Type Certification of Foreign Built Aircraft

by ED
(NY)

What are the procedures to obtain a type certificate for a foreign built aircraft?

ANSWER: FAR 21 is the regulation that governs the application for a type certificate.

FAR 21.29 Issue of type certificate: import products – This is the regulation that specifically outlines the requirements for certification of foreign built aircraft.

You should contact an FAA Aircraft Certification Office to find out the specific procedures and the forms necessary to make application. Click the following link for contact information:

FAA Aircraft Certification Offices

I have included a copy of FAR 21.29 below:

FAR 21.29(a) A type certificate may be issued for a product that is manufactured in a foreign country with which the United States has an agreement for the acceptance of these products for export and import and that is to be imported into the United States if -

(1) The country in which the product was manufactured certifies that the product has been examined, tested, and found to meet—

(i) The applicable aircraft noise, fuel venting and exhaust emissions requirements of this subchapter as designated in §21.17, or the applicable aircraft noise, fuel venting and exhaust emissions requirements of the country in which the product was manufactured, and any other requirements the Administrator may prescribe to provide noise, fuel venting and exhaust emission levels no greater than those provided by the applicable aircraft noise, fuel venting, and exhaust emission requirements of this subchapter as designated in §21.17; and

(ii) The applicable airworthiness requirements of this subchapter as designated in §21.17, or the applicable airworthiness requirements of the country in which the product was manufactured and any other requirements the Administrator may prescribe to provide a level of safety equivalent to that provided by the applicable airworthiness requirements of this subchapter as designated in §21.17;

(2) The applicant has submitted the technical data, concerning aircraft noise and airworthiness, respecting the product required by the Administrator; and

(3) The manuals, placards, listings, and instrument markings required by the applicable airworthiness (and noise, where applicable) requirements are presented in the English language.

(b) A product type certificated under this section is considered to be type certificated under the noise standards of part 36, and the fuel venting and exhaust emission standards of part 34, of the Federal Aviation Regulations where compliance therewith is certified under paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section, and under the airworthiness standards of that part of the Federal Aviation Regulations with which compliance is certified under paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section or to which an equivalent level of safety is certified under paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section.

You can view all of FAR 21 by clicking on the link below:

FAR Part 21