What is the difference between a 'certificate of airworthiness' and an 'airworthiness certificate' as used in practice?

What is the difference between a 'certificate of airworthiness' and an 'airworthiness certificate' as used in practice?

• A. They refer to the same document; the certificate confirms the aircraft is airworthy.
• B. They are different documents with separate validity periods.
• C. One is for commercial aircraft; the other for general aviation.
• D. One is the owner's responsibility; the other is the government.

Answer: (A)

The two terms describe the same certification that proves an aircraft is airworthy. The authority issues a certificate after the aircraft meets its approved design and is in a condition for safe operation, and that document—whether you call it a certificate of airworthiness or an airworthiness certificate—is the record you display or keep with the aircraft. In practice, the phrasing is interchangeable, and there isn’t a separate, different document or a different validity period for one term versus the other. The certificate remains valid as long as the aircraft continues to meet airworthiness requirements (and it can be revoked or cancelled if it no longer does). Ownership and maintenance responsibilities come from the operator and the authority, but the two terms refer to the same certificate.

The two terms describe the same certification that proves an aircraft is airworthy. The authority issues a certificate after the aircraft meets its approved design and is in a condition for safe operation, and that document—whether you call it a certificate of airworthiness or an airworthiness certificate—is the record you display or keep with the aircraft. In practice, the phrasing is interchangeable, and there isn’t a separate, different document or a different validity period for one term versus the other. The certificate remains valid as long as the aircraft continues to meet airworthiness requirements (and it can be revoked or cancelled if it no longer does). Ownership and maintenance responsibilities come from the operator and the authority, but the two terms refer to the same certificate.