Plain English Meaning

The part of the Airworthiness Certificate that says, in effect, 'Here is the law that lets us issue this certificate, and here are the rules this aircraft was certified under.' It tells you which set of FAA rules the aircraft was approved against.

Full Definition

A section on the FAA Airworthiness Certificate that identifies the legal authority under which the certificate is issued and states the regulatory basis for the aircraft's airworthiness, including the type certificate, the applicable Federal Aviation Regulations, and any special conditions or limitations that apply.

Context Anchor

Seen on the airworthiness certificate that must be carried in the aircraft.

Derivation

‘Authority’ comes from the Latin auctoritas, meaning the right or power to act. ‘Basis’ comes from the Greek basis, meaning a foundation or starting . Together the section names the power that allows the certificate to exist and the foundation of rules it rests on.