Type Certificate

A type certificate, is awarded by aviation regulating bodies to aerospace manufacturers after it has been established that the particular design of a civil aircraft, engine, or propeller has fulfilled the regulating bodies' current prevailing airworthiness requirements for the safe conduct of flights under all normally conceivable conditions (military types are usually exempted). Aircraft produced under a type certified design are issued a standard airworthiness certificate.

• A type certificate (TC) is a design approval issued by the civil aviation authority (CAA) of a given country (such as the US FAA and EU EASA) when the applicant demonstrates that a product complies with the applicable regulations. The TC normally includes the type design, the operating limitations, the type certificate data sheet (TCDS), the applicable regulations, and other conditions or limitations prescribed by the CAA. The TC is the foundation for other approvals, including production and airworthiness approvals. TC's are normally issued for airframes, engines and propellers.

• An "airworthiness certificate" is only issued to an aircraft that is properly registered and was found to conform to its TCDS and be in a condition for safe operations. The airworthiness certificate is valid and the aircraft may be operated as long as it is maintained in accordance with the rules issued by the CAA

A supplemental type certificate (STC) is issued by the aviation Authority approving a product (aircraft, engine, or propeller) modification. The STC defines the product design change, states how the modification affects the existing type design, and lists serial number effectivity. It also identifies the certification basis listing specific regulatory compliance for the design change. Information contained in the certification basis is helpful for those applicants proposing subsequent product modifications and evaluating certification basis compatibility with other STC modifications.