Aircraft Evaluation Division Delegation of Authority

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ORDER National Policy 8430.21B Effective Date: 3/24/26 SUBJ: Aircraft Evaluation Division Delegation of Authority 1. Purpose of This Order. This order grants authority to the Flight Standards Service (FS) Aircraft Evaluation Division (AED) (AFS-100) to manage technical policy and aircraft operational evaluation projects, including evaluating aircraft, engine, or propeller and associated systems for operational relevance, evaluating flightcrew type rating requirements, establishing minimum equipment required for dispatch and continued airworthiness, and evaluating instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA). This order contains information that is pertinent to Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.) § 44702.

2. Audience. The primary audience for this order is all personnel in AED. The secondary audience is Aviation Safety (AVS) personnel who may interact with AED personnel or projects, including those in the Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) and FS.

3. Where You Can Find This Order. You can find this order on the MyFAA employee website at https://employees.faa.gov/tools_resources/orders_notices and the Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) at https://drs.faa.gov . Operators and the public can find this order on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) website at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_no tices and DRS.

4. What This Order Cancels. FAA Order 8430.21A, Flight Standards Division, Aircraft Certification Division, and Aircraft Evaluation Group Responsibilities, dated March 3, 1986, is canceled.

5. Explanation of Policy Changes. This order incorporates the following changes: • Removes outdated FS organizational information and aligns with FAA Order FS 1100.1, Flight Standards Service Organizational Handbook.

• Removes AIR organizational information and aligns with FAA Order 8000.51, Aircraft Certification Service Delegation of Authority.

• Delegates authority to the AED division manager and allows further delegation by the division manager.

6. Background.

a. Establishment of the AED. Order FS 1100.1F, published in August of 2017, implemented the reorganization of FS from a regionally (geographically) based organization to a functionally based organization employing the Safety Management System (SMS) principles of safety assurance, safety standards, Safety Risk Management (SRM), and safety promotion. The reorganization consolidated the previous Aircraft Evaluation Group (AEG) operating under Distribution: Electronic Only Initiated By: AFS-100

3/24/26 8430.21B former FS regions into one organization and established the AED under the Office of Safety Standards (OSS).

b. Composition. The AED is comprised of aviation safety inspectors (ASI), human factors (HF) specialists, and safety analysts who provide technical services in their areas of responsibility. This includes operational, maintenance, and avionics consultation and assistance in certification programs, the approval of provisions for continued airworthiness, and operational considerations for assigned aircraft through the management of operations and maintenance boards. Technical services provided by the AED are necessary to support operational consultation, evaluation, certification, implementation, and continued operation and maintenance of aircraft and propulsion systems.

7. Delegations of Authority.

a. Delegated Actions. The AED division manager is delegated the authority to perform all actions listed below. The division manager may further delegate these responsibilities to any office within AED.

(1) Establish a Flight Operations Evaluation Board (FOEB), Flight Standardization Boards (FSB), or Maintenance Review Boards (MRB) for a particular aircraft, select and assign the technical resources for the various technical boards, and provide the support necessary to accomplish the program.

(2) Participate in technical boards and groups with AIR, including Type Certification Boards (TCB) and Integrated Program Management (IPM). (Refer to the AIR/FS memorandum, “Introduction to the FAA Integrated Program Management (IPM) Initiative,” dated April 4, 2024.)

(3) Collaborate with AIR through IPM to achieve the coordinated execution of product certification and entry into service processes throughout the project lifecycle.

(4) Represent the interests of the FAA in international boards and groups, including the International Maintenance Review Board Policy Board (IMRBPB) and the International Operational Evaluation Practices Board (IOEPB).

(5) Develop, revise, and disseminate Master Minimum Equipment Lists (MMEL), MMEL Policy Letters (PL), and Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) Relief Approval Letters.

(6) Receive, review, and conduct appropriate followup action, as necessary, of assigned aircraft Service Difficulty Reports (SDR) relating to operation or maintenance of the aircraft or propulsion system.

(7) Provide technical assistance to AIR for support of correlation, operation, design, and modification of engine test cells.

(8) Provide technical assistance to AIR for review and approval of aircraft flight manuals, including supplements, revisions, and Configuration Deviation Lists (CDL), when appropriate.

3/24/26 8430.21B (9) Participate in the development of Airworthiness Directives (AD) relating to operation or maintenance of the aircraft or propulsion system.

(10) Evaluate aircraft maintenance procedures for compatibility with pertinent maintenance and airworthiness regulations (e.g., Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 5, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 33, 34, 36, 38, 39, 43, 145, and 147, as applicable), FAA orders, FAA advisory circulars (AC) related to aircraft maintenance, and other applicable FAA policies to determine their suitability where compliance is sought.

(11) Evaluate new or modified aircraft types for compatibility with pertinent regulations (e.g., 14 CFR parts 61, 63, 91, 97, 107, 121, 125, 129, 133, 135, and 137, as applicable) and Airman Certification Standards (ACS), orders, ACs related to aircraft flight operations, and other applicable FAA policies to determine suitability of the aircraft or equipment for air operator service where compliance is sought.

(12) Participate in review of applicants seeking designation as a representative of the Administrator under 14 CFR part 183.

(13) Coordinate with AVS to oversee Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) holders with shared functions to ensure compliance with 14 CFR part 183 subpart D related to FAA oversight of organizations performing functions on the agency’s behalf.

(14) Participate in SMS processes in coordination with AIR, including reviewing and evaluating 14 CFR part 5 compliance as it relates to design and manufacturing approval holders’ operational and maintenance considerations for assigned aircraft types and propulsion systems.

