When getting aircraft parts, sacrificing quality is not an option. You are responsible for the safety of everyone who boards your aircraft, and taking shortcuts can lead to the FAA revoking your airworthiness certificate, fines, and loss of insurance coverage. Not to mention, it’s dangerous and illegal.
In this article, we’ll cover how to know that you’re getting certified aircraft parts that have been extensively tested and inspected. Additionally, we’ll cover what each certification is, the importance of thorough inspections, different testing methods, and how to avoid unapproved parts.
Understanding Aircraft Part Certification
Certification, according to the FAA, is “how the FAA manages risk through safety assurance. It provides the FAA confidence that a proposed product or operation will meet FAA safety expectations to protect the public. Certification affirms that FAA requirements have been met.”
14 CFR Part 21 defines three separate certifications:
Type
A type certification is the approval of the design of the aircraft and all component parts. This includes propellers, engines, control stations, etc. This ensures that the design is in compliance with applicable airworthiness standards.
Production
A production certification is the approval to manufacture duplicate products under an FAA-approved type design.
Airworthiness
An airworthiness certification is necessary for operation of civil aircraft outside 14 CFR Part 107 or without an exemption under the Special Authority for Certain Unmanned Systems.
How Do I Know I am Getting a Certified Aircraft Part?
The FAA’s term for unapproved parts is “suspected unapproved parts,” or SUPs. A lot of these parts come from unaccredited and uncertified suppliers.
This Advisory Circular from the FAA outlines how to detect these parts:
- The packaging of the part should identify the supplier or distributor and should be free from alteration or damage.
- The actual part and delivery receipt should reflect the same information as the purchase order regarding part and serial number.
- Verify that the identification on the part has not been tampered with (serial number stamped over, label or part/serial numbers improper or missing, serial numbers located at anywhere other than the normal location).
- Ensure that the parts’ shelf-life limit has not expired (if applicable).
- Conduct a visual inspection of the part and supporting documents to the extent necessary to determine if the part is traceable to an FAA-approved source.
Some examples of positive forms of identification are:
- FAA Form 8130-3
- Repair station work order from an FAA-certified source
- European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Form 1 or Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) Form One, Authorized Release Certificates Maintenance records or release document with approval for return to service.
- FAA Technical Standard Order (TSO) markings.
- FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) markings.
- Shipping ticket/invoice from Production Approval Holder (PAH).
- Direct ship authority letter from PAH.
Read the Advisory Circular from the FAA for a more detailed and extensive list.
Testing Methods for Aircraft Parts
We use several methods during inspections and testing to ensure that the parts are able to be reinstalled on airworthy aircraft.
Visual
Inspecting parts for correctness, damage, corrosion, and wear and tear.
Dimensional
Inspecting parts to make sure they measure within OEM tolerances.
Functional
Testing to make sure that the part operates correctly and as intended. This includes use of test stands and other methods to check pressures, movement, detents and leakage.
Read more about our testing methods for different aircraft parts in our more detailed article about NDT here.
Best Practices for Finding Safe and Certified Aircraft Parts
To find safe and certified aircraft parts, your best bet is to find a maintenance facility that is FAA certified and EASA authorized. These facilities will be transparent about their certifications; they won’t be dodgy if you ask for them.
Another rule of thumb is that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. A good example comes from Flying Magazine: If you find a part that is selling for $500 when it’s normally $5,000, you should probably ask yourself why. Go with your gut.
If you don’t trust a Google search, you can always reference the FAA’s list of certified repair stations.
AAI is an FAA Certified and EASA Authorized Repair Station in Georgia
At AAI, we know you want certified parts for your aircraft. Cutting corners or sacrificing quality is not an option. You are responsible for the safety of everyone who boards your aircraft. When you work with us, you’re working with a company that is certified and trustworthy.
Detailed, thorough, and expert work is required to get the job done the right way. At AAI, we know your ultimate goal is to get your plane fixed so you can fly. That’s why we go above and beyond to help you avoid extra costs by creating repairs and manufacturing the parts on your aircraft that are prone to corrosion and wear, like landing gear components.
Challenger maintenance and overhaul requires quick turnaround times. You don’t want a hangar full of planes propped up on jacks, creating a traffic jam for everyone trying to maneuver around them. AAI completes landing gear inspections and repairs in-house so that parts get turned around quickly and you can return your aircraft to normal operation.
Do you have questions about AAI’s process or available parts? Contact us for more information and be sure to sign up for our Frequent Flyers Email Newsletter to get our articles, updates about industry events, and links to our favorite online content delivered right to your inbox every month.