Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulations (RBAC) for Airworthiness and Continuing Airworthiness
Core RBAC Framework
Brazil's civil aviation regulations are issued by ANAC as RBAC (Regulamento Brasileiro da Aviação Civil). For airworthiness and continuing airworthiness, the key documents are RBAC 21 (certification of products and articles), RBAC 43 (maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration), RBAC 91 (general operating rules), RBAC 121/135 (air carrier operations), RBAC 145 (maintenance organizations), and RBAC 135 subpart E for continuing airworthiness management. Candidates must know how these interlock: RBAC 21 governs type certificates, supplemental type certificates, parts manufacturing approvals, and airworthiness certificates; RBAC 43 governs who may perform maintenance and how it is recorded; RBAC 145 approves repair stations; and the operator's continuing airworthiness program ties them together.
Concepts to Master
Understand the airworthiness certificate types (standard, special, provisional, and experimental) and their validity conditions. Know the roles of the CENIPA (investigation) and ANAC (regulation and oversight). Be clear on the difference between airworthiness directives (ADs) issued by ANAC or foreign authorities and accepted by ANAC, and service bulletins, which are generally not mandatory unless incorporated by reference. Know the requirements for maintenance records, logbooks, and the retention periods. Also understand the Brazilian registration mark (PP, PR, PT, PU) and the requirement for a Brazilian airworthiness certificate for aircraft on the Brazilian register.
Common Traps
Questions often confuse "mandatory" vs "recommended" documents, or assume FAA/EASA rules apply directly in Brazil. Another trap is the scope of preventive maintenance by a pilot-owner under RBAC 43, which is narrower than in some other jurisdictions. Also watch for the distinction between "rebuilding" and "repair" and the requirement that major alterations be approved under RBAC 21.
Worked Example / Rule of Thumb
Rule: "If it changes type design, it is RBAC 21; if it restores or maintains airworthiness, it is RBAC 43." Example: Installing a new avionics suite that is not covered by the type certificate requires an STC or major alteration approval under RBAC 21 before maintenance release under RBAC 43.