Airworthiness Certification and Approval Processes
Certification Lifecycle
Airworthiness certification in Brazil follows the RBAC 21 process: type certificate (TC), supplemental type certificate (STC), parts manufacturer approval (PMA), and technical standard order authorization (TSOA). The candidate must understand the sequence: design approval (TC/STC) → production approval (PC or PMA) → airworthiness certificate for individual aircraft. For imported aircraft, ANAC validates the foreign type certificate, often through bilateral agreements, and issues a Brazilian airworthiness certificate after conformity inspection.
Key Concepts
Know the difference between a type certificate and an airworthiness certificate: the TC approves the design; the airworthiness certificate attests that a specific aircraft conforms to the approved design and is safe to operate. Understand the roles of design organization approvals (DOA) and the acceptance of foreign design approvals. For modifications, know when a major alteration requires an STC or a major repair requires an approved repair design. Also know the process for issuing a special airworthiness certificate (e.g., experimental, restricted) and the operating limitations attached.
Traps
A frequent trap is confusing "approval" with "acceptance": ANAC may accept a foreign approval without issuing a Brazilian TC. Another is assuming a PMA part is automatically approved for all applications; it must be approved for the specific installation. Also watch for the requirement that major repairs be approved by the design approval holder or under a designated approval process.
Worked Example / Rule of Thumb
Rule: "Design first, production second, aircraft certificate third." Example: A Brazilian operator wants to install a cargo conversion kit. The kit must have an STC (design), the parts must be produced under PMA or PC (production), and then the individual aircraft receives an amended airworthiness certificate reflecting the new configuration.