Plain English Meaning
A person the FAA has authorized to act on its behalf for specific aircraft inspection and paperwork tasks, such as approving an aircraft as safe to fly or issuing a one-time permit to ferry an aircraft that doesn't currently meet normal airworthiness requirements.
Full Definition
A private individual appointed by the FAA under 14 CFR 183 to perform certain airworthiness-related functions on the agency's behalf, including the inspection of aircraft and the issuance of airworthiness certificates and special flight permits.
Context Anchor
You may see this term when an aircraft needs a special flight permit, such as approval to fly to a place where maintenance or inspection will be done.
Derivation
"Designated" means formally appointed to act for someone else; "airworthiness" means the condition of being fit and safe for flight; "representative" means a person acting on behalf of another party — here, the FAA. Together: a person appointed to act for the FAA on airworthiness matters.
Why Pilots Care
Using a DAR can shorten the time needed to obtain a special flight permit or experimental certificate, keeping the aircraft on schedule instead of grounded while waiting for FAA availability.
Intuition Check
A DAR is not just any experienced mechanic or inspector. In this context, it means a person specifically authorized by the FAA to act for the FAA within defined limits.
Example Sentence 1
Because the local FSDO was booked for weeks, the owner contacted a DAR to issue the special flight permit needed to ferry the aircraft to the repair station.
Example Sentence 2
For the ferry permit, the owner arranged for a DAR to review the aircraft and issue the necessary documentation.