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
Frequently asked
What is a dual release FAA 8130-3?
One FAA Form 8130-3 that releases a repaired or overhauled part for both the FAA and EASA. The repair station ticks both boxes in block 14a ("14 CFR 43.9 Return to Service" and "Other regulation specified in Block 12") and puts an EASA Part-145 release statement with its EASA approval number in block 12. Only a facility approved by both the FAA and EASA, located in the US or an EU Member State, can issue one (FAA AC 43-9D, para 23.6.2).
Can one form with one tracking number be valid for both the FAA and EASA?
Yes, if it is a dual release: it is a single 8130-3 with a single form tracking number in block 3. A facility that does not hold both approvals cannot do this; it must issue an FAA Form 8130-3 and an EASA Form 1 as two separate certificates. The 8130-3 is limited to one FAA release plus one other authority's release.
What do the different codes on an 8130-3 mean?
On an FAA 8130-3, block 11 states the part's status or the work done. On a production release it reads NEW, PROTOTYPE or USED (a used item being exported). For maintenance it reads OVERHAULED, REPAIRED, INSPECTED and/or TESTED, or MODIFIED. Block 13 is completed for a production release and block 14 for a maintenance release; the unused side is shaded out. Block 12 carries remarks, such as the EASA statement on a dual release.
Is an FAA 8130-3 accepted for parts going to China (CAAC)?
For new parts, the FAA–CAAC Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness accept each other's release certificate: FAA Form 8130-3 or CAAC Form AAC-038, for parts that conform to approved design. The FAA lists no maintenance agreement with the CAAC, so ask your CAAC-approved maintenance organisation before relying on an 8130-3 for a repaired part.
Does every aircraft part need an 8130-3?
No. Under the EU-US agreement, standard parts are accepted with the manufacturer's certificate of conformity, and a manufacturer issues an 8130-3 only if it chooses to. For a maintenance release the FAA recommends the form, but what the regulations require is the record's content. That is why purchase orders often ask for "EASA Form 1 and/or FAA 8130-3 where applicable". Agree which document you need before you order.
Making either certificate instantly checkable
The weakness of paper is that it can be lost, copied, or forged. When a part we supply comes with an EASA Form 1 or FAA 8130-3, Angad Aviation seals a digital copy with a tamper-evident signature, so anyone can check in seconds — no account needed — that the copy they hold matches the one we sealed. Learn how it works on our Angad Verified page, or request a quote for a traceable, documented part.