Objective(s)

Provide a quick reference for understanding the PIC responsibility for ensuring aircraft is ready for flight.

Description

1. PIC responsibility
2. Airworthiness certificate
3. Airworthiness requirements
4. Pre-flight responsibilities: Fuel planning

Instructional aids

Applicable parts of CFR 91.

Content

1. PIC is responsible for determining whether the aircraft is airworthy and in a condition for safe flight (91.7).
2. Must have a current airworthiness certificate (just having an airworthiness certificate does not meet the requirement for ensuring that the aircraft is airworthy).
3. There are 2 components to ensuring airworthiness:
   • Aircraft must meet its type design: must have the required and proper components installed, consistent with the type certificate; must also conform to the applicable supplemental type certificates and field-approved alterations, and compliance with airworthiness directives.
   • Aircraft must be in a condition for safe operation: must have been maintained and inspected as required.
   • Required and proper components: includes required day VFR, night VFR, and IFR equipment (see Acronymns and Mnemonics, or this Equipment Chart from FAAST), and inoperative equipment/minimum equipment lists (MELs).
     • If no MEL exists and the inoperative equipment:
       • Is not part of the VFR-day type certificate;
       • Is not required on the aircraft’s equipment list or for the operation;
       • Is not required by another regulation (eg, 91.205 or 91.207); and
       • Is not required by an airworthiness directive, then
       • The aircraft can be flown if the equipment is removed or deactivated and marked inoperative.
   • Maintenance and inspection (ie, maintaining the aircraft in airworthy condition) the responsibility of the owner/operator; as PIC, your responsibility is for verifying that  the aircraft is airworthy (ie, verifying the maintenance and inspection has been done).
   • See Acronymns and Mnemonics.
4. Fuel planning: VFR in a helicopter requires enough fuel to reach the intended destination and then fly for an additional 20 minutes.

Real-life advice and experience

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Additional resources

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