Type certificate

A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular design of aircraft, according to the airworthiness standards applicable by law in the country in which the certificate is issued. The particular design is called an aircraft type, and it is defined by its type design. Certification confirms that all aircraft of a new type intended for serial production will comply with applicable airworthiness standards established by the national air law.

For up to three seats, primary category aircraft certification costs around US$1 million, US$25 million for a general aviation aircraft and hundreds of millions of dollars for a commercial aircraft; certification delays can cost millions of dollars and can decide a program's profitability.