The issuance of an Airworthiness Certificate is governed by which regulation?

• A. 14 CFR Part 23
• B. 14 CFR Part 27
• C. 14 CFR Part 91
• D. 14 CFR Part 21

Answer: (D)

Issuance of an Airworthiness Certificate is governed by the FAA’s certification rules that cover how an aircraft earns and maintains airworthiness. The authority to issue airworthiness certificates, and the whole certification process for aircraft and their parts, is found in 14 CFR Part 21. This part deals with certification of products, parts, and appliances and outlines what must be shown to confirm conformity and eligibility before a certificate can be issued.

The other parts play different roles: 14 CFR Part 23 and Part 27 specify the design and airworthiness standards for certain categories of aircraft (like small airplanes and rotorcraft) rather than the certificate-issuance process itself. 14 CFR Part 91 contains the operating rules once an aircraft is certified and in service, not how the certificate is issued. So the regulation that governs the issuance of an Airworthiness Certificate is 14 CFR Part 21.