Certification

Bioengineering and Aerospace

Engineering Department

Certification

1.- General Overview

Certification
Qualification

Airworthiness
Safety

Bioengineering and Aerospace

Engineering Department

Certification

1.- General Overview. Certification

Generally, Certification means that a product or a process fulfil all
the requirements included in the Certification rules
Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an
object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not
always, provided by some form of external review, education,
assessment, or audit.

It does not matter if it is a car, a ship, a coffee machine or an

Aeroplane.
Target for aviation is to demonstrate that aircraft we intent to put in
the air is airworthy.
For us, Certification process is the way to demonstrate to the
Airworthiness Authority (whatever) that the product (aircraft,
helicopter....) is compliant with the applicable regulations.
The end of the process is the issuance of the certificate by the AA:
Type Certificate when we certify a design (Type Design)
Airworthiness Certificate when the target is to demonstrate that a
particular aircraft is airworthy.
Bioengineering and Aerospace
Engineering Department

Certification

1.- General Overview. Certification

The end of the process is the issuance of the certificate by the AA:
A Type Certificate is issued to signify the airworthiness of an aircraft
manufacturing design. The certificate is issued by a regulating body, and once
issued, the design cannot be changed. The certificate reflects a determination
made by the regulating body that the aircraft is manufactured according to an
approved design, and that the design ensures compliance with airworthiness
requirements.
A Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA), or an airworthiness certificate, is issued
for an aircraft by the national aviation authority in the state in which the aircraft
is registered. The airworthiness certificate attests that the aircraft
is airworthy insofar as the aircraft conforms to its type design.

Bioengineering and Aerospace

Engineering Department

Certification

1.- General Overview. Qualification

Generally, Qualification is the process of establishment of the degree
of compliance of an aircraft of the requirements laid down in the
specification.
This qualification process is part of the final acceptance of Military
Products.
Certification means the product fulfil the required airworthiness
level.
Qualification means that the product has the required performances
as air system or mission platform as laid down in the specificaton.
Both, Certificaton and Qualification, must be demonstrated to the
relevant Authority.

Bioengineering and Aerospace

Engineering Department

Certification

1.- General Overview. Airworthiness

Wikipedia:
Airworthiness is the measure of an aircraft's suitability for safe flight

Canadian Aviation regulations:

airworthy" - in respect of an aeronautical product, means in a fit and safe state for
flight and in conformity with its type design

Civil Aviation Authority:

The airworthiness of aircraft ranges from the initial approval of a new aircraft
design to ensuring an aircrafts on-going safety standards

MIL-HDBK-516B defines in its point 3.1.5 as:

The property of a particular air system configuration to safely attain, sustain, and
terminate flight in accordance with the approved usage and limits.

The Spanish RAD (Reglamento de aeronavegabilidad de la Defensa)

defines the concept as:
La cualidad que hace a una aeronave segura para el vuelo

Bioengineering and Aerospace

Engineering Department

Certification

1.- General Overview. Airworthiness

Airworthiness is a continuous activity:
With the design of the aircraft according to applicable (by low or contract)
airworthiness requirements.
Operation of the aircraft within the operational limitations and environment
agreed during the certification process
With the maintenance of the aircraft according with the procedures agreed with
the Authorities.

Bioengineering and Aerospace

Engineering Department

Certification

1.- General Overview. Safety

In all Airworthiness definition the key word is SAFETY
Definitions:
Safety is the state of being "safe, the condition of being protected against
physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational,
psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure,
damage, error, accidents,harm or any other event which could be considered
non-desirable. Safety can also be defined to be the control of recognized hazards to
achieve an acceptable level of risk. This can take the form of being protected from the
event or from exposure to something that causes health or economical losses. It
can include protection of people or of possessions
Risk is the probability or threat of quantifiable damage, injury, liability, loss, or
any other negative occurrence that is caused by external or internal
vulnerabilities, and that may be avoided through preemptive action.

Civil Aviation: minimum risk according with mandatory

Airworthiness Codes. Passengers First.
Military Aviation: maximum safety level compatible with the
mission.

Bioengineering and Aerospace

Engineering Department

Certification