Private Pilot Private Exam

Who ensures compliance with Airworthiness Directives (AD's)?

1. The pilot in command

2. The owner or operator

3. The FAA

4. The maintenance technician

The correct answer is: The owner or operator

The owner or operator is primarily responsible for ensuring compliance with Airworthiness Directives (ADs). ADs are legally enforceable regulations issued by the FAA to address safety issues concerning aircraft, engine components, and other aeronautical products. They require the owner or operator to make the prescribed changes, repairs, or inspections to maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft. While the pilot in command plays a vital role in the operational safety of the aircraft and the FAA provides oversight and issues the ADs, the responsibility for ensuring that all necessary actions are taken to comply with ADs rests with the owner or operator. The maintenance technician can perform the required work, but it is still the owner's or operator's duty to ensure compliance. This delineation of responsibility helps maintain a clear chain of accountability in aircraft maintenance and safety operations.