FAR 21.141 — Production Certificate Issuance

FAR 21.141 is a short but important rule that tells the FAA when it can hand out a production certificate. The FAA issues this certificate only after determining that the applicant meets all the requirements laid out in Subpart G of Part 21 (the production certificate subpart).

In plain terms:

• A manufacturer applies for a production certificate so it can mass-produce aircraft, engines, or propellers under an approved design.
• The FAA reviews the application and the manufacturer's quality system, facilities, and procedures.
• Only after confirming full compliance with Subpart G does the FAA actually issue the certificate.

Why does this matter to a pilot? Every certificated aircraft you fly was built by a company that went through this process. The production certificate is the FAA's assurance that the manufacturer can consistently build aircraft that conform to the approved type design. It's a foundational piece of the airworthiness chain that supports the standard airworthiness certificate in your aircraft's documents.