What reference can determine if an aircraft is certificated in more than one category?

The Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS) serve as the official documentation issued by the FAA that details the specific characteristics of a particular aircraft type. This includes essential information such as the aircraft's design, the categories for which it is certified, and any limitations or conditions associated with that certification.

When determining if an aircraft is certificated in more than one category, the TCDS is the most authoritative source. It explicitly outlines the categories in which the aircraft is certified, such as normal, utility, acrobatic, and transport categories, among others. This allows engineers and regulatory personnel to understand the operational capabilities and restrictions of the aircraft based on its certification.

While other manuals, like the Aircraft Maintenance Manual and the Aircraft Service Manual, provide valuable maintenance and operational information, they typically do not contain specific details about the aircraft's certification categories. The Status of Aircraft Categories isn't a formal documentation source and does not provide the structured data needed to ascertain the specific categories of certification. Thus, relying on the Type Certificate Data Sheets is the most accurate approach to verify an aircraft's certification in multiple categories.