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FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 209: Contractor Qualifications › Subpart 209.2

DFARS 209.270-2 Definitions.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This section defines key terms used in DFARS 209.270, including 'aviation critical safety item,' 'ship critical safety item,' and 'design control activity.' These definitions matter because they determine which parts and equipment are subject to special safety and oversight requirements in defense contracts.

Applies to: Defense contractors involved with aviation or ship critical safety items

Key terms: aviation critical safety item · ship critical safety item · design control activity · catastrophic or critical failure · unacceptable risk of personal injury or loss of life

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

As used in this section—

Aviation critical safety item means a part, an assembly, installation equipment, launch equipment, recovery equipment, or support equipment for an aircraft or aviation weapon system if the part, assembly, or equipment contains a characteristic any failure, malfunction, or absence of which could cause—

(1) A catastrophic or critical failure resulting in the loss of or serious damage to the aircraft or weapon system;

(2) An unacceptable risk of personal injury or loss of life; or

(3) An uncommanded engine shutdown that jeopardizes safety.

Design control activity—(1) With respect to an aviation critical safety item, means the systems command of a military department that is specifically responsible for ensuring the air worthiness of an aviation system or equipment in which an aviation critical safety item is to be used; and

(2) With respect to a ship critical safety item, means the systems command of a military department that is specifically responsible for ensuring the seaworthiness of a ship or ship equipment in which a ship critical safety item is to be used.

Ship critical safety item means any ship part, assembly, or support equipment containing a characteristic the failure, malfunction, or absence of which could cause—

(1) A catastrophic or critical failure resulting in loss of or serious damage to the ship; or

(2) An unacceptable risk of personal injury or loss of life.

← 209.270-1 Scope. · 209.270-3 Policy. →

Rule changes for DFARS Part 209

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

DFARS 209.270-2 Definitions · SpendQuery