ABSTRACT

Airworthiness certificates are the requirements and access cards that guarantee aircraft access to market operation. Airworthiness technologies have became one of the national key research projects of aviation (Xiao 2007). Implementing airworthiness certifications in design and manufacturing processes of civil aircrafts are necessary measures to guarantee flight safety. The meaning of aircraft airworthiness is to meet necessary requirements that make a limited flight in secure status (Zhao et al. 2011). Certification documents, as the evidences of aircraft airworthiness certification activities, are provided with pivotal function in the processes of airworthiness certifications. Their functions also extend to the processes of maintenances and accident surveys of continued airworthiness. Research on the management of airworthiness certification documents shows important significance with the rapid increase of airworthiness certification activities. A suitable management of certification documents can improve its indicative and traceability in civil aircraft design and manufacturing stages powerfully. Only when the management of certification documents adapts to the development of aerotechnics constantly can it produce a positive effect on the design and manufacturing processes

2 SUMMARY OF AIRCRAFT AIRWORTHINESS KNOWLEDGE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTS

2.1 Summary of aircraft airworthiness knowledge

Airworthiness knowledge is defined as a knowledge set, which can make airworthiness certifications to be carried out smoothly and offer necessary support to the airworthiness activities (Wang et al. 2012). At present, the airworthiness management system of our country covers three aspects: civil aircraft airworthiness management regulations and document system, organization system and certificate system (Zhang et al. 2008). Airworthiness management is not a single or independent process, it needs to cooperate with aircraft design and manufacturing process. Not only should airworthiness knowledge cover the knowledge of regulations and documents, but also should include a number of relevant standards or other indicative materials, as shown in Figure 1.