Flight Training - January 2014 - 34

Part 91 also contains several regulations that deal
flight operations. How does the private pilot or airwith equipment inspections. And it doesn't exactly
craft owner make sense of something that seems so
read like a good fiction novel. The FARs are filled
staggeringly complex? How exactly should a student
with legal language so convoluted it will make the
pilot answer that loaded question on the checkride
typical student pilot's head spin. For example, FAR
when the examiner asks, "What are the required
91.409 is titled Inspections and it outlines which
maintenance inspections on your aircraft?" It turns
maintenance inspections aircraft must have in order
out that there are quite a few inspections that actuto be compliant.
ally are required for VFR flight. While the language
"Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this
describing them is complicated and tough to dissect,
section, no person may operate an aircraft unless,
the requirements are fairly simple to remember if you
within the preceding 12 calendar months, it has had
think of the acronym AVIATE.
an annual inspection in accordance with Part 43 of
AVIATE: The "A" stands for annual and airworthis chapter." Simple enough, right? Not exactly. The
thiness directives. According to FAR 91.409, every
regulations say that "no person may operate an airairplane needs an annual every year (or by the end of
craft carrying any person for hire, and no person may the twelfth calendar month, in aviation lingo). Who
give flight instruction for hire in an aircraft which
exactly is authorized to complete one? An airframe
that person provides, unless within the preceding 100 and powerplant (A&P) mechanic with inspection
hours of time in service the aircraft has received an
authorization (IA) must approve the airplane for
annual or 100 hour inspection...paragraphs (a) and
return to service after an annual inspection. So, sim(b) do not apply to an aircraft that carries a special
ply find an endorsement in the maintenance logs for
flight permit, a current experimental certificate, or a
an annual inspection signed by an IA within the past
light sport, or provisional airworthiness certificate...
12 calendar months.
or a turbine powered rotorcraft...
or an aircraft desiring to use a
progressive inspection."
So, every aircraft needs an
annual, but some also need a
100-hour inspection. Which ones,
exactly? The previous sentence
alone lists six exceptions to the
rule. Also, this section references
only the annual and 100-hour
inspections of the airplane as a
whole. It does not cover what
inspections are required for the
The airworthiness directives are not as
HOW DOES THE
individual components of the
simple to find. ADs are basically recalls of
aircraft, such as a transponder,
items found to be defective or unsafe on
PRVATE PILOT
altimeter, static system, or emer- OR AIRCRAFT
aircraft. To make sure all mandatory ADs
gency locator transmitter.
have been complied with, you first must find
OWNER MAKE
When reading further into
out exactly which ADs have been issued for
SENSE OF
the regulations, the student pilot
your make and model of aircraft. The FAA
SOMETHING SO
is confronted with a new set of
website (www.faa.gov) has an AD link on its
STAGGERINGLY
questions born from confusion.
homepage and is an easily accessible webCOMPLEX?
Is a transponder check required
site that lists ADs by make and model. Once
when not flying in airspace that
you find out what has been issued, you can
requires an operating Mode C
look through the maintenance records to
transponder? Are the altimeter
ensure compliance with each one individuand static checks required only
ally. Hopefully, the AD endorsements are all
for IFR operations?
together in one tidy place, or you may find
The subject of aircraft
yourself looking through years of mainteinspections can be confusing,
nance logs in search of signoffs.
especially when compounded
The "V" in the acronym stands for VOR
by the requirements of different
check, which is required every 30 days, but
airspaces and different types of
only for IFR flight.

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Flight Training - January 2014

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