CFI Airmen Certification Standards: Preflight Preparation
Airworthiness Requirements
Civil aircraft: Certifications required (§ 91.203)
No person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the following:
Registration expiration and renewal (§ 47.40)
A Certificate of Aircraft Registration issued in accordance with ¤ 47.31 expires seven years after the last day of the month in which it is issued.
Each holder of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration containing an expiration date may apply for renewal of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration by submitting an Aircraft Registration Renewal Application, AC Form 8050-1B, and the fee required by ¤ 47.17 during the six months preceding the expiration date for the Certificate of Aircraft Registration.
Issue of special airworthiness certificates for primary category aircraft (§ 21.184)
An applicant for a special airworthiness certificate-primary category, for an aircraft having a current standard airworthiness certificate, may obtain the primary category certificate in exchange for its standard airworthiness certificate through the supplemental type certification process.
Location and expiration dates of required aircraft certificates
Airworthiness Certificates are issued when the aircraft is certified. They do not expire.
Registration certificates are issued under § 47.31, and the renewal period (seven calendar years) is defined under § 47.40.
Airworthiness Certificates must be visible to all passengers upon entry to the aircraft, whether it has two seats or 520.
Special Airworthiness Certificates and Supplemental Type Certificates
A supplemental type certificate (STC) is a type certificate (TC) issued when an applicant has received FAA approval to modify an aeronautical product from its original design. The STC, which incorporates by reference the related TC, approves not only the modification but also how that modification affects the original design.
An aircraft that completes the STC certification process can receive a Special Airworthiness Certificate.
Inspections (§ 91.409)
No person may operate an aircraft unless, within the preceding 12 calendar months, it has had
No person may operate an aircraft carrying any person (other than a crewmember) for hire, and no person may give flight instruction for hire in an aircraft which that person provides, unless within the preceding 100 hours of time in service the aircraft has received an annual or 100-hour inspection and been approved for return to service in accordance with part 43.
The 100-hour limitation may be exceeded by not more than 10 hours while en route to reach a place where the inspection can be done. The excess time used to reach a place where the inspection can be done must be included in computing the next 100 hours of time in service.
Exceptions apply for aircraft with a:
Exceptions apply for aircraft:
Required inspections and aircraft logbook documentation
All aircraft not subject to exceptions must be inspected every 12 calendar months, i.e. an "annual inspection."
Aircraft carrying person(s) for hire (including flight instruction) must be inspected every 100 hours. This limit can only be exceeded to transport an aircraft for an inspection, and any such activity does not extend the time requirement for the next 100-hour inspection.
The regulation notes several exceptions to annual inspections.
Inspections are required entries in aircraft logbooks. And Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) must have Inspection Authorization (IA) to certify the inspection and return the aircraft to service.
Airworthiness Directives (Part 39)
The FAA's airworthiness directives are legally enforceable rules that apply to the following products: aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances.
The FAA issues an airworthiness directive addressing a product when they find that:
Airworthiness directives specify inspections you must carry out, conditions and limitations you must comply with, and any actions you must take to resolve an unsafe condition.
If a change in a product affects an owner/operator's ability to accomplish the actions required by the airworthiness directive in any way, s/he must request FAA approval of an alternative method of compliance. Anyone may propose to FAA an alternative method of compliance or a change in the compliance time, if the proposal provides an acceptable level of safety.
In certain cases, owner/operators may fly their aircraft to a repair facility to do the work required by an airworthiness directive. Those without the authority to do so may get a special flight permit. The FAA may add special requirements for such a flight, or the agency may decline to issue a special flight permit.
Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins (SAIB)
A Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) is an information tool that alerts, educates, and makes recommendations to the aviation community.
SAIBs contain non-regulatory information and guidance that does not meet the criteria for an Airworthiness Directive (AD).
To locate, view, and download individual bulletins, search the SAIB database.
Airworthiness Directives and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins
All of Part 39 is dedicated to Airworthiness Directives, and there's a lot of information here. Familiarity with Part 39 is more important than memorizing all of its components.
