Definition
An airplane that has been issued an FAA Standard Airworthiness Certificate (FAA Form 8100-2), meaning it was type certificated under one of the standard categories (normal, utility, acrobatic, commuter, or transport) and meets all FAA design, manufacturing, and continued-airworthiness requirements for that category. These airplanes must be maintained in accordance with 14 CFR Parts 43 and 91, and only appropriately certificated mechanics may perform most maintenance and inspections.
Plain English
An airplane that the FAA has fully certified as meeting all the rules for a regular production aircraft, with the stricter maintenance and inspection requirements that come with that.
Context Anchor
Seen when comparing maintenance rules for light-sport aircraft, especially when deciding who may perform maintenance and what records or approvals are required.
Derivation
Standard' here refers to the FAA's Standard Airworthiness Certificate, the baseline certification used for most production airplanes (Cessna 172s, Piper Cherokees, Boeing 737s). It is called 'standard' to distinguish it from 'special' airworthiness certificates, which cover light-sport, experimental, restricted, and limited categories.
Why Pilots Care
Determines which maintenance regulations and record-keeping rules apply, affecting who may perform work and how often inspections are required.
Intuition Check
“Standard” does not mean simple, basic, or average here. It means the FAA issued the airplane a standard airworthiness certificate, which is different from a special or experimental certificate. “Certificated” refers to the airplane having an FAA certificate, not to the pilot holding a pilot certificate.
Example Sentence 1
Because his Cessna 172 is a standard airworthiness certificated airplane, the annual inspection had to be signed off by a mechanic with Inspection Authorization.
Example Sentence 2
Because the airplane held a standard airworthiness certificate, the owner could not perform the condition inspection themselves.