Airworthiness Considerations in the Design of Commercial Transport Aircraft

This paper presents an overview of design considerations, design development, and maintenance practices required to certify a commercial transport aircraft and ensure continuing airworthiness in operation. Subjects discussed include philosophy and criteria of airworthiness with examples of their application; evolutionary nature of the design development; scope of development testing; and the process involving manufacturer, operator, and regulatory agency to ensure continuing airworthiness throughout the aircraft operational life. Also discussed are the recent revisions in airworthiness regulations, which, along with advances in technology, have resulted in changing trends in the approach to substantiating continuing airworthiness, particularly for structures.