A Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR) is a private person designated by the United States Federal Aviation Administration to act on its behalf in the certification of type certificated and amateur-built aircraft for the issuance of airworthiness certificates, special flight permits, import aircraft, export certificates for products and articles, conformity inspections, and field approvals for repair and alterations. Most DARs have limited and/or certain "functions" authorized by the FAA based on their experience and technical background. A DAR[1] may charge a fee for their services. Qualifications and policies for appointment of Designated Airworthiness Representatives are established in FAA Order 8100.8.[2][3]
There are two types of DARs,[4] DAR-F (MIDO) and DAR-T (FSDO):
- A DAR-F primarily inspects/certifies new aircraft that have never been issued an airworthiness certificate (original certification), subject to Order 8000.95().[2][3]
- A DAR-T inspects/re-certifies aircraft (recurrent certification[5]), subject to Order 8110.37().[2][3]
DARs work within their geographic region but may obtain a geographic expansion. However, starting in 2015, some of these expansion requests have been denied due to national policy changes.
The aircraft owner or the owner's agent may either contact a DAR directly or contact the local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) or Manufacturing Inspection District Office (MIDO) for assistance. Consult the Designee Management System to identify a local DAR.
References
- โ 14 CFR ยง183.33
- 1 2 3 "Protect an Endangered Species: the FAA Designee; FAA Designee Management Policy is Open For Comment" (PDF). The Update Report. Aviation Suppliers Association. 22 (5). December 23, 2014.
This guidance document provides a wide variety of guidance on how to manage FAA designees and will be phased in incrementally. FAA Notice 8000.372 directs all AIR manufacturing personnel who oversee designees to stop using Order 8100.8 and begin using Order 8000.95 on a schedule. The schedule reflects the implementation of the Designee Management System (DMS) in those offices.
Under that schedule, all MIDOs with designee management responsibilities should have transitioned to Order 8000.95 during the summer (of 2014). 'So Order 8000.95 will have supplanted 8100.8 for [Manufacturing Inspection District Offices] MIDOs (but not necessarily for ACOs and FSDOs). This means that DMIRs and DAR-Fs have transitioned. But DERs should still be under 8100.8 until they are formally transitioned (at which time they will fall under the instructions of 8000.95). [emphasis added] - 1 2 3 "Designees & Delegations: Regulations & Policies". FAA.
8000.95, Designee Management Policy (DMIR, DAR-F)
8100.8D, Designee Management Handbook (DAR-T, DER)
[emphasis added] - โ FAA Order 8100.8
- โ FAA Order 8130.2
External links
- Locator Designee Management System : Designee Locator Search
- Designated Airworthiness Representative - Maintenance (DAR-T) and Designated Airworthiness Representative - Manufacturing (DAR-F) Database Search
- DAR-T Function Authorization Code Description and training requirements.
- Federal Aviation Administration - Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR)