FAA Flags 3D Printed Cockpit Accessories as Unapproved Parts for Type-Certificated Aircraft
Why It MattersThe dispute over removable versus permanently attached items shows how certified-aircraft compliance turns on installation method rather than the part itself, unlike the lighter oversight applied to Experimental-category aircraft.
What happened
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice identifying 3D printed cockpit accessories — including cup holders, yoke grips, and similar items — as unapproved parts when sold for use on type-certificated aircraft.
The notice prompted debate among pilots. Some argued the concern is overstated for removable items that do not require drilling or permanent attachment, pointing out that under Part 91 regulations, non-permanently mounted accessories accounted for in weight and balance calculations are not illegal. Others noted that Part 135 operations follow stricter rules, requiring FAA approval from the operator's Principal Operations Inspector for any equipment not original to the manufacturer.
Pilots compared the flagged accessories to commonly used removable items such as RAM mounts for iPads or camera mounts, which are widely used across various aircraft types. The FAA's distinction appears to center on whether an item is permanently attached to the aircraft. Some in the aviation community also noted that owners of Experimental-category aircraft, such as the Van's RV series, face far fewer such regulatory constraints, citing the greater flexibility and lower maintenance costs of that aircraft class compared to certified aircraft.
Industry impact & what to watch
This notice sits inside a broader pattern of the FAA drawing a hard line around what counts as an approved part on certified aircraft, even for accessories that pilots see as trivial. The underlying logic is procedural rather than about the material itself: a part becomes an airworthiness question once it is permanently attached, while a removable item accounted for in weight and balance sits outside that concern under Part 91.
The split between Part 91 and Part 135 shows how the same physical object can carry different compliance burdens depending on the operating rule the aircraft flies under. A cup holder that a private owner installs without issue can require Principal Operations Inspector sign-off the moment the aircraft is flown commercially.
What happens next depends on whether the FAA issues further guidance narrowing or clarifying which removable accessories fall outside the unapproved-parts concern, and whether Part 135 operators tighten internal policies on non-original equipment ahead of any such clarification.
