📋 Traceability Guide

What Every Certificate Document Means

Surplus aircraft parts live or die on paperwork. Here's the complete breakdown of the certs that matter, who issues them, and how to get them for your order.

Request a Quote & Certs → Our Traceability Process →

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Every shipment includes FAA 8130-3

We include the FAA Form 8130-3 Authorized Release Certificate with every surplus part we ship from our Hialeah, FL inventory — at no extra charge. Downloadable PDFs are linked directly on each part's search result card.

Certification Types

📄 FAA 8130-3

FAA Form 8130-3 — Authorized Release Certificate

aka "8130 tag", "airworthiness release", "pink tag" (historical)

The FAA's official document certifying an aircraft part has been manufactured, overhauled, repaired, or inspected in accordance with FAA regulations and is approved for installation on a type-certificated aircraft. It is the primary proof of airworthiness for any surplus or overhauled part.

Required when

Installing the part on a FAA-registered aircraft. Any A&P mechanic or IA inspector will ask for it before signing off on a logbook entry.

Part Number Description Certificate Number Date Issuing Station ID FAA Inspector Signature

Issued by: FAA Designee, FAA Inspector, or Part 145 Repair Station with inspection authority

📄 EASA Form 1

EASA Form 1 — Maintenance Release Certificate

aka "EASA 145 release", "EASA tag"

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency's equivalent of the 8130-3. Certifies that work was performed by an EASA Part 145 approved organization in accordance with EASA requirements. Required for any part installed on an EASA-registered aircraft, which covers the majority of commercial aviation in Europe and many international carriers.

Required when

Installing the part on an EASA-registered aircraft (EU carriers, most international airlines). Also required for UK CAA registered aircraft post-Brexit (CAA Form 1).

Part Number Approval No. Certificate Number Work Description Authorization

Issued by: EASA Part 145 Approved Maintenance Organization

📄 C of C

Certificate of Conformance (C of C)

aka "Certificate of Conformity", "Statement of Conformity", "CoC"

A manufacturer's statement that a part was manufactured or tested to applicable specifications. Does not substitute for 8130-3 or EASA Form 1 for installation approval — it confirms the part meets its published spec (AN/MS/NAS, etc.). Essential for raw material (sheet, bar, tube) and hardware that doesn't require airworthiness approval.

Required when

Purchasing raw material or hardware where a full airworthiness release isn't required by regulation — e.g., shop stock, consumables, or AN hardware for experimental aircraft.

Heat/Lot Number Material Spec Date of Manufacture Manufacturer

Issued by: Manufacturer or supplier at time of manufacture

📄 Material Cert

Material Certificate / Test Report

aka "MTR", "Mill Test Report", "Chemical/Physical Test Report"

A detailed report showing chemical composition, mechanical properties (tensile, yield, hardness), and test results from a batch of material. Required for any structural material (titanium, aluminum bar, steel bar) used in critical applications. Confirms the material meets AMS, ASTM, or proprietary specifications.

Required when

Sourcing raw material for structural repair or fabrication. A DER may require this before approving a repairsheet for a wing rib or bulkhead.

Heat Number Alloy/Temper Mechanical Test Results Chemistry Report Specification

Issued by: Mill or material supplier with batch testing

📄 Trace

Trace Documentation / History Record

aka "trace paper", "consecutive tear-out", "logbook extract"

A paper trail documenting every owner and installation/removal of a part from birth. Used for life-limited parts (LLPs), engine parts, and components with mandatory replacement times. If you can't trace an LLP back to birth, you can't legally install it.

Required when

Any life-limited part (landing gear, engine components, hydraulic actuators), or parts installed on aircraft that require logbook entries for airworthiness sign-off.

TSN / TSO (Time Since New / Overhaul) Cycles / Hours Installed/Removed History Overhaul Agency

Issued by: Aircraft operator or maintenance facility that last worked the part

How to Get Cert Documents

Three ways to get the paperwork you need, depending on what you have and what you're buying.

Search our stock

Every part in our inventory with cert PDFs on file shows download links directly on the search result card. Look for the cert badge chips.

Request in an RFQ

For parts not yet in our inventory or parts with certs not yet digitized, submit an RFQ. Include the part number and your cert requirements — we'll get you the docs within 1 business day.

Log into your account

Existing customers can pull cert documents for all their orders from the customer portal — including historic orders.

Submit an RFQ →

Or search our inventory — certs are linked on each result.

✓ Traceability Verified

Which parts get the green badge?

Any part with a valid FAA 8130-3 or EASA Form 1 PDF on file gets our "Traceability Verified" badge on search results. This means we've already scanned and digitized the airworthiness release — it's available to download right now.

Parts without the badge can still be sourced with full documentation — just submit an RFQ with your cert requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 8130-3 and a Certificate of Conformance?

A C of C says the part meets its spec. A 8130-3 says it's approved for installation on an airworthy aircraft. For installation on a type-certificated aircraft, you need the 8130-3 (or EASA Form 1 for EU-registered aircraft). A C of C alone is not sufficient for airworthiness sign-off.

Do I need cert documents for experimental aircraft?

FAA regulations do not require airworthiness approval for parts installed on experimental/amateur-built aircraft. However, we still recommend getting C of C documentation for your own records and safety — and many homebuilders want the paper trail anyway.

Can I get a digital copy of the 8130-3, or do I need the original paper?

FAA authorized release certificates can be electronic — the FAA authorized the use of electronic signatures and digital distribution in 2004. We provide PDF downloads linked on each part's result card. For audit purposes, retain the PDF with your maintenance records.

What if the part I need doesn't have a cert PDF on file?

Submit an RFQ. We have relationships with Part 145 repair stations that can provide fresh documentation on parts we source from the ILS network or our supplier base. Lead time is typically 1–3 business days depending on complexity.

What certs do you include with every order from your Hialeah inventory?

Every shipment from our in-stock inventory includes an FAA Form 8130-3 Authorized Release Certificate at no additional charge. EASA Form 1, C of C, and Material Certs are available on request — specify in your RFQ.