Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.") It's part of what makes aviation so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators, and as representatives of the flying community. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

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Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network. Suggestions for future Aero-Tips are always welcome, as are additions or discussion of each day's tips. Remember... when it comes to being good pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 01.14.06

Airworthiness Directives (ADs) are notification from the Government that a problem exists with an airplane that directly affects safety. ADs describe procedures required to assure the airplane meets its original design criteria. ADs become part of the Federal Air Regulations and therefore are binding as law -- not to mention potentially vital to your safety.

No good ADs?

Some owners and associations have said “there’s no such thing as a good AD.” Drill down their argument and it almost always comes down to money -- they don’t want to pay for repairs. Unlike automobile recalls, AD work -- affecting airplanes that are sometimes decades old -- is not usually paid by the manufacturer. Owners foot the bill. Most of the time, though, ADs address real threats, like slipping seat latches in Cessnas and wing spar failure in 400-series Cessnas and Beech T-34s. On occasion an AD may seem unjustified, and that’s when owners’ groups work with manufacturers and the FAA to reach a compromise that assure safety. But remember that the preamble of ADs usually includes the words death or serious injury that led to the rule.

I rent -- what do I care?

In most cases the aircraft operator is required to comply with ADs. A renter pilot, however, is still responsible for airworthiness