FAR 21.130 — Statement of Conformity
FAR 21.130 requires type certificate holders to provide a statement that each manufactured product conforms to its type certificate and is safe to operate.
FAR 21.130 applies to manufacturers who hold or are licensed under a type certificate (TC). Whenever they build a product (aircraft, engine, or propeller) under that TC, they must give the FAA a written statement of conformity in a form the FAA accepts.
That statement must affirm two things about the product:
- It conforms to its type certificate — meaning it was built to the approved design, drawings, specifications, and limitations.
- It is in a condition for safe operation.
Why it matters operationally: The statement of conformity is a key piece of the airworthiness chain. Before the FAA issues an original airworthiness certificate for a new aircraft, inspectors rely on this manufacturer's statement (often documented on FAA Form 8130-9) to confirm the airplane leaving the factory matches the approved type design. Without it, the aircraft can't be certificated for flight. As a pilot, this is part of why you can trust that a factory-new airplane meets its TC before you ever preflight it.