Production Certificates
A production certificate is an approval (document) to manufacture duplicate products under an FAA-approved type design (e.g., type certificate or supplemental type certificate). The holder of a production certificate may obtain an airworthiness certificate for aircraft produced under the production certificate without further showing. To obtain one, the production application and approval process must be followed.
Production Certificate Application and Approval Process
The FAA:
- Determines that any proposed manufacturing facilities located outside the United States place no undue burden on the FAA in administering the applicable regulations;
- Conducts a quality system audit to determine compliance with the applicable requirements of 14 CFR part 21. This audit evaluates the applicant's organization, production facility, quality system, and approved quality system and design data for compliance with applicable requirements;
- Notifies the applicant in writing of any corrective actions required; and
- Conducts any additional audits, corrective actions, or meetings with the applicant, if needed, to support the application process.
If the applicant's quality system, organization, and facilities are in compliance with 14 CFR part 21, subpart G, the FAA will issue a Production Certificate, FAA Form 8120-4, and a Production Limitation Record, FAA Form 8120-3. The Production Limitation Record identifies which products or articles are authorized for production.
Production Certificate FAQs
Any person may apply for a production certificate if that person holds, for the product concerned:
- A current type certificate (TC)
- Rights to the benefits of that type certificate under a licensing agreement; or
- A supplemental type certificate (STC).
No. The holder of an FAA production certificate may not transfer the production certificate.
The duration of a production certificate is until surrendered, suspended, revoked, or a termination date is otherwise established by the FAA.
Production under type certificate authorizes the manufacture of a product under the FAA-approved type design for up to 6 months after the type certificate is issued.
This type of production requires the FAA to increase its level of involvement. Due to limited FAA resources, there may be delays in the FAA's ability to conduct airworthiness inspections and to issue airworthiness approvals. Except as otherwise authorized, the FAA will discontinue its conformity and airworthiness inspections after 6 months from the date the type certificate was issued.
You would obtain production approval (under type certificate) as part of your type certificate. Separate application is not required.
The manufacturer is required to make each manufactured product available to the FAA for an airworthiness inspection. The FAA issues the necessary airworthiness documentation for each manufactured product that conforms to its FAA-approved type design data. The manufacturer is required to maintain, at the place of manufacture, the technical data and drawings necessary for the FAA to make its determination whether the product and its articles conform to the type design.