Introduction to the Role & Purpose of Form FAA 8130-3

Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com considers the purpose and use of FAA 8130-3.

Introduction

The 8130-3 form is an FAA-required document that is primarily used to verify parts and components within the global aviation system.

The 8130-3 can be used to certify that new and used parts conform to safety standards and can also be used to approve return to service (RTS) following maintenance and repairs.

Note - The purpose of the 8130-3 is to maintain a consistent medium of identification, accountability, and traceability within the global aviation network.

» Under the FAA Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the 8130-3 form is required as an airworthiness certificate, certifying that an aircraft part is in good enough condition to operate safely within the U.S. and its global partners.

» Within this scope, the 8130 serves two primary purposes:

o To approve or certify that new and used parts meet conformity requirements for airworthiness.
o To approve or certify that parts may return to service following maintenance.

» The form itself is utilized differently for these two purposes, so it is essential to understand these uses in detail.

o  FAA form 8130-3 offers an airworthiness approval tag, and
o Details about new or used aircraft parts.

Specific Uses of FAA Form 8130-3

» Export airworthiness approvals of Class II and III products

» Conformity determinations

» Airworthiness approval of domestic products (aircraft engines and propellers - domestic shipments)

» Airworthiness approval of parts and appliances under section 21305

» Splitting bulk shipments of previously shipped parts

» Return to Service (RTS) - after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alterations

FAA Form 8130-3 vs Certificate of Conformity

» Form 8130-3, or the airworthiness approval tag, is used to certify if a new part, engine, or entire plane is airworthy but can also be used to return a part, engine, or plane back to service after repairs.

» A Certificate of Conformity, also known as a Certificate of Conformance or simply CoC, serves as proof a part or plane was manufactured by an FAA-approved company and production process.

» The CoC must be completed by the FAA or a designee while the form 8130-3 can be completed by one of many FAA-authorized Certified Repair Station (CRS) or air carriers.

Note - The 8130-3 is a more established standard compared to the CoC. The 8130-3, for example, can be used for export approval but the CoC cannot.

8130-3 Dual Release Certificate (Bi-lateral Requirements)

In order for the global aviation system to function smoothly, countries have had to make certain regulatory concessions and agreements. Under the EU/US bilateral agreement, for example, when a used product or article is being exported or imported, it must have a dual release on FAA Form 8130-3 and EASA form 1.

When used to approve a return to service the FAA form 8130-3 must meet the terms of a bilateral agreements Maintenance Annex Guidance (MAG) & Technical Implementation Procedures (TIP):

» The air agency or air carrier must check the two boxes in Block 19 stating “14 CFR 43.9 Return to Service” and “Other regulations specified in Block 13.”

Note - The EASA form 1 is the European Union’s authorized release certificate of airworthiness, basically the European version of the 8130-3. This document confirms a part, component, or product has been manufactured or repaired according to approved design specifications.

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