Direct Shipment Authorization

What is a Direct Shipment Authorization (DSA)?

FAA Order 8130.21 defines a DSA as the written authorization, granted to a supplier by a Production Approval Holder (PAH) with responsibility for the airworthiness of a product or article, to ship articles produced in accordance with the PAH’s quality/inspection system directly to end users without the articles being processed through the PAH’s own facility.

DSA is a method of delivering products and articles from the supplier to the end user directly, including shipment to other suppliers and/or repair stations. Through approved quality system procedures, a PAH authorizes and ensures products shipped by a supplier directly to an end user conform to the approved design and are in a condition for safe operation.