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Home YOU US What We Can Do What We Have Done - On Learjets Why ASTECH ASTECH's Founder Expert's Corner - FAA Cert. Plan Links In Closing

PURPOSE: This document is intended to provide the information to prepare a certification plan for any design requiring FAA Engineering approval DEFINITION: A certification plan is a document which tells the FAA how an applicant intends to demonstrate compliance of the design to the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's). The plan should assist the applicant in substantiating the design and assist the FAA in expediting its approval. REQUIREMENTS: A proper certification plan assures the FAA that the applicant has made a thorough review of the FAR's and is fully aware of the applicable requirements. In turn, the applicant receives FAA concurrence that the certification plan describes an acceptable means of demonstrating compliance with the FAR's. Certification plans are not submitted as substantiation (compliance data) since they are not called out by the FAR's. However, a compliance checklist is a required compliance substantiation document, and forms a significant portion of the certification plan. Even though the remainder of the certification plan is not required by regulation, it is imperative that the planning for those items take place, or the project stands little chance of timely completion. For these reasons, the FAA strongly encourages all applicants to prepare and submit a certification plan. SCHEDULE: Preparation of the certification plan should begin as soon as the basic design has been determined in order to realize benefits from up-front consideration of the FAR's. The certification plan should be submitted to the FAA as soon as possible after the design concept is firm. Obviously, it needs to be submitted in advance of any conformity requests, test plans, or compliance data. CONTENTS: The certification plan should show the following: Purpose or Introduction: Identify the intent of the certification plan. Description: A brief description should always be included, but the complete description can be included or submitted as a separate document if the design description is not yet available in detail or is too complex. FAR's: The applicable regulations need to be listed, by sections and sub-sections, including the amendment level if it differs from the certification basis established for the product. Any plans for exemptions, equivalent levels of safety, or special conditions should be included, if known. Compliance: Tell how compliance will be shown by indicating laboratory testing, flight testing, analysis, similarity, etc. If compliance is to be through the use of unique methodology, it should be so noted in the certification plans then covered by separate submittals and discussions. Compliance data should not be made a part of the certification plan. Conformity: Indicate what parts and installation conformity will be required. Data: List the data to be submitted to show compliance. It is acceptable to TBD report and drawing numbers. Airplane Flight Manual Indicate if this document is affected and how it will be revised. Type Certificate Data Sheet: Indicate if this document is affected and how it will be revised. Proposed DER(s): The project ACO must determine the appropriateness of each DER for each project. The ACO may not delegate the authority to approve certain aspects of a project even though a DER may have previously been granted authority in that general area. Master Min Equipment List: Indicate if the MMEL is affected and describe the intended minimum dispatch configuration. System Criticality: For applicable systems, the results of the preliminary function hazard analysis need to be made known. Schedule: Provide a schedule which shows the following: - Significant milestones. - If applicable, identify when a preliminary hazard analysis will be submitted, and when all detail data submittals will be made. - When (and where in general) the tests requiring an FAA will be run. - When conformity inspection (parts, systems, and installations) requests will be submitted. - When final certification is required. REVISIONS: After the FAA has indicated concurrence with the certification plan, it is not necessary to reflect the approval by revising the report. The letter of concurrence should be considered as sufficient evidence. Should the FAA letter of concurrence define a conditional approval, letters can still be used to complete the agreement without the need to revise the report, resubmit it and then wait for another FAA letter of concurrence.

For more information on how ASTECH Engineering may be able to help you, please contact Jeff Wilson at astech@cox.net or call 316-304-6157. © Copyright 1996 ASTECH Engineering. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the author.

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