Definition
Official FAA determinations that an aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or aviation article conforms to its approved design and is in a condition for safe operation. Airworthiness approvals are issued through certificates and tags such as the Standard Airworthiness Certificate, Special Airworthiness Certificate, and FAA Form 8130-3 (Authorized Release Certificate) for parts and components.
Plain English
Formal FAA paperwork confirming that an aircraft or aircraft part is built to its approved design and is safe to use.
Context Anchor
Seen when discussing the FAA’s role in approving aircraft and aviation equipment before they are operated or installed.
Derivation
‘Airworthy’ combines ‘air’ with ‘worthy’ (from Old English ‘weorth,’ meaning ‘deserving’ or ‘fit for’). So ‘airworthy’ literally means ‘fit for the air.’ An ‘approval’ is the formal sign-off that something has met that standard.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures any work or modifications on an aircraft have been inspected and accepted, keeping the airplane legal and safe to operate.
Intuition Check
Do not read “approval” as a general thumbs-up that everything is perfect forever. In this FAA context, it means the item has met specific rules or is allowed to be used under specific limits.
Example Sentence 1
Before the new propeller could be installed, the mechanic verified it had the proper airworthiness approval on its FAA Form 8130-3 tag.
Example Sentence 2
The owner could not fly the newly repaired aircraft until the FAA inspector granted the necessary airworthiness approvals.