Definition
A designation indicating that a part, document, procedure, manual, repair, or alteration has been formally accepted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as meeting the applicable airworthiness, certification, or regulatory standards. Items that are FAA-approved may be relied upon for legal compliance and continued airworthiness of an aircraft.
Plain English
It means the FAA has officially signed off on the part, paperwork, or procedure as meeting their rules. If something is FAA-approved, it is legal and acceptable to use on the aircraft.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft documents, equipment requirements, operating limits, maintenance records, and preflight planning.
Derivation
FAA stands for Federal Aviation Administration. Approved comes from an older Latin word meaning “to prove” or “to accept as good.” In aviation, the key idea is not casual agreement; it is official acceptance by the FAA.
Why Pilots Care
Using only FAA-approved items ensures the aircraft remains airworthy and the flight stays legal; non-approved substitutions can ground the aircraft or create safety risks.
Intuition Check
Do not read “FAA-approved” as “probably okay” or “commonly used.” It means the FAA has officially accepted it for the specific use being discussed.
Example Sentence 1
Before signing off the logbook, the mechanic confirmed the replacement part was FAA-approved for that aircraft model.
Example Sentence 2
Only FAA-approved checklists are permitted for the aircraft's preflight assessment.