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Chapter 6 Certificate of Airworthiness
Article 39
Aircraft under the Republic of China's registration, the owner or operator must apply for its airworthiness certification to the CAA. The Certificate of Airworthiness (Attachment 11) or Special Airworthiness Certificate (Attachment 12), as appropriate, will be issued when the aircraft is found to meet the airworthiness standards.
Airworthiness certificates are classified as normal, acrobatic, utility, commuter, transport and balloon category aircraft.
Special airworthiness certificates are classified as special flight permits and experimental certificates.
Article 40
The Certificate of Airworthiness is valid for one year. In special circumstances, the CAA may issue a Certificate of Airworthiness valid for less than a year.
The validity period of a Special Airworthiness Certificate must be specified on the certificate.
The owner or operator shall not operate the aircraft beyond the limitations authorized by airworthiness certificate.
Upon the expiration of the aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness, the operator shall return the certificate to the CAA within 20 days since its expiration. The CAA will publicly nullify the Certificate of Airworthiness if the operator fails to return the Certificate of Airworthiness after the expiration of the Certificate of Airworthiness.
Special Certificate of Airworthiness should be returned to the CAA within 3 days since its expiration. The CAA will publicly nullify the Special Certificate of Airworthiness if the operator fails to return the Certificate of Airworthiness after the expiration of the Special Certificate of Airworthiness.
Article 41
Aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness must be displayed in the aircraft cabin or cockpit at a readily visible spot.
Article 42
For the initial application of an aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness, the owner or operator must submit application documents 30 days before the intent of the aircraft's operation to the CAA.
Initial application for Certificate of Airworthiness for aircraft imported from a foreign country should have satisfactorily completed acceptance inspections and flight tests. The application package should also include a copy of type validation certificate, export certificate of airworthiness issued by the aviation authority of the state of manufacture or the state of registry, noise certificate and other related documents required by the Special Airworthiness Requirements. The CAA may require additional flight tests when deemed necessary.
Application for renewal of the Certificate of Airworthiness should be submitted to the CAA 30 days prior to the expiration date.
Article 43
Imported cargo aircraft older than 14 years, in addition to meeting requirements described in Article 42, must submit previous structural maintenance records, the structural integrity program and the supplemental inspection program when applying for the issuance of a Certificate of Airworthiness.
The use of a cargo aircraft imported per the above paragraph shall not be changed after the issuance of the Certificate of Airworthiness.
Article 44
The aircraft's owner or the operator should continuously provide the CAA a current and complete set of all applicable manuals and related documents.
Article 45
Each applicant for an airworthiness certificate must show that his aircraft is identified as prescribed in Article 71.
Article 46
The applicants that meet the requirements of Attachment 13 may apply for a special flight permit or an experimental certificate.
For aircraft operated under a special airworthiness certificate, the owner or operator should conduct the flight operation in accordance with the CAA approved flight area, nature of operation, valid period and other limitations.
Article 47
An applicant for a special flight permit must submit an application form and data package to the CAA, indicating:
1) The purpose of the flight.
2) The proposed itinerary.
3) The crew required to operate the aircraft and its equipment.
4) The ways, if any, in which the aircraft does not comply with the applicable airworthiness requirements.
5) The operating limitations for safe operation and the substantiation of information necessary for the purpose of prescribing operating limitations.
Article 48
An applicant for an experimental certificate must submit the following information to the CAA:
1) The purpose for which the aircraft is to be used.
2) Enough data (such as photographs) to identify the aircraft.
3) Any pertinent information necessary to safeguard the general public.
4) An execution plan which includes:
(a) The purpose of the experiment;
(b) The estimated time or number of flights required for the experiment;
(c) The areas over which the experiment will be conducted; and
(d) Three-view drawings or three-view dimensioned photographs of the aircraft.