FAR 21.15 — Type Certificate Application
FAR 21.15 explains how to apply for an aircraft or engine type certificate, including required drawings, design features, and operating data submissions.
FAR 21.15 sets the basic rules for applying to the FAA for a type certificate — the foundational approval that says a particular aircraft or engine design meets all applicable airworthiness standards. Without a type certificate, a manufacturer can't produce a certified aircraft or engine.
The section breaks down into three simple requirements:
- (a) Form and manner: Applications must be submitted on a form and in the manner the FAA prescribes. The FAA controls the format and process.
- (b) Aircraft applications: Must include a three-view drawing of the aircraft and any available preliminary basic data (weights, dimensions, performance, etc.).
- (c) Engine applications: Must include a description of the engine design features, the engine operating characteristics, and the proposed operating limitations.
Why it matters operationally: as a pilot, you fly aircraft that exist because someone successfully completed this process. Understanding type certification helps you appreciate why you must operate within published limitations — those limits trace back to the data submitted under this rule and validated during certification testing.