EASA Form 1 vs FAA 8130-3: What's the Difference?
If you buy aircraft parts, you have seen both documents: the EASA Form 1 and the FAA 8130-3. Both are authorized release certificates — the paperwork that says a part is airworthy and conforms to approved data. The short answer: they do the same job for two different regulators, and whether one is accepted in place of the other depends on the bilateral agreement between the two authorities.
What each certificate is
EASA Form 1 is the Authorised Release Certificate issued under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) system. It is completed by an EASA Part-21 production organisation (for new parts) or an EASA Part-145 maintenance organisation (for maintenance release), and it certifies conformity to approved design data or return to service after maintenance.
FAA 8130-3 is the FAA's Authorized Release Certificate — often called the "Airworthiness Approval Tag." It serves the same purpose in the United States system, issued by FAA production approval holders or FAA-certificated repair stations.
Key differences at a glance
| EASA Form 1 | FAA 8130-3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | EASA (European Union) | FAA (United States) |
| Common name | Authorised Release Certificate | Airworthiness Approval Tag |
| Covers | New production & maintenance release | New production & maintenance release |
| Issued by | Part-21 / Part-145 organisations | Production approval holders / repair stations |
Are they interchangeable?
Not automatically. Cross-acceptance is governed by the bilateral agreement between the FAA and EASA (and its Technical Implementation Procedures). Under that framework, a certificate from one authority can be accepted by the other in many cases — but the acceptance depends on the part category, whether it is new or overhauled, and the specific dual-release wording on the certificate. Always confirm that the certificate in front of you is valid for your regulatory environment and intended use.
What to check on any release certificate
- The part number and quantity match what you ordered
- The status block (new, overhauled, inspected/tested) is correct for your need
- The issuing organisation's approval reference is present
- The authorised signature and date are complete — and, above all, that the certificate is genuine and unaltered
Making either certificate instantly checkable
The weakness of paper is that it can be lost, copied, or forged. Angad Aviation seals every EASA Form 1 and FAA 8130-3 we issue as a tamper-proof digital record, so anyone can confirm it is authentic in seconds — no account needed. Learn how it works on our Angad Verified page, or request a quote for a traceable, documented part.