Airworthiness

OBJECTIVE

To develop the pilot’s understanding of basic airworthiness requirements for the airplane.

ELEMENTS

Required instruments and equipment for day/night VFR
Procedures and limitations for determining airworthiness of the airplane with inoperative instruments and equipment with and without a minimum equipment list (MEL)
Requirements and procedures for obtaining a special flight permit
Airworthiness directives, maintenance/ inspection requirements, compliance and appropriate records
Procedures for deferring maintenance on aircraft without an approved MEL
Difference between MMEL, MEL, and Kinds of Operation Equipment List
How to obtain MEL/MMEL for aircraft S/N

COMPLETION STANDARDS

Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to airworthiness requirements by explaining:
Required instruments and equipment for day/night VFR
Procedures and limitations for determining airworthiness of the airplane with inoperative instruments and equipment with and without an MEL
Requirements and procedures for obtaining a special flight permit
Locating and explaining:
Airworthiness directives
Compliance records
Maintenance/inspection requirements
Appropriate record keeping

COMMON ERRORS

Starting aircraft document search from first entry instead of last entry
Inability to determine required aircraft inspections
Assuming all aircraft have MELs
Not able to use Kinds of Operation Equipment List in accordance with FAA Regulations
Failure to understand MEL requirement in large or turbine-powered aircraft and its relation to 91.203 (All things must work in large/turbine unless has MEL)
Thinking reporting squawks is a bad thing or causing "trouble"
Thinking asking to see aircraft maintenance logbooks is a bad thing or "causing trouble"
Thinking that because a commercial operation or flying club gave you the keys for the aircraft, the aircraft is in compliance with all inspections. There is no "right of reliance."

THINGS TO REMEMBER

ALL placards are required, no excuses for PIC
Easy replacement by copying and taping missing placard from Section 2 of Aircraft POH/AFM or Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS)
Owner/Operator PRIMARILY responsible for airworthiness
Have student READ airworthiness & registration certificates
INOP scenarios: transponder, one strobe light, alternator, missing baggage door placard
Requiring rental outfits and flying clubs to keep aircraft in airworthy condition, have all required placards legible, and maintenance logbooks available for review is not causing trouble, it’s REQUIRED!
Reporting squawks allows outfits to get those squawks repaired. Not reporting squawks can put your certificates and life in jeopardy, along with others. What about the next renter, possibly a student?
What is the school’s, rental outfit’s, or flying club’s process for reporting grounding squawks?
Many places have a sheet for squawks, do they have a sheet for non-squawk cosmetic items such as ink marks in the upholstery, rips in fabric, or cracked plastics?
The maintenance is not complete until the mechanic’s signature on the proper entry is in the appropriate aircraft maintenance logbook. It is not okay to fly based on a phone call from the mechanic, or a conversation in which the mechanic states "it’s done"
Missing compass correction card is easy FAA violation
Safety of Flight Issues vs. Paperwork Issues, both grounding.

STUDY