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.
Plain English
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.
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.