Airworthiness Requirements

Question 1

Can an airplane be flown past the expiration of an annual?

Answer 1

Yes, can be operated under a Special Flight Permit for the purpose of flying the aircraft to a location where the annual inspection can be performed

Question 2

Define TCDS

Answer 2

Type Certificate Data Sheet

Lists the specifications, conditions, and limitations under which airworthiness requirements were met for the specified product

Question 3

Define STC

Answer 3

Supplemental Type Certificate

FAA’s approval of a major change in the type design of a previously approved type certificated product

Question 4

Define Category

Answer 4

a broad classification of aircraft

ex: airplane, rotorcraft, glider

Question 5

Define Class

Answer 5

a classification of aircraft within a category having similar operating characteristics

ex: single-engine land, multi-engine land

Question 6

Define Type

Answer 6

a specific make and basic model of aircraft including modifications that do not change it’s handling or flight characteristics

ex: DC-9, B-737, PA-28

Question 7

What documents are required on board an aircraft prior to flight?

Answer 7

A Airworthiness Certificate

R Registration Certificate

R Radio Station License (outside U.S.A.)

O Operating Limitations (+supplements, placards, markings)

W Weight and Balance data (current)

E External Data Plate / Serial Number

C Compass Deviation Card

Question 8

What is an Airworthiness Certificate?

Answer 8

• Issued by the FAA to an aircraft that has been proven to meet the minimum design and manufacturing requirements
• Aircraft must meet the requirements of the original type certificate or it is no longer airworthy
• Two different classifications:

1. Standard Airworthiness
2. Special Airworthiness

Question 9

How many types of Airworthiness Certificates?

What are the diffences?

Answer 9

Standard Airworthiness

• white paper
• issued for normal, utility, acrobatic, commuter, transport

Special Airworthiness

• pink paper
• issued for primary, restricted, limited category, light sport

Question 10

What instruments and equipment are required for VFR-day flight?

Answer 10

A anticollision light system

T tachometer for each engine

O oil pressure guage / engine

M manifold pressure guage

A altimeter

T temperature guage (liquid-cooled)

O oil temperature guage

F fuel guage

F flotation gear (over water outside glide-range of coast)

L landing gear position indicator

A airspeed indicator

M magnetic direction indicator

E ELT (emergency locator transmitter)

S safety belts

Question 11

What is an experimental airworthiness certificate?

Answer 11

• a special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category
• issued to aircraft that do not conform to their type certificate
• primary category kit-built aircraft (assembled without the supervision and quality control of the production certificate holder)

Question 12

Does an airworthiness certificate have an expiration date?

Answer 12

No, remains valid for as long as the aircraft meets it’s approved type design, safe operating condition, all maintenance/alterations performed by regulations.

Question 13

Where must the airworthiness certificate by located?

Answer 13

at the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew

Question 14

For an aircraft to be considered airworty, what two conditions must be met?

Answer 14

1. must conform to its type certificate
2. must be in a condition for safe operation

Question 15

What is an airworthiness directive (AD)?

Answer 15

• medium by which the FAA notifies aircraft owners of unsafe conditions that may exist because of design defects, maintenance, or other causes
• specifies the conditions under which the product may continue to be operated
• regulatory in nature, and compliance is mandatory
• Two types:

1. those of an emergency nature requiring immediate compliance prior to further flight
2. those of less urgent nature requiring compliance within a specified period of time

Question 16

Does an aircraft’s registration certificate have an expiration date?

Answer 16

Yes, expires 3 years after the last day of the month in which it was issued

Question 17

When does a temporary certification of registration expire?

Answer 17

90 days after the date the applicant signs the application

Question 18

What are the required tests and inspections to be performed on an aircraft?

Answer 18

A annual (12 caledar months)

A airworthiness directives

V VOR equipment check (30 days) (for IFR)

1 100 hour (for hire, under 12,500lbs)

A altimeter (24 calendar months)

T transponder (24 calendar months)

E ELT (12 calendar months)

S static encoder (24 calendar months)

Question 19

Can a 100 hour be overrun?

Answer 19

no more than 10 hours past 100 hour, only can be flown while en route to a place where the inspection can be done

Question 20

When are Special Flight Permits necessary?

Answer 20

aircraft that may not currently meet applicable airworthiness requirements but is capable of safe flight. Issued for:

• flying an aircraft to a base where repairs, alterations, or maintenance are to be performed
• to a point of storage
• delivering or exporting an aircraft
• production flight testing new-production aircraft
• evacuating aircraft from areas of impending danger
• conducting customer demonstration flights in a new-production aircraft that have satisfactorily completed production flight tests

Question 21

What instruments and equipment are required for VFR-night flight?

Answer 21

F fuses (3 fuses of each kind / 1 fuse kit)

L landing light (for hire)

A anticollision light system

P position lights

S source of electrical energy