What is the status of data used as a basis for approving major repairs or alterations for return to service?

• A. Data must be FAA approved prior for its use for that purpose
• B. Data may be used without FAA approval if it is industry standard
• C. Data must be approved by the manufacturer only
• D. Data is not required to be approved

Answer: (A)

Data used to authorize major repairs or alterations for return to service must be approved by the FAA for that specific purpose. This ensures the repair or modification has been evaluated for airworthiness, safety, and compatibility with the aircraft’s design. Without FAA-approved data, there’s no validated basis to return the aircraft to service, since industry standards or manufacturer data alone aren’t guaranteed to meet regulatory requirements. Manufacturer data can be used only if the FAA has approved it for that particular repair or alteration, but generic or unapproved data isn’t sufficient.