Airworthiness Flashcards
Define “airworthy.”
A plane is airworthy if it conforms to its original type design or properly altered state, and is in a condition for safe flight.
Specifically, what goes into keeping an airplane airworthy?
Proper documents onboard, inspections complied with, instruments and equipment either operating or properly deactivated and placarded inoperative.
Who is primarily responsible for maintaining an aircraft in an airworthy condition?
The owner/operator.
Who is responsible for keeping and maintaining proper maintenance records of the airplane?
Owner/operator.
Say you get ramp checked following a flight, and the inspector discovers that a required inspection was not completed. Who is primarily responsible and why?
The PIC. The PIC is responsible for determining that the plane is airworthy and safe before flights
What aircraft documents must be onboard when the plane is being operated?
The required documents: airworthiness certificate, registration certificate, radio station licence (if flying outside the U.S.), POH/AFM and the operating limitations it contains such as the placards, current weight and balance and equipment list, compass deviation card (if required by the POH/AFM), avionics cockpit reference guide (varies a bit for each aircraft, depending on the type of avionics installed), MEL (if the plane has one),and a special flight permit (when required). Some might add “external data plate” to this acronym as well; definitely required, not really a document , though .
Is the mx binder required to be onboard?
No, not per the regs.
Do the regs require the airworthiness certificate, the registration certificate, or both, to be visible to occupants?
Just the airworthiness certificate
Where are these certs displayed in your aircraft?
Front pocket by the pilot seat in the 172. Baggage compartment in the PA44
For how long is an airworthiness certificate valid?
For as long as the aircraft is in an airworthy condition and remains registered in the U.S.
Are airworthiness certificates only valid for their specific tail numbers? Or can they be used for any tail number of the same make and model of airplane?
Just the one tail number.
What needs to occur before an airplane can receive its airworthiness certificate?
A representative of the FAA will inspect the airplane to ensure that it meets the regulatory requirements and is in a condition for safe operation.
Do registration certificates expire? How often?
Yes. Every 36 calendar months.
Our plane’s registration certificate says it was issued on 1/8/2013 and expires 1/31/2022. How does that square with registrations expiring every 36 months?
The registration doesn’t list every renewal date, only the original issuance date and then the next expiration date
Is the registration the FAA’s statement of who owns title to the plane?
No. Says as much right on the certificate.
Other than expiring, what else would cause the registration to no longer be valid?
1) Registered in a foreign country, 2) registration canceled upon written request of the certificate holder, 3) aircraft totally destroyed or scrapped, 4) ownership transferred, 5) certificate holder loses U.S. citizenship, 5) 30 days have elapsed since the death of the holder of the certificate.
For how long are temporary registration certificates valid
90 days
How do you know it’s temporary?
Says so on the registration certificate. The older ones are pink.
Any limitations associated with temporary registrations?
Because the plane isn’t fully registered they are valid for domestic flights only.
How would you go about registering your plane?
Online application on FAA.gov or get a paper application from the FSDO.
What aircraft document becomes required only when flying outside the U.S.?
Radio Station License.
Is this document for the plane, the pilot, or both?
The Radio Station License is required for the plane, the Radio Operators Permit is required for the pilot.
How would a pilot intending to fly internationally get one of these?
FCC.gov
Do you have to pass a test first?
No, just fill in some basic info and pay a fee.
Where do you find the list of placards required to be on the airplane?
Back of the Limitations section of the POH/AFM, section 2.
If your airplane doesn’t have POH/AFM inside, could you use one from another airplane as long as the make and model are the same?
no
How do you know that you are using the correct POH/AFM for your airplane?
Either match the tail number in the POH/AFM with your airplane’s tail number, or match the serial number on the external data plate with the serial number in the POH/AFM.
Does every section of the POH/AFM need to be in the airplane when it’s being operated, or technically just the Limitations section?
The full POH/AFM.
Let’s say that during your preflight you see the POH/AFM in the baggage compartment. Why is this a problem?
POH/AFM must be accessible to the crew in flight.
Which w+b is required to be onboard, the w+b form we fill out prior to each flight, or the official, current w+b in the POH/AFM?
The w+b in the POH/AFM.
What section of the POH/AFM typically contains the official w+b?
Section 6.
What section of the AFM/POH contains the equipment list?
Section 6.
Where does the requirement to have the w+b and equipment list onboard come from?
Section 8 of the POH/AFM.
Is doing a W+B required for each flight?
There is no reg that explicitly states this requirement; however, we are required to abide by the limitations in the POH per 91.9, and therefore we must operate the aircraft within the CG envelope. Confirming this necessitates calculating the w+b. Also, 91.103 requires us to calculate takeoff and landing data at our departure/destination airports. Calculating accurate info with the performance charts requires us to first calculate the w+b. So yes, calculating w+b is essentially required.
Under what circumstances must the airplane’s official w+b be amended? For instance, if new, heavier avionics get installed, does the official w+b need to be updated?
Yes. Any weight change not considered to be “negligible” must be accounted for on the w+b.
What is a “negligible” weight change?
1lb or less if the airplane’s empty weight is less than 5,000lbs.
If an aircraft has an MEL, does the MEL need to be carried onboard every time the plane is operated?
Yes
Is each MEL only valid for one airplane
Yes, just like the POH/AFM.
If some instrument or piece of equipment becomes inoperative during the flight, should you consult the MEL?
No, MELs (as well as 91.213(d)(2) procedures) are not intended to be used in-flight. For in-flight issues, use the checklist and POH/AFM.
Where do you look to determine which avionics guide needs to be in the airplane?
Section 8 and/or Section 9 of the POH/AFM. Could be on the KOEL, as well
Where must the avionics guide be stowed on the airplane?
Like with the POH/AFM, it must be accessible to the crew.
What are the required mx inspections and how often must each be completed?
ADs (as specified), VOR* (30 days), 100-Hour (within 100 hours of the last 100-hour or Annual inspection), Annual (12 calendar months), Transponder (24 calendar months), ELT (12 calendar months, battery recharged or replaced every 1 hour of cumulative use or when half of its useful life has expired), Static System/Altimeter/Mode C reporting system* (24 calendar months).
Which inspections are only required for IFR flights?
VOR and the Static/Altimeter/Mode C inspections.
What about the Transponder inspection, in the mx binder it’s usually listed on the same page as the other IFR inspections?
It’s usually completed at the same time as the IFR inspections, but technically it’s required for VFR operations as well.
