FAA Order 8110

FAA Order 8110
Name	FAA Order 8110
Issuer	Federal Aviation Administration
Type	Order
Subject	Aircraft Certification
Date	1984
Status	Active

FAA Order 8110

FAA Order 8110 is a Federal Aviation Administration directive that provides guidance for aircraft and appliance certification, inspection, and approval processes within the United States Department of Transportation. It is used by Federal Aviation Administration engineers, designees, and manufacturers to implement Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations requirements, interacting with stakeholders such as Boeing, Airbus, and the National Transportation Safety Board. The order influences certification activities connected to agencies and entities like the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Transport Canada Civil Aviation, and the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Overview

FAA Order 8110 offers technical guidance on type certification, supplemental type certification, airworthiness certification, and field approvals, referencing standards derived from Code of Federal Regulations, United States Congress, and industry consensus standards such as those from SAE International, AIAA, and RTCA. It operates within administrative frameworks alongside documents from the Office of Management and Budget, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and international fora including the International Civil Aviation Organization and ICAO Assembly. The order is applied by personnel associated with entities like the Aircraft Certification Service, Transport Airplane Directorate, and regional offices in coordination with manufacturers like Lockheed Martin and Honeywell International.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of the order is to standardize procedures for certification tasks including conformity inspections, structural substantiation, systems safety assessments, and continued airworthiness oversight, aligning with mandates from the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, and directives from the Office of the Inspector General (United States Department of Transportation). Its scope covers type certification applicants, production certificate holders, repair stations such as those regulated under Part 145, and delegated representatives including Designated Engineering Representatives and Designated Airworthiness Representatives engaged with organizations like General Electric and Rolls-Royce.

Structure and Content

The order comprises chapters and appendices that detail processes for certification plans, compliance checklists, test reports, and airworthiness criteria, referencing technical materials from MIL-STD-810, ASME, and IEEE. It contains provisions for managing novel technologies drawn from research by NASA, implementation guidance interacting with DOT policy, and coordination mechanisms with international partners like EASA and Transport Canada. The content addresses responsibilities for offices such as the Aircraft Certification Service and positions like the Chief Counsel (FAA) and regional certification managers, and includes templates used by companies like Embraer and Bombardier.

Certification Procedures

Certification procedures in the order prescribe steps for submitting type design data, conducting flight tests, validating compliance demonstration, and issuing airworthiness certificates, involving participants such as flight test engineers, test pilots from organizations like Airbus Test Flight, and representatives from Boeing Flight Test. The procedures integrate safety assessment methods influenced by standards from RTCA SC-216 and EUROCAE, and procedural controls exercised by designees including Organization Designation Authorization holders and Designated Engineering Representatives. It outlines interactions with inspectors, oversight from the Office of Aviation Safety, and documentation flows used by aerospace suppliers like Safran and MTU Aero Engines.

Revision History

The order has undergone multiple revisions reflecting regulatory changes from legislative acts like the FAA Reauthorization Act and policy shifts prompted by incidents investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and congressional hearings in the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Updates have incorporated lessons from programs involving Boeing 737 MAX investigations, improvements following technical findings from NASA research, and harmonization efforts with EASA and bilateral agreements with Transport Canada. Revision processes involve stakeholder input from manufacturers, industry groups like Airlines for America, and labor organizations such as the Air Line Pilots Association.

Implementation and Compliance

Implementation of the order is overseen by FAA offices including the Aircraft Certification Service, regional certification branches, and delegated organizational partners under Organization Designation Authorization arrangements, with compliance monitored through audits by the Office of the Inspector General (United States Department of Transportation) and enforcement actions coordinated with the Department of Justice when necessary. Operators, manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus, and maintenance organizations must maintain records and conduct continuing surveillance consistent with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations and international obligations to ICAO, often coordinating with civil aviation authorities such as EASA and Transport Canada for export airworthiness certifications.

Criticism and Controversies

Criticism of the order and its application has arisen in the context of controversies involving delegated authority and oversight, with scrutiny following high-profile incidents investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and congressional inquiries by the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Debates have focused on delegation to industry entities, the role of Organization Designation Authorization programs, and the balance between industry innovation represented by Boeing and regulatory oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration. Calls for reform have been echoed by safety advocates, lawmakers from the United States Senate, and trade groups such as International Air Transport Association.

Category:Aviation regulations