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.
Five FAA-written-style questions. Instant explanations, every answer cites its source — no account needed.
You are flying VFR in Class E airspace at 8,500 feet MSL during the day. What are your minimum visibility and cloud clearance requirements?
Q1What must accompany an application for an aircraft type certificate?
Q2What additional information is required when applying for an aircraft engine type certificate?
Q3How is an application for a type certificate submitted to the FAA?
What 14 CFR §21.15 requires you to submit
§21.15 is the application step of the type certification process under Part 21. It does two things: it requires the application to be filed on an FAA-prescribed form and in an FAA-prescribed manner, and it lists the supporting material that must accompany the application — different for an aircraft versus an aircraft engine.
| Certificate sought | Paragraph | What must accompany the application |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft type certificate | §21.15(b) | A three-view drawing of that aircraft and the available preliminary basic data. |
| Aircraft engine type certificate | §21.15(c) | A description of the engine design features, the engine operating characteristics, and the proposed engine operating limitations. |
| Any type certificate (all applicants) | §21.15(a) | An application made on a form and in a manner prescribed by the FAA — the threshold step before the certification project begins. |
§21.15 certifies an aircraft or engine design, not a person. It is filed by a designer or manufacturer. A pilot applying for a certificate or rating uses 14 CFR Part 61, not Part 21.
The §21.15(c) accompanying-data list — design features, operating characteristics, and proposed operating limitations — applies to aircraft engine type certificate applications. Propeller type certificates are handled under their own Part 21 requirements.