Aviation Certification Regulations Overview

General Provisions

• Establishes procedural requirements for type certification of various aviation products, including imported aircraft and engines.
• Recognized authorities include FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), acknowledged by GACA (General Authority of Civil Aviation).
• Prohibits falsification in applications and records to maintain integrity in the aviation certification process.
• Mandates a system for reporting and analyzing failures, malfunctions, and defects to enhance safety measures.

Type Certificates

• Specifies eligibility criteria for obtaining type certificates for imported aircraft and associated components.
• Describes the acceptance and validation process for foreign-issued type certificates to ensure compliance with local regulations.
• Special conditions apply for novel designs, requiring adherence to applicable aviation regulations.

Changes to Type Certificates

• Outlines the approval process for both minor and major design changes initiated by the type certificate holder or foreign aviation authorities.
• Validation for design changes approved by foreign authorities is outlined to ensure consistency with local requirements.

Supplemental Type Certificates (STC)

• Defines eligibility and necessary requirements for acquiring an STC for significant modifications in type design.
• Inspections and tests are mandated to verify compliance with established airworthiness standards.
• Flight tests requirements are detailed, including qualifications for test pilots to ensure safety and reliability.

Repair Design Approvals (RDA)

• Establishes criteria for obtaining RDAs for repair designs, ensuring integrity in repair protocols.
• Compliance with airworthiness requirements is essential, with GACA empowered to conduct inspections.

Airworthiness Certificates

• Eligibility criteria and classification systems for airworthiness certificates are outlined to regulate aircraft safety.
• Duration and transferability of airworthiness certificates are defined, impacting regulatory compliance.

Saudi Arabia Parts Manufacturer Approvals (SAPMA)

• The application process for SAPMA includes establishing a quality system to affirm parts’ conformity to approved designs.
• GACA is authorized to conduct inspections and tests on parts to assure compliance with standards.

Export Airworthiness Approvals

• Details the process for issuing export airworthiness approvals, emphasizing the exporter’s responsibilities throughout.

Acceptance of Aircraft Engines, Propellers, and Articles for Import

• Specifies requirements for the acceptance of foreign-manufactured aircraft engines, propellers, and related articles, ensuring safety standards are met.

Saudi Arabia Technical Standard Order (SATSO) Authorizations

• The application process for SATSO authorizations includes the need for an effective quality system.
• Process for approving design changes and deviations from performance standards is outlined, ensuring ongoing compliance with safety regulations.

This guide provides a comprehensive framework to certify and approve aviation products in accordance with international standards, enhancing safety and regulatory compliance in Saudi Arabia.