Definition
A formal decision issued by the FAA stating whether a particular aircraft, design, person, or organization meets the requirements set out in the Federal Aviation Regulations for a specific certificate, approval, or privilege.
Plain English
An official FAA ruling that says yes or no to whether something — a plane, a part, a person, or a company — qualifies for what it's applying for.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight-school records and security-approval messages, especially when a non-U.S. citizen applies for flight training in the United States.
Derivation
From Latin determinare, 'to set limits or decide,' and eligere, 'to choose or select.' Together the phrase means a decision about whether something has been chosen as qualifying — in this case, qualifying under the FARs.
Why Pilots Care
A failed determination halts training progress and can require additional work before any test or certificate can be issued.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as a general judgment that someone is a good pilot or ready for a certificate. It means an official authority has decided the person meets the specific requirements for the requested training.
Example Sentence 1
The manufacturer waited several months for the FAA's Determination of Eligibility before production of the new model could begin.
Example Sentence 2
The student received a positive determination of eligibility and was cleared to take the instrument rating practical test the following week.