Definition
Official FAA documents issued for an aircraft that authorize it to be operated in flight, certifying that the aircraft conforms to its approved type design and is in a condition for safe operation. The two general categories are Standard Airworthiness Certificates (issued for normal, utility, acrobatic, commuter, or transport category aircraft) and Special Airworthiness Certificates (issued for restricted, limited, light-sport, experimental, and other special-purpose aircraft).
Plain English
Pieces of paper from the FAA that say an aircraft has been checked and is allowed to fly. There are two main kinds: a regular one for ordinary aircraft, and a special one for aircraft used in unusual ways or built for unusual purposes.
Context Anchor
You will see this term when learning what documents must be in the aircraft, during aircraft inspections, and when checking whether an airplane is legal to operate.
Derivation
From 'airworthy' (air + worthy), meaning fit or suitable for flight, plus 'certificate', from the Latin 'certificare' meaning to make certain or attest. Together: a document attesting that the aircraft is fit to fly.
Why Pilots Care
Federal regulations require a valid airworthiness certificate to be carried aboard the aircraft; without it a pilot cannot legally operate the plane.
Intuition Check
Do not assume an airworthiness certificate means the airplane is automatically safe today. It means the FAA has approved the aircraft to operate, but the aircraft still must be properly maintained and safe for the specific flight.
Example Sentence 1
Before the first flight of the day, the pilot confirmed the airworthiness certificate was displayed in the cockpit alongside the registration.
Example Sentence 2
After completing the annual inspection the mechanic updated the aircraft records to reflect the renewed airworthiness certificate.