Part 39 is extremely interesting to profit-seeking owner/operators, since ADs can directly affect their operations, and thus revenue.
Part 39 also is of interest to owners of personal aircraft, since an AD can ground their airplanes.
Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins (SAIB) do not rise to the level of ADs, but they are of interest to everyone in the aviation community.
Purpose and procedure for obtaining a special flight permit (§ 21.197)
A special flight permit may be issued for an aircraft that may not currently meet applicable airworthiness requirements but is capable of safe flight, for the following purposes:
A special flight permit may also be issued to authorize the operation of an aircraft at a weight in excess of its maximum certificated takeoff weight for flight beyond the normal range over water, or over land areas where adequate landing facilities or appropriate fuel is not available. The excess weight that may be authorized under this paragraph is limited to the additional fuel, fuel-carrying facilities, and navigation equipment necessary for the flight.
Requirements and procedures for obtaining a special flight permit.
This is straightforward in § 21.197. There are only a few reasons to get a special flight permit, which include:
The procedure to obtain a special flight permit is outlined in § 119.51 "Amending operations specification." However, the first step to obtaining a special flight permit probably isn't to read the regulations, but instead to contact the nearest FSDO.
Persons authorized to perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alterations (§ 43.3)
Except for holders of a sport pilot certificate, the holder of a pilot certificate issued under part 61 may perform preventive maintenance on any aircraft owned or operated by that pilot.
Appendix A to Part 43 — Major Alterations, Major Repairs, and Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance is limited to the following work, provided it does not involve complex assembly operations:
Pilot-performed preventive maintenance
Note that this work can only be performed by pilots with a Private Pilot certificate, at a minimum. Sport pilots and student pilots are excluded.
The list is extensive and not worth memorizing, except to note a few basics such as:
There are a few a rule-of-thumb here:
Required instruments and equipment for day/night VFR
§ 91.205 Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates: Instrument and equipment requirements.
(a) General. Except as provided in paragraphs (c)(3) and (e) of this section, no person may operate a powered civil aircraft with a standard category U.S. airworthiness certificate in any operation described in paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section unless that aircraft contains the instruments and equipment specified in those paragraphs (or FAA-approved equivalents) for that type of operation, and those instruments and items of equipment are in operable condition.
(b) Visual-flight rules (day). For VFR flight during the day, the following instruments and equipment are required:
(1) Airspeed indicator.
(2) Altimeter.
(3) Magnetic direction indicator.
(4) Tachometer for each engine.
(5) Oil pressure gauge for each engine using pressure system.
(6) Temperature gauge for each liquid-cooled engine.
(7) Oil temperature gauge for each air-cooled engine.
(8) Manifold pressure gauge for each altitude engine.
(9) Fuel gauge indicating the quantity of fuel in each tank.
(10) Landing gear position indicator, if the aircraft has a retractable landing gear.
(11) For small civil airplanes certificated after March 11, 1996, in accordance with part 23 of this chapter, an approved aviation red or aviation white anticollision light system. In the event of failure of any light of the anticollision light system, operation of the aircraft may continue to a location where repairs or replacement can be made.
(12) If the aircraft is operated for hire over water and beyond power-off gliding distance from shore, approved flotation gear readily available to each occupant and, unless the aircraft is operating under part 121 of this subchapter, at least one pyrotechnic signaling device. As used in this section, "shore" means that area of the land adjacent to the water which is above the high water mark and excludes land areas which are intermittently under water.
(13) An approved safety belt with an approved metal-to-metal latching device, or other approved restraint system for each occupant 2 years of age or older.
(14) For small civil airplanes manufactured after July 18, 1978, an approved shoulder harness or restraint system for each front seat. For small civil airplanes manufactured after December 12, 1986, an approved shoulder harness or restraint system for all seats. Shoulder harnesses installed at flightcrew stations must permit the flightcrew member, when seated and with the safety belt and shoulder harness fastened, to perform all functions necessary for flight operations. For purposes of this paragraph—
(i) The date of manufacture of an airplane is the date the inspection acceptance records reflect that the airplane is complete and meets the FAA-approved type design data; and
(ii) A front seat is a seat located at a flightcrew member station or any seat located alongside such a seat.
