<!-- argument-hint: [airworthiness topic, certification basis, domain criteria, or chapter number] -->
MIL-HDBK-516C — Airworthiness Certification Criteria
Source: DoD MIL-HDBK-516C (US Government work, public domain; Distribution Statement A) | Chapters: 8
When to use
Use this pack when building or reviewing a DoD air system airworthiness certification basis from MIL-HDBK-516C — tailoring qualitative criteria, assigning methods of compliance, and navigating domain criteria clusters (SE, structures, flight, propulsion, avionics/E3, software, crew systems). Helpful for airworthiness engineers, SE leads, and domain SMEs aligning evidence to criteria.
Prerequisites: none — plain Markdown; no MCP server, API key, or licence tier needed at runtime.
How to Use This Skill
- Without arguments — load the core frameworks below.
- With a topic — ask about certification basis tailoring, SE criteria, structures, flight, propulsion, avionics/E3, software, or crew systems.
- With a chapter — ask for
ch01 through ch08.
Supporting files: glossary.md, patterns.md, cheatsheet.md.
Guidance only. 516C says it is not to be cited as a requirement. Criteria are qualitative; define acceptable in the implementing context.
Core Frameworks & Mental Models
Certification basis via tailoring
Select a necessary and sufficient subset of 516C criteria for the specific air system; document methods of compliance; maintain under configuration control.
Qualitative criteria plus evidence
Each section states criteria and often lists typical certification source data (analyses, tests, inspections). Closure is a reasoned evidence argument, not a single signature.
SE backbone then domains
Systems engineering criteria (design criteria, tools, materials, manufacturing/quality, tech data, CM) underpin domain sections.
Domain clusters in this pack
Structures; flight technology; propulsion plus installation; diagnostics/avionics/electrical/E3; computer systems/software; crew systems (including UAS/ROA control-station elements when applicable).
UAS applicability
Avionics and crew-systems material explicitly contemplates unmanned/remotely operated control segments where they affect airworthiness.
Chapter Index
| # | Section | Key content |
|---|
| ch01 | Scope, Applicability, Tailoring | Handbook role, certification basis, tailoring rules |
| ch02 | Systems Engineering | Design criteria, tools, materials, quality, tech data, CM |
| ch03 | Structures | Structural airworthiness criteria and evidence patterns |
| ch04 | Flight Technology | Flying qualities/performance/control evidence thinking |
| ch05 | Propulsion & Installation | Propulsion unit plus air-vehicle installation criteria |
| ch06 | Avionics / Electrical / E3 / Diagnostics | Electronics-heavy airworthiness cluster |
| ch07 | Computers & Software | Software/computer system airworthiness criteria |
| ch08 | Crew Systems | HMI, life support, escape, UAS control stations |
Topic Index
- Airworthiness authority / implementing office → ch01
- Avionics → ch06
- Certification basis → ch01
- Certification source data lists → ch02–ch08
- Configuration management (airworthiness) → ch02
- Crew station / HMI → ch08
- Diagnostics → ch06
- E3 / EMI/EMC airworthiness → ch06
- Electrical power system → ch06
- Escape / life support / crash survivability → ch08
- Flight technology / flying qualities → ch04
- Materials selection (SE) → ch02
- Methods of compliance → ch01
- Propulsion installation → ch05
- Software airworthiness → ch07
- Structures / damage tolerance framing → ch03
- Tailoring rules → ch01
- UAS/ROA control station → ch06, ch08
Supporting Files
Scope & Limits
This pack covers selected MIL-HDBK-516C (12 Dec 2014) material: scope/tailoring, systems engineering, and major functional-area clusters (structures, flight, propulsion, avionics/electrical/E3/diagnostics, software, crew systems). Extraction metadata reports 527 PDF pages for the everyspec mirror copy used at build (build-sheet estimate ~320; PDF page objects differ — body text and DIST-A verified; chars/page floor passed). Not every handbook subsection is chaptered (for example armaments, passenger safety, materials-as-own-chapter, air transportability). Does not reproduce full criterion text catalogs or third-party FAA/SAE standards. Guidance only. US Government public domain work (Distribution Statement A). No source-material download link is published.