Final answer:
Certification of aircraft includes two main divisions: 'category,' related to the function like airplane or glider, and 'class,' related to characteristics within the category such as single-engine or multi-engine for airplanes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Certification of aircraft falls under the domain of aeronautical engineering and is governed by regulatory bodies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. Broadly, certification is divided into two distinct categories:
- Category - This pertains to the broad function of the aircraft, such as whether it is an airplane, rotorcraft, glider, etc.
- Class - This refers to characteristics of the aircraft within its category, like single-engine, multi-engine, landplane, or seaplane for airplanes.
The proper certification is critical for ensuring the safety and airworthiness of an aircraft before it can legally take to the skies.