(15) An emergency locator transmitter, if required by § 91.207.
(16) [Reserved]
(17) For rotorcraft manufactured after September 16, 1992, a shoulder harness for each seat that meets the requirements of § 27.2 or § 29.2 of this chapter in effect on September 16, 1991.
(c) Visual flight rules (night). For VFR flight at night, the following instruments and equipment are required:
(1) Instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (b) of this section.
(2) Approved position lights.
(3) An approved aviation red or aviation white anticollision light system on all U.S.-registered civil aircraft. Anticollision light systems initially installed after August 11, 1971, on aircraft for which a type certificate was issued or applied for before August 11, 1971, must at least meet the anticollision light standards of part 23, 25, 27, or 29 of this chapter, as applicable, that were in effect on August 10, 1971, except that the color may be either aviation red or aviation white. In the event of failure of any light of the anticollision light system, operations with the aircraft may be continued to a stop where repairs or replacement can be made.
(4) If the aircraft is operated for hire, one electric landing light.
(5) An adequate source of electrical energy for all installed electrical and radio equipment.
(6) One spare set of fuses, or three spare fuses of each kind required, that are accessible to the pilot in flight.
Required instruments and equipment for day/night VFR
This is covered in 14 CFR 91.205. The section is broken out with requirements for VFR (day), VFR (night), and IFR, as well as Category II and III operations. This task is limited to VFR regulations.
Do you have to memorize these lists? Probably not, but a passing familiarity wouldn't hurt. An instructor's job is to teach student pilots that these requirements exist, and when in doubt, they should refer to them, since this is just another checklist.
Besides, it sounds a bit risky to rely on memory alone to know what's required and what isn't. I would rather task students with memorizing the numbers "91205" than everything in the ATOMATOFLAMES and FLAPS acronyms, including the special rules associated with several items (such as shoulder harnesses and strobes).
But that's just an opinion, and the DPE on your CFI checkride may have a different opinion.
It's also fine to break things up into groups and then build memory around these groups.
As far as the six-pack goes, an airplane only needs two of the six to be legal:
Also mentioned is a "magnetic direction indicator," which would be a compass, not a Heading Indicator (no magnets in there). Certain glass cockpits meet this requirement.
Also required are some basic items to monitor each engine:
Two more panel items:
Four equipment items:
An anticollision light system is required if the aircraft was certificated after March 11, 1996. If the lights fail, the aircraft is legal, provided it's flying to a service location.
If the aircraft is operated for hire over water, beyond gliding distance to shore:
For night operations, the stakes are raised just a bit. Nothing comes off the daytime list. New items include:
What's a non-electric light? A lantern? Steam-powered? Nuclear?
Airworthiness of the airplane with inoperative instruments and equipment
§ 91.213 Inoperative instruments and equipment.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, no person may take off an aircraft with inoperative instruments or equipment installed unless the following conditions are met:
(1) An approved Minimum Equipment List exists for that aircraft.
(2) The aircraft has within it a letter of authorization, issued by the responsible Flight Standards office, authorizing operation of the aircraft under the Minimum Equipment List. The letter of authorization may be obtained by written request of the airworthiness certificate holder. The Minimum Equipment List and the letter of authorization constitute a supplemental type certificate for the aircraft.
(3) The approved Minimum Equipment List must—
(i) Be prepared in accordance with the limitations specified in paragraph (b) of this section; and
(ii) Provide for the operation of the aircraft with the instruments and equipment in an inoperable condition.
(4) The aircraft records available to the pilot must include an entry describing the inoperable instruments and equipment.
(5) The aircraft is operated under all applicable conditions and limitations contained in the Minimum Equipment List and the letter authorizing the use of the list.
