Patent ID: 7356483

Claim:
An automated method for facilitating regulatory certification of an aircraft system, the method comprising: providing a certification process database on a server accessible by a user, a certification authority, and one or more third parties; granting the user access to the certification process database on the server, including: downloading a request form to request a certification process; entering information regarding one or more components that require a certification activity into the request form; and uploading the request form including the entered information into the certification process database; upon receipt of the uploaded request form, the certification process database automatically transmitting a request notification to at least the certification authority; upon receipt of the request notification, the certification authority responding to the request notification, including: identifying at least one appropriate third party to provide the certification activity based on the request form including the entered information; assigning one of the at least one identified appropriate third party as an assigned representative to perform the certification activity; and uploading information regarding the assigned representative into the certification process database; upon receipt of the uploaded information regarding the assigned representative, the certification process database automatically transmitting an assignment notification to the user and to the assigned representative; upon receipt of the assignment notification, granting the assigned representative access to the certification process database, including: downloading the request form including the entered information from the certification process database; approving a test plan for testing the one or more components, the testing being configured to provide test data suitable to qualify the one or more components under the certification activity; approving test data resulting from the testing of the one or more components; and uploading a certification recommendation into the certification process database; upon receipt of the certification recommendation, the certification process database automatically transmitting a recommendation notification to at least the certification authority and the user; upon receipt of the recommendation notification, the certification authority performing dispositional activities including: downloading the certification recommendation from the certification process database; reviewing at least a portion of the certification recommendation; and uploading a certification disposition into the certification process database; and upon receipt of the certification disposition, the certification process database automatically transmitting a disposition notification to at least the user and the assigned representative.