Required Inspections
This topic guides you through required aircraft inspections, inspection time frames, and paperwork. Although it is the responsibility of aircraft owners to keep their aircraft in an airworthy state, it is the responsibility of a PIC to verify that condition prior to flight.
Lesson Notes
Maintenance equipment inspections (by mechanics) are required to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy state. Multiple acronyms can be used to help you remember the inspections, but the two most common are A1TAPE and AV1ATE.
As always, flashcards are a great way of retaining this knowledge. For as long as you’re a pilot, you’ll need to remember the required inspections and time frame (e.g. annually, 24 calendar months, etc). Furthermore, ensure you can show in your aircraft’s logbook where the maintenance has been recorded.
Additional Resources
Flashcard Questions
What is a calendar month?
What inspections are due every 24 calendar months?
Is the pitot-static inspection required for VFR only aircraft?
What are the inspection time-frames for the ELT?
What kind of mechanic is needed to complete an annual inspection?
If your transponder test was last completed in February 2018, when will it expire?
Memorize the acronym for either A1TAPE or AV1ATE.
Your last annual inspection was completed on June 15th, 2018. What is the last day your airplane may be flown before a new annual inspection is required?
Your friend just became an A&P mechanic, and you’d like him to perform and sign you off on your next annual inspection. Do you foresee any issues with accomplishing this?
You arrive to fly your flight school airplane on a day VFR flight only to realize that the Pitot-Static inspection is overdue. Are you legal to fly?
In the previous scenario you fly, and then come back to give the airplane to the next pilot who is panning to take it on an IFR flight to an airport with marginal weather. Is there anything you might mention to him?
Can you fly with an expired transponder inspection if you are only flying in airspace not requiring a transponder?