Domestic Certification

The process for domestic certification is controlled by FAA Order 8110.4C.

In order to ensure that certification issues are identified upfront for all rotorcraft certification projects, the Aircraft Certification Service, Policy and Innovation (P&I) Division maintains a product issues list of known certification-related issues that may require P&I involvement – the Rotorcraft Issues List. The Rotorcraft Issues List is intended to contain all known certification issues; however, new certification issues are identified periodically. For example, the first time a new design feature is certified on a rotorcraft, the design feature would not be on the Rotorcraft Issues List, but would still require P&I involvement.

International Validation: Non-EASA

The process for approving rotorcraft in a Non-EASA country are governed by the Bilateral Agreements that are in place with that country. Depending on the country the agreement will either be a Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement (BAA) or a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA). If the country has a BASA with the United States it will also have Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness (IPA) that will have specific procedures that will be followed.

Validation Differences: Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA)

The following tables provide a list of areas where the FAA's 14 CFR Part 27 and Part 29 regulations differ from the TCCA standards for normal and transport category rotorcraft.

• Part 27 Validation Differences FAA and TCCA
• Part 29 Validation Differences FAA and TCCA

International Validation: EASA/JAA

The FAA and Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) established type validation principles in 1997 to guide the airworthiness certification of each other's products. These principles are used to Validate a rotorcraft with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as implemented in Technical Implementation Procedures (TIP).

Per the TIP, each authority is obligated to publish and periodically update a list of Standards Differences (SSD) and Safety Emphasis Items (SEI).

FAA Combined SSD/SEI List and Known Special Conditions Lists for 14 CFR Part 27 and 14 CFR Part 29 Rotorcraft:

• FAA SSD/SEI Combined List and Known Special Condition List for 14 CFR Part 27 and 29 Rotorcraft Products, Revision 2

Previous Lists: 

• FAA SSD/SEI Combined List for 14 CFR Part 27 and 29 Rotorcraft Products, Revision 1
• FAA SSD/SEI Combined List for 14 CFR Part 27 and 29 Rotorcraft Products, Revision 0

International Validation: United Kingdom CAA

Per the FAA/UK CAA Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness (IPA), each authority is obligated to publish and periodically update a list of Standards Differences (SSD) and Safety Emphasis Items (SEI). At this time there are currently no Special Emphasis Items (SEI) applied to UK products/approvals seeking FAA Validation.

The following is the FAA Combined SSD and SEI List for 14 CFR Part 27 and 14 CFR Part 29 Rotorcraft:

FAA SSD/SEI Combined list for 14 CFR Part 27 and 29 Rotorcraft Products

International Validation: Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB)

These lists are used to categorize Japanese products/approvals seeking FAA validation - consult the FAA/JCAB Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness (IPA) for information on how to apply these lists.

For areas not identified below, or for further information, contact the FAA Rotorcraft Standards Branch.

Significant Standard Differences (SSD)

For inbound projects, there are currently no identified Significant Standards Differences identified per Memo Japan Civil Aviation Bureau Letter KOKU-KU-KI-2041, dated March 25, 2020.

Normal Category Rotorcraft, 14 CFR Part 27 Amdt. 27-48 vs. AIM Part IV in its entirety

Transport Category Rotorcraft, 14 CFR Part 29 Amdt. 29-56 vs. AIM Part V in its entirety

Projects with a reference date of application prior to or after March 25, 2020 may require development of unique SSD depending on the AIM and CFR standards in effect on the reference date that is used to establish the FAA certification basis. Revision to the SSD is subject to be developed upon first application.

Special Emphasis Items (SEI)

14 CFR part 27 rotorcraft

There is no present need for an FAA SEI list for this product type. Since SEI may evolve over time due to changes in technology, service experience, and other factors, FAA will delay issuance of an SEI list until there is an identified need. To be evaluated/revised upon first application. Contact FAA Rotorcraft Standards Branch.

14 CFR part 29 rotorcraft

There is no present need for an FAA SEI list for this product type. Since SEI may evolve over time due to changes in technology, service experience, and other factors, FAA will delay issuance of an SEI list until there is an identified need. To be evaluated/revised upon first application. Contact FAA Rotorcraft Standards Branch.

Areas for Further Technical Confidence Building (AFTCB)

14 CFR Part 27 Rotorcraft

To be developed. Contact Rotorcraft Standards Branch.

14 CFR part 29 rotorcraft

To be developed. Contact Rotorcraft Standards Branch.