Required Certification Plan Information

Certification plans must include the following information before entering the implementation phase of a certification program. This is a simplified bulleted list of the requirements listed in FAA Order 8110.4 for quick reference.

  • General information
    • Applicant identification
    • Application date
    • Model designation
  • Description of design or design change
  • Intended regulatory operating environment (14 CFR part 91, etc)
  • Proposed certification basis
    • Applicable regulation paragraphs and subparagraphs
    • Amendment levels
    • Exemptions
    • ELOS findings
    • Special conditions
  • Description of how compliance will be shown
    • Ground test, flight test, analysis, similarity, or other means
    • Must be sufficient enough to determine that all necessary FAA data will be collected and all findings can be made
  • List of documentation (compliance checklist)
  • List of test articles
    • Used to generate compliance data
    • Identify features as necessary for the manufacturing inspector (conformity)
  • Project schedule
    • Preliminary hazard analysis submittal dates
    • Substantiating data submittal dates
    • Conformity and testing completion dates
    • Expected date of final certification
  • Identification of all Designated Engineering Representatives (DERs) intended for use in the project
    • Identify area of authority
    • Identify if the DER is approving or recommend approving
  • Identification of all designated inspectors
    • Manufacturing inspection representatives (DMIRs)
    • Designated Airworthiness representatives (DARs)
    • Organizational designated airworthiness representatives (ODAR)
    • The designee’s authorized function codes
    • The designee’s proposed inspection activities