(15) Establish and maintain appropriate liaison with FS OSS, the Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance (ACSA), and the Office of General Aviation Safety Assurance (GASA) in matters concerning operational evaluation of assigned aircraft.

(16) Issue operations and maintenance bulletins and aircraft safety alerts that pertain to assigned aircraft types or operating rules.

(17) Provide technical consultation to AIR certification branches, OSS, ACSA, and GASA offices on matters related to the operation or maintenance of assigned aircraft types or propulsion systems.

(18) Provide consultation to FAA or National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators, or both, in support of accident or incident investigations, analysis, and implementation of corrective actions related to an assigned aircraft fleet, when requested.

(19) Conduct flight checks on new or modified aircraft for FAA flight test pilots, FAA inspectors, and manufacturer test pilots.

(20) Participate in flightcrew complement determinations, and evaluate aircraft for type rating in accordance with established procedures.

3/24/26 8430.21B (21) Provide an operational perspective to engineering activities, evaluate aircraft operational requirements, and represent FS during the aircraft type certification process.

(22) Coordinate with the Training and Simulation Group (AFS-280) on the evaluation of data packages for aircraft simulator design, acceptance, and approval.

(23) Conduct and is responsible for the operational evaluation of new aircraft systems, instruments, and equipment, and coordinate with the appropriate AIR and OSS offices.

(24) Review and accept maintenance programs and intervals associated with 14 CFR §§ 23.1529, 25.1529, 27.1529, and 29.1529 requirements.

(25) Evaluate aircraft maintenance requirements and ICA.

(26) Provide continuing support of civil aeronautical products and articles according to Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements (BASA) and implementation procedures.

(27) Work collaboratively with other FS offices, divisions, and internal and external stakeholders to identify and create awareness of aviation safety trends and make recommendations to improve aviation safety.

(28) Develop, implement, and track regulations, directives, guidance, and procedures for the AED in accordance with applicable guidance and procedures.

(29) Represent FS in meetings and consultations with other FAA offices, industry, other governmental organizations, and international agencies in matters concerning specific new or modified aircraft types assigned to the office.

(30) Provide continuing support of the Flight Standards Inspector Resource Program (FSIRP), as applicable.

b. AED Branches. The AED branches or successor functional groups are delegated authority to provide the above technical services necessary to support operational consultation, evaluation, and coordination of certification, implementation, and continued operation and maintenance of the aircraft program for which they are assigned primary responsibility: (1) Air Carrier Branch (AFS-110). Transport category airplanes certificated under 14 CFR part 25 and operated under 14 CFR part 121, 125, or 129.

(2) Corporate Aviation Branch (AFS-120). Transport category turbojet airplanes certificated under 14 CFR part 25 and primarily operated in a corporate environment under 14 CFR part 91, 121, or 135 (generally with 10 or more seats).

(3) General Aviation Branch (AFS-130). Normal and transport category airplanes certificated under 14 CFR parts 23 and 25 and balloons certificated under 14 CFR part 31 and operated within the General Aviation (GA) community under 14 CFR part 91 or 135 (generally with 9 or fewer seats).

3/24/26 8430.21B (4) Rotorcraft Branch (AFS-140). Rotorcraft certificated under 14 CFR parts 27 and 29 and powered-lift aircraft certificated under 14 CFR § 21.17(b) and operated under 14 CFR part 91 or 135.

(5) Propulsion Systems Branch (AFS-150). Propulsion systems certificated under 14 CFR parts 33 and 35 (i.e., combustion engines, electric motors, propellers, auxiliary power units, and other propulsion technologies).

(6) Standards and Policy Branch (AFS-160). Focal point for the development of AED directives, guidance, and procedures.

(7) Emerging Technologies Branch (AFS-170). Supports Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft and undefined innovative future aircraft technologies.

c. Execution of Certification Programs. Each AED branch will execute certification programs within its assigned boundaries, as described in the applicable FS and AIR orders, including FAA Order 8900.1, Flight Standards Information Management System, and FAA Order 8110.4, Type Certification, and as outlined in the appropriate airworthiness bilateral agreement and associated implementation procedures.

8. Directive Feedback Information. Direct questions or comments to the AED at 9-AWA-AFS-AED-Policy@faa.gov. For your convenience, Form FAA 1320-19, Directive Feedback Information, is the last page of this order. Note any deficiencies found, clarifications needed, or suggested improvements regarding the contents of this order on Form FAA 1320-19.

Timothy R. Adams for Hugh Thomas Acting Executive Director, Flight Standards Service Directive Feedback Information Please submit any written comments or recommendations for improving this directive or suggest new items or subjects to be added to it. Also, if you find an error, please tell us about it.

Subject: Order 8430.21B, Aircraft Evaluation Division Delegation of Authority To: Directive Management Officer, AFB-120 Directives Mailbox (9-AWA-AFB-120-Directives@faa.gov) (Please mark all appropriate line items) An error (procedural or typographical) has been noted in paragraph _____________ on page _______________ .

Recommend paragraph _______________ on page _________ be changed as follows: (attached separate sheet if necessary) In a future change to this order, please include coverage on the following subject: (briefly describe what you want added) Other comments: I would like to discuss the above. Please contact me.

Submitted by: ___________________________________________ Date: _________________ Telephone Number: _____________________________ Routing Symbol: _________________ FAA 1320-19 (11/23) Supersedes Previous Edition