpments were manufactured under an FM approved quality assurance system

6