FAA Order 8110.37
FAA Order 8110.37 defines the FAA's system of DERs. DERs issue signed FAA Form 8110-3 approvals. / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
FAA Order 8110.37(), Designated Engineering Representative (DER) Handbook, is a handbook of procedures, technical guidelines, limitations of authority, tools, and resources for Designated Engineering Representatives (DERs), who are appointees of the Federal Aviation Administration. Both DERs and the FAA offices managing them have individual and mutual roles and responsibilities in the certifications of safety of aircraft and aviation systems. This handbook provides a better understanding of these roles.[3] Although intended for the roles of DERs, this order may be useful to ODA engineering Unit Members, who are effectively DERs managed by aviation manufacturers rather than by the FAA.[4]
Abbreviation | FAA Order 8100.37 |
---|---|
Status | Active |
First published | 28 September 1979 (1979-09-28)[1][2] |
Latest version | F 2017 (2017) |
Organization | Federal Aviation Administration AIR-600 |
Domain | Airworthiness certification |
Website | Order 8110.37F Form 8110-3 |
Under 14 CFR, the FAA holds authority and responsibility for certifying airworthiness of all aircraft flying within the U.S. Airspace. However, such approval requires comprehension of volumes of complex technical data by a large staff of engineers. Such staffing is beyond the capacity of the agency, so the FAA recognizes particularly qualified private persons to approve or recommend approval of technical data on behalf of the FAA. These persons are recognized as Designated Engineering Representatives and are employed by manufactures or consultancies — they are not FAA employees.[5][6][7][8]
Considered the "Bible" for DERs fulfilling their airworthiness certification functions, the FAA created 8110.37() "to give FAA managing offices and the DERs a better understanding of their individual and mutual responsibilities."[9]
Conforming to the procedures of Order 8110.37() is the only protection provided to DERs; a DER's designation may otherwise be terminated for "any reason considered appropriate by the Administrator."[10] The Order defines that DERs may request reviews of such termination by the appointing Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) Manager and further second-level review by the Manager of the Directorate.[11]