Who is primarily responsible for maintaining an aircraft in airworthy condition?

Who is primarily responsible for maintaining an aircraft in airworthy condition?

• A. the pilot
• B. the mechanic
• C. the FAA
• D. the owner or operator

Answer: (D)

The owner or operator has the ultimate obligation to keep an aircraft airworthy. Airworthiness is maintained by ensuring the aircraft meets its design and continues to comply with required inspections, airworthiness directives, and preventive maintenance. The owner or operator arranges and funds maintenance, ensures work is done by qualified technicians in accordance with approved data, and maintains the aircraft records that prove ongoing compliance. While the mechanic performs the actual maintenance and the FAA provides oversight and on-sight inspections, they do not carry the ongoing, overall responsibility for the aircraft’s airworthiness. The pilot in command must assess the aircraft’s condition before every flight, but that preflight check supplements, rather than replaces, the owner’s continuing responsibility to maintain airworthiness.

The owner or operator has the ultimate obligation to keep an aircraft airworthy. Airworthiness is maintained by ensuring the aircraft meets its design and continues to comply with required inspections, airworthiness directives, and preventive maintenance. The owner or operator arranges and funds maintenance, ensures work is done by qualified technicians in accordance with approved data, and maintains the aircraft records that prove ongoing compliance. While the mechanic performs the actual maintenance and the FAA provides oversight and on-sight inspections, they do not carry the ongoing, overall responsibility for the aircraft’s airworthiness. The pilot in command must assess the aircraft’s condition before every flight, but that preflight check supplements, rather than replaces, the owner’s continuing responsibility to maintain airworthiness.