AF Standard · First Edition

Aerospace Quality Management System

An integrated framework for aerospace quality management and lifecycle assurance, with activity-triggered controls and distinct conformity routes.

Reading the First Edition

The publication defines the requirements. Its companions support the task.

AF 9100:2026 · First Edition · 29 September 2026. The publication record distinguishes normative controls, informative examples and separate conformity objects.

Controlling source

Object, activity and scope

The evaluated object and actual activities determine applicability. Organizational conformity does not automatically approve a product or certify a person.

Supporting resources

Guides, tools and records

Companion guides, matrices, checklists, reports and forms help implementation. Blank records and self-assessment results are not independent approvals.

Read the publication package

Programme referenceAF 9100:2026

StatusPublished

Document classAF Standard

EditionFirst Edition

Purpose

Quality and lifecycle assurance in one framework.

AF 9100:2026 establishes an integrated framework for aerospace quality management and lifecycle assurance. It combines an organizational core with activity-triggered technical requirements and separate conformity routes for organizations, products, services, processes, people, suppliers and assessment providers.

Why this subject matters

Aerospace quality connects safety, configuration, software, supply-chain control, verification, competence and lifecycle evidence. The framework links organizational controls and technical evidence to the object and scope under evaluation.

Assurance architecture

Four connected layers.

01Organizational capabilityHow work is governed and resourced

02Technical & lifecycle controlHow engineering and delivery are controlled

03Object-specific evaluationWhat exactly is being evaluated

04Independent conformity decisionWhat bounded conclusion can be issued and maintained

Requirements follow the work performed, the responsibilities retained, the object evaluated and the technical effects involved. Applicability is based on activity rather than a company label.

Intended application

Where the technical field applies.

The published framework can apply across aerospace lifecycle responsibilities, according to actual activity and scope.

Design and development
Manufacturing, assembly and integration
Testing and inspection
Procurement, supply and logistics
Maintenance and support
Software and digital engineering
Research, engineering services and technical assessment

Application domains

Aerospace — cross-sectorAviationSpaceUAS & Advanced Air MobilityDefense Aerospace & Dual-Use

Requirement architecture

How AF 9100 is organized.

Organizational core

Clauses 1–10: context, leadership, planning, competence, infrastructure, operations, evaluation and improvement.

Technical and lifecycle control

Clauses 11–21: activity-triggered modules across systems engineering, software, AI, cybersecurity, space, aviation, manufacturing, energy, sustainability and support.

Conformity evidence

Clause 22: bounded evidence, independent decisions and authorized claims.

Object and provider requirements

Clauses 23–28: products, services, processes, people, external providers and assessment-provider competence.

Distinct conformity routes

A conclusion belongs to a defined object.

Relevant evidence may be shared, but organization, product, service, process, person, supplier and assessment-provider conclusions have separate evaluation boundaries.

Route	Evaluated object
ORG	Organization
PRD	Product / integrated system
SVC	Service
PRC	Process
PER	Person
SUB	External provider / supplier scope
CAB	Assessment-provider competence

Organizational conformity is distinct from product or personnel conformity. Accreditation separately evaluates the competence of eligible conformity-assessment bodies within an authorized scope.

Understand Accreditation

Controlled publication package

The standard and its implementation resources.

AF 9100:2026 is the controlling normative publication. Companion documents are informative tools for implementation, assessment and record preparation; they do not replace or add requirements to the standard.

AF91002026

Published standard · Free distribution

Aerospace Quality Management System

The controlling First Edition of the Aerospace Federation quality management and lifecycle assurance standard.

Edition: First Edition / Revision 00
Published: 29 September 2026
Extent: 131 pages
Language: English master text

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Six companion publications

Choose the resource for the task.

Every resource identifies its relationship to the unchanged First Edition.

Implementation guide

Implementation Guide

Clause-aligned guidance for planning, applying and maintaining AF 9100:2026 without creating additional requirements.

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Assessment toolkit

Self-Assessment Checklists

A structured first-party assessment toolkit preserving clause conditions, evidence expectations and route-specific checks.

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Fillable toolkit

Templates and Record Forms

A fillable record package for controlled implementation and evidence capture, containing 1,296 interactive form fields.

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Reference matrix

Conformance and Transition Matrix

A requirement-to-evidence map and cautious topic-level comparison resource for transition planning.

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Technical companion

Technical Reports

Focused reports on evidence architecture, risk, reliability, measurement, digital systems and technical decision integrity.

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Reader support

Frequently Asked Questions

Practical answers covering scope, implementation, evidence, conformity routes, assessment and maintenance.

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AF 9100 / supporting documents

Document collection

Continue with 149 PDFs in 11 groups: policies, manuals, procedures, technical profiles and practical records alongside the controlling standard.

AF 9100:2026 · First Edition · 29 September 2026. Supporting documents identify their own edition and scope. Implementation tools do not replace the controlling standard; completed forms and checklists are not independent approvals.

149 documents in the collection

View online or download the original PDF

Foundation3

AF 9100:2026

Aerospace Quality Management System

First Edition · 29 September 2026

131 pagesPDF · 4.3 MB

AF-CM-9100-001