Course Detail: ICAC - Introduction to Civil Aircraft Certification

aircraft images and accident sites for learning investigation

Overview

In the Introduction to Aircraft Certification course, developed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, participants will learn the fundamentals of certifying an aircraft through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The participant will be introduced to the requirements to certify civil manned and unmanned air vehicles through the FAA. The participant will review the regulations governing aircraft certification and the method to certify emerging technologies that do not have regulations. The participants will be given all the documents that were submitted to the FAA for a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) that was issued to Embry-Riddle and learn how to complete the required forms. The material will be reinforced by a team project to create a certification application for the FAA.

Course Objectives

After completing this course attendees should be able to demonstrate a comprehensive and broad-based understanding of:

  • Regulations and documents used in aircraft certification 
  • The FAA organization 
  • Process to certify a manned or unmanned civil aircraft

Key Topics

  • History of aircraft certification
  • The FAA organization
  • Certification regulations
  • The process and timeline to certify an aircraft or product
  • How emerging technologies are certified
  • Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) example application package
  • FAA documents that support certification
  • Non-FAA documents that support certification

Course Outline

Day 1 

  • History of the FAA and its predecessors 
  •  The FAA organization 
  •  What is airworthiness 
  •  Regulations governing aircraft certification (Shell diagram) (14 CFR) 
    •  Part 21 Certification procedures TC, STC, PC, TCDS 
    •  Part 23 General Aviation aircraft 
    •  Part 25 Transport aircraft 
    •  Parts 27/29 Rotorcraft 
    •  Parts 33/34 Engines and propellers 
    •  Part 107 small UAS 
  • Project Specific Certification Plan (PSCP) 
  • Compliance matrix 

 Day 2 

  • Designees 
  •  Parts Manufacturing Authority (PMA) 
  •  Technical Standard Order (TSO) 
  •  Software certification (DO-178C) 
  •  Continued airworthiness and maintenance 
  •  Certifying new technology 
  •  Additive manufacturing 
  •  Comprehensive Supplemental Type Certification (STC)

 Day 3 

  • Capstone project 
  • Create certification plan for a transport aircraft 
  •  Create certification plan for a hybrid powered GA aircraft 
  •  Create certification plan for an urban air mobility vehicle

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Embry-Riddle will award 2.1 CEUs to each attendee who successfully completes the course.

Cancellation Policy

A cancellation charge of $150 will be assessed on any standard cancellations. A late cancellation charge of 25% of the course registration fee will be assessed on cancellations occurring within 14 days of the start of the course. For additional information, please review the cancellation, no-show, deferment and refund policy


Available Sessions