(b) The following instruments and equipment may not be included in a Minimum Equipment List:
(1) Instruments and equipment that are either specifically or otherwise required by the airworthiness requirements under which the aircraft is type certificated and which are essential for safe operations under all operating conditions.
(2) Instruments and equipment required by an airworthiness directive to be in operable condition unless the airworthiness directive provides otherwise.
(3) Instruments and equipment required for specific operations by this part.
(c) A person authorized to use an approved Minimum Equipment List issued for a specific aircraft under subpart K of this part, part 121, 125, or 135 of this chapter must use that Minimum Equipment List to comply with the requirements in this section.
(d) Except for operations conducted in accordance with paragraph (a) or (c) of this section, a person may takeoff an aircraft in operations conducted under this part with inoperative instruments and equipment without an approved Minimum Equipment List provided—
(1) The flight operation is conducted in a—
(i) Rotorcraft, non-turbine-powered airplane, glider, lighter-than-air aircraft, powered parachute, or weight-shift-control aircraft, for which a master minimum equipment list has not been developed; or
(ii) Small rotorcraft, nonturbine-powered small airplane, glider, or lighter-than-air aircraft for which a Master Minimum Equipment List has been developed; and
(2) The inoperative instruments and equipment are not—
(i) Part of the VFR-day type certification instruments and equipment prescribed in the applicable airworthiness regulations under which the aircraft was type certificated;
(ii) Indicated as required on the aircraft's equipment list, or on the Kinds of Operations Equipment List for the kind of flight operation being conducted;
(iii) Required by § 91.205 or any other rule of this part for the specific kind of flight operation being conducted; or
(iv) Required to be operational by an airworthiness directive; and
(3) The inoperative instruments and equipment are—
(i) Removed from the aircraft, the cockpit control placarded, and the maintenance recorded in accordance with § 43.9 of this chapter; or
(ii) Deactivated and placarded “Inoperative.” If deactivation of the inoperative instrument or equipment involves maintenance, it must be accomplished and recorded in accordance with part 43 of this chapter; and
(4) A determination is made by a pilot, who is certificated and appropriately rated under part 61 of this chapter, or by a person, who is certificated and appropriately rated to perform maintenance on the aircraft, that the inoperative instrument or equipment does not constitute a hazard to the aircraft. An aircraft with inoperative instruments or equipment as provided in paragraph (d) of this section is considered to be in a properly altered condition acceptable to the Administrator.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an aircraft with inoperable instruments or equipment may be operated under a special flight permit issued in accordance with §§ 21.197 and 21.199 of this chapter.
Procedures for deferring maintenance on aircraft without an approved MEL.
The first part of 91.213 refers to aircraft with a Minimum Equipment List, which typically are associated with aircraft larger than those used for flight training.
In the flight training environment, pilots are interested in 91.213(d), which states "…a person may takeoff an aircraft in operations conducted under this part with inoperative instruments and equipment without an approved Minimum Equipment List provided"
If these requirements are met, then the instruments and equipment must be:
Airmen Certification Standards: Flight Instructor (Airplane)
Areas of Operation III. Preflight Preparation
Task B: Airworthiness Requirements
References
Objective: To determine the applicant understands airworthiness requirements, including aircraft certificates, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
Knowledge: The applicant demonstrates instructional knowledge by describing and explaining general airworthiness requirements and compliance for airplanes, including:
The applicant demonstrates instructional knowledge by describing and explaining pilot-performed preventive maintenance.
The applicant demonstrates instructional knowledge by describing and explaining equipment requirements for day and night VFR flight, including:
The applicant demonstrates instructional knowledge by describing and explaining standard and special airworthiness certificates and their associated operational limitations:
Risk Management: The applicant explains and teaches how to identify and manage risk associated with: Inoperative equipment discovered prior to flight.
Skills: The applicant demonstrates and simultaneously explains how to.
Flight Instructor Test Questions
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Oral Exam Questions