Part 21 of CASR Certification and airworthiness requirements for aircraft and parts

Rule status

Current

Part 21 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CASR) sets out the certification and airworthiness requirements for aircraft and aircraft parts. It includes rules relating to:

  • type certificates
  • type acceptance certificates
  • supplemental type certificates
  • production certificates
  • certificates of airworthiness
  • export airworthiness approvals.

Part 21 also covers the approval of aircraft engines, propellers, and certain materials and parts. It references the airworthiness certification standards mentioned in Parts 22-35. These include:

  • Part 22 - Sailplanes
  • Part 23 - Small Aeroplanes
  • Part 25 - Transport Category Aeroplanes
  • Part 26 - Primary/Intermediate category aeroplanes
  • Part 27 - Rotorcraft
  • Part 29 - Rotorcraft (Transport Category)
  • Part 31 - Manned free balloons
  • Part 32 - Engines for Very Light Aeroplanes
  • Part 33 - Aircraft Engines
  • Part 35 - Aircraft propellers.

Subpart 21.H

Subpart 21.H covers the certification of a new category of aircraft called Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). This includes aircraft used for aviation sport and recreational activities, such as:

  • ultra- light airplanes
  • gliders
  • balloons
  • powered parachutes
  • weight-shift control aircraft
  • gyroplanes.

Subpart 21.J

Subpart 21.J sets out the rules for certification and operations of approved design organisations (ADOs). The ADOs may carry out certain design and technical data approval functions regulated by Part 21, without further reference to CASA or an authorised person.

Who it affects

Part 21 of CASR affects anyone in the Australian aviation community involved in the design, manufacture and airworthiness certification of aircraft, aeronautical products and parts.

Legislation

Legislative instruments

Legislative instruments include exemptions to regulatory requirements in aviation regulations or a Manual of Standards.

Exemptions may apply to a broad range of people.

Instruments related to this part will display in this space or you can view our list of legislative instruments.

8 legislative instruments available

There are no legislative instruments available for this rule.

Non-legislative instruments

Non-legislative instruments apply to a particular person. There are some exemptions to regulatory requirements in aviation regulations or a Manual of Standards listed here.

Non-legislative Instruments related to this part will display in this space or you can view our list of non-legislative instruments.

There are no non-legislative instruments available for this rule.

Guidance material

Advisory material provides advice and guidance to explain particular regulatory requirements of a CASR Part. Guidance material relating to this part will appear in this space or you can view all our guidance material.

52 guidance material available

AC 21-13 - Type certification of Australian-designed aircraft

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-13 provides guidance and information for applicants applying for Type Certificates (TCs) issued for aircraft designed in Australia under CASR Part 21 'Certification and Airworthiness Requirements for Aircraft and Parts'.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-13 Type certification of Australian-designed aircraft (PDF, 1.03 MB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.1

AC 21-14 - Production certificates

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-14 gives information and guidance to persons applying for or holding production certificates.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-14 Production certificates (PDF, 239.62 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 4.1

AC 21-15 - Supplemental type certificates

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-15 gives information and guidance in relation to the application, assessment and approval of STCs and variations of STCs.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-15 Supplemental type certificates (PDF, 824.45 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 3.1

AC 21-16 - Approval of materials, parts, processes and appliances

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-16 provides guidance to explain the acceptable, but not the sole means of the compliance requirements of CASR Part 21 Subpart K 'Approval of Materials, Parts, Processes and Appliances'.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-16 Approval of materials, parts, processes and appliances (PDF, 53.81 KB)
Advisory Circular Version:

AC 21-17 - Export airworthiness approvals

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-17 provides guidance on applying for an export airworthiness approval for Class I, Class II or Class III products.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-17 Export airworthiness approvals (PDF, 310.89 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 3.1

AC 21-18 - Design and maintenance of containers: transportation of live aquatic animals using compressed oxygen or compressed air

Updated:

Advisory Circular AC 21-18 provides guidance on compressed oxygen or compressed air aeration systems, for the purpose of carriage of live aquatic animals, will not threaten the safety of the aircraft.

DOWNLOAD AC 21-18 Design and maintenance of containers: transportation of live aquatic animals using compressed oxygen or compressed air (PDF, 307.53 KB)
Advisory Circular Version: 1.0

Related content

Related rules and publications

Last updated date
Updated:
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//rules/regulatory-framework/casr/part-21-casr-certification-and-airworthiness-requirements-aircraft-and-parts
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