Provides information and guidance concerning acceptable means of showing compliance with Section 21.17(b) of Part 21 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) for type certification of gliders and powered gliders.

Provides a means but not the only means for the type, production, and airworthiness certification of very light airplanes (VLA); and designates the “Joint Aviation Requirements for Very Light Aeroplanes” (JAR-VLA), issued April 25, 1990, by the Joint Aviation Authorities (FAA) of Europe as an acceptable airworthiness criteria that provides in equivalent level of safety under FAR 21.17(b) for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification of VLA as a special class of aircraft.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for the type, production, and airworthiness certification of powered-lift. This AC also designates the airworthiness criteria in appendix A as an acceptable means, but not the only means, of showing compliance with title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17(b) for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification of certain powered-lift.