Alterations of the type found in 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix A are major alterations, except when listed in which document?

Alterations of the type found in 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix A are major alterations, except when listed in which document?

• A. Aircraft Specifications issued by the FAA
• B. Supplemental Type Certificates
• C. Manufacturer's Maintenance Manual
• D. Airworthiness Directives

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that major alterations are defined by Appendix A of Part 43, but there is an important exception: if the alteration is specifically listed in the aircraft’s FAA Aircraft Specifications, it is not treated as a major alteration. The Aircraft Specifications (the approved design data for the airplane) already reflects the design choices and permitted configurations that have been certified for that aircraft. If a modification matches something already listed there, it’s considered within the approved design scope, so it doesn’t require the additional procedures that apply to major alterations. The other documents aren’t the source of this particular exception. Supplemental Type Certificates provide separate approvals for significant changes beyond the base design, the Manufacturer’s Maintenance Manual is guidance for how to perform maintenance, and Airworthiness Directives address mandated corrections for safety issues.

The key idea is that major alterations are defined by Appendix A of Part 43, but there is an important exception: if the alteration is specifically listed in the aircraft’s FAA Aircraft Specifications, it is not treated as a major alteration. The Aircraft Specifications (the approved design data for the airplane) already reflects the design choices and permitted configurations that have been certified for that aircraft. If a modification matches something already listed there, it’s considered within the approved design scope, so it doesn’t require the additional procedures that apply to major alterations.

The other documents aren’t the source of this particular exception. Supplemental Type Certificates provide separate approvals for significant changes beyond the base design, the Manufacturer’s Maintenance Manual is guidance for how to perform maintenance, and Airworthiness Directives address mandated corrections for safety issues.