Airworthiness of Aircraft

Who sets the airworthiness rules?

Who certifies

ICAO sets the floor, States share the jobs, the Director-General acts. Tap + to open.

• Airworthiness Annex 8 plus national rules An aircraft must be designed, built and operated to the airworthiness rules of its State of Registry, and is then issued a Certificate of Airworthiness declaring it fit to fly.
  • ICAO standards the minimum Annex 8 gives broad minimum standards; they do not replace national codes, which each State develops or adopts from another Contracting State.
    • Annex 8 the engineering view The minimum basis for recognising a C of A. Supported by Doc 9760, the Airworthiness Technical Manual.
    • Annex 6 Part I the operational view Annex 6 Part I covers aeroplane performance operating limitations from the operational and safety point of view, complementing the engineering standards of Annex 8.
    • Part III: large aeroplanes multi-engined, over 5,700 kg Technical standards for new large aeroplane designs, by maximum certificated take-off mass.
      • Part I definitions Part I of Annex 8 contains the definitions.
      • Part II certification, continuing airworthiness Part II of Annex 8 explains how aircraft get certified and how they stay airworthy afterwards.
      • Part IV helicopters Part IV of Annex 8 deals with helicopters.
    • Security design bomb location, cockpit door A least-risk bomb location, and stronger cockpit doors, ceilings and floors.
  • Contracting States who does which job Different States have different jobs: the State of Design issues the Type Certificate, and the State of Registry issues and keeps valid the C of A.
    • State of Design issues the Type Certificate On satisfactory evidence that the type meets the design airworthiness requirements, the State of Design issues a Type Certificate defining and approving the type design.
    • State of Registry C of A and continuing airworthiness An aircraft must be designed, built and operated to the airworthiness rules of its State of Registry.
    • Foreign C of A recognised if at ICAO minimum The burden of recognising another Contracting State's certificate is on the State of Registry.
  • Director-General national C of A in India In India the Director-General issues the C of A or Special C of A, validates foreign certificates, and can suspend or cancel them.
    • Issue documents plus an airworthy aircraft The Director-General may issue a C of A when the applicant provides the specified documents and the Director-General is satisfied the aircraft is airworthy or fit for safe operation.
      • Equipment and flight manual as specified Each aircraft carries the instruments, radio and special equipment specified for the flight. Where a flight manual is required, the Director-General endorses the C of A.
    • Modification or repair prior approval needed Unless the rules require it, a modification or repair affecting safety needs the Director-General's prior approval.
    • Deemed suspended four grounds The C of A is automatically suspended if the aircraft breaks the rules, is modified or repaired outside the rules, suffers major damage, or develops a major safety defect.
    • Suspended by the DG on reasonable doubt If reasonable doubt exists about the safety of an aircraft or its type, the Director-General may suspend or cancel its C of A, or require modification, repair or inspection.
    • Special Flight Permit after a suspension While a C of A is suspended or deemed suspended, the Director-General may issue a special flight permit on application by the owner or operator.

Takeaway: An aircraft must meet the airworthiness rules of its State of Registry. ICAO sets the minimum; national rules give the detail.

Which State is responsible for what?

Three States

Follow one aircraft from the drawing board to a foreign sky.

Memory hook: Design State makes the Type; Registry State keeps the Certificate.

Takeaway: Design State approves the type. Registry State holds the C of A. States flown over recognise it if it meets ICAO minimums.

How does a new type get a valid C of A?

Certification chain

Five steps from the manufacturer to the State of Registry.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

What does Annex 8 promise, and to whom?

Annex 8 in depth

Purpose, obligations, structure and technical scope. Tap + to open each.

This lesson is part of the Exam-Ready plan. See plans

Which State or authority does this?

Whose job?

Tap a task, then who does it.

This lesson is part of the Exam-Ready plan. See plans

Which paper, which part, which aircraft, when suspended?

Airworthiness at a glance

Four views: the certificates, Annex 8's parts, the 5,700 kg line and suspension.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

Is this C of A suspended?

Suspended?

Read each case and press the stamp that applies.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

Can this Indian aircraft fly today?

Can it fly?

Check the C of A from the top.

This lesson is part of the Exam-Ready plan. See plans

How does design protect an aircraft from attack?

Security design

Annex 8 asks for security features built into the aircraft itself.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

Numbers to know

Numbers

The chapter has few figures; these counts carry the exam questions.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

Pairs that catch students out

Don't mix up

Look-alike terms, side by side.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

Test yourself

Ten questions from this chapter.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans