Definition
A regulatory term covering the three categories of items that the FAA certifies for airworthiness: aircraft, aircraft engines, and propellers. Each must be designed, manufactured, and maintained to FAA-approved standards before it may be used in civil aviation.
Plain English
The three things the FAA officially approves and tracks for safety: the aircraft itself, its engine, and its propeller. Together they are called aviation products.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of aircraft design approval, certification, and airworthiness.
Derivation
Aviation comes from Latin words connected with birds and flying. Product comes from Latin meaning something brought forward or produced. In this FAA use, the word points to the major things produced for aviation that must be approved before they can be used as certified designs.
Why Pilots Care
Only approved aviation products may be installed on certificated aircraft, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and preventing use of unverified parts.
Intuition Check
Do not read aviation products as anything sold for flying. In this certification context, it means the major approved items: aircraft, aircraft engines, and propellers.
Example Sentence 1
The FAA certifies aviation products under Part 21, which covers aircraft, engines, and propellers.
Example Sentence 2
Mechanics must use only approved aviation products when performing repairs on a type-certificated aircraft.