What is a field approval and when might it be encountered?

What is a field approval and when might it be encountered?

• A. An FAA approval granted at the field location for a modification or alteration not covered by standard data; must be documented and compliance verified.
• B. An approval for a field trip of the aircraft to an airshow.
• C. An approval for flight by a student pilot.
• D. An approval for scheduling maintenance at manufacturer's site.

Answer: (A)

A field approval is an FAA authorization given at the aircraft’s operating location to approve a modification or alteration that isn’t covered by standard, previously approved data (such as an STC, PMA, or other field-approved data). The approval documents how the modification meets the applicable airworthiness standards, and the work must be performed in accordance with that approval and verified by inspection before the aircraft flies again. You’d encounter a field approval when a unique modification or repair is needed that doesn’t have existing approved data. For example, installing a non-standard component or making a repair that isn’t covered by any approved data would require FAA sign-off on-site to demonstrate compliance with the necessary airworthiness standards. The change must be properly documented in the maintenance records and the aircraft must be inspected to verify conformity with the approval.

A field approval is an FAA authorization given at the aircraft’s operating location to approve a modification or alteration that isn’t covered by standard, previously approved data (such as an STC, PMA, or other field-approved data). The approval documents how the modification meets the applicable airworthiness standards, and the work must be performed in accordance with that approval and verified by inspection before the aircraft flies again.

You’d encounter a field approval when a unique modification or repair is needed that doesn’t have existing approved data. For example, installing a non-standard component or making a repair that isn’t covered by any approved data would require FAA sign-off on-site to demonstrate compliance with the necessary airworthiness standards. The change must be properly documented in the maintenance records and the aircraft must be inspected to verify conformity with the approval.