(Flight) Testing

When it is necessary to define a test program – ground or flight – to determine (e.g. by comparison) the airworthiness and the characteristics of production aircraft, then such a test program would meet the criteria of 21.A.31(a)4, and consequently should be considered as design data, and part of the type design.

Test programmes defined by the design organisation as part of the type design are the often integrated into the production organisation’s manufacturing data. Additional tests to verify and ensure the quality of the product may be introduced by the production organisation into its test programme as long as they do not interfere with the approved type design data or render/make the tests defined in the approved type design ineffective.

The intent of the requirement 21.A.33(e) is to ensure that before any test witnessed by the Agency, the applicant have determined that the conditions of 21.A.33(b) are met.