Airworthiness and Requirements - Regulatory Framework

14 October 2026, Andreas Strohmayer

Information at the start

• lectures by Andreas Strohmayer, exercises by Achim Kuhn
• lecture videos out of date
• first exercise on 9th of december
• aircraft development process from previous lecture is relevant (revise that)

Regulatory Framework

airworthiness is defined as a safety standard of an air vehicle (possible exam question)

• designed / built according to requirements
• operated in defined environment (climate / air particles like sand, dust)
• maintained according to defined procedures by the manufacturer

ICAO (international civil aviation organisation) has established the folliwing strategic objectives

1. safety: refers to reliance and operability of the vehicle itself, part of design and operation
2. security: refers to resliliance against forign threats (terrorist attacs, ...)
3. environmental protection
4. efficiency: make flight routes more straight by changing the global flight corridors
5. continuity: backup systems and plans in cases of global air traffic disruptions (covid-19, 9/11, ...)
6. rule of law: member states' authorities have to comply with requirements and minimum standards established by ICAO (EASA in the european union)

ICAO has no jurisdiction to ban countries from operating aircraft, but member states can ban each others aircraft to fly over their airspace, which is used to enforce ICAOs requirements

Responsibilities of EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency)

• type certificates / supplemental type certificates for add-ons, if you don't own the original type certificate
• design change approvals
• repair design approvals
• part and appliance specific approvals
• design organisation approvals (one for each manufacturer / repairer / ...)

Responsibilities of the NAA (National Airworthiness Authorities)

• aircraft registration (tail number)
• aircraft certificates of airwothiness
• production / maintenance / organisation approvals

time is progressing quickly and mercilessly

next lecture:

Initial Airworthiness

Part 21 - Certification of aircraft and related products, parts and appliances, and of design and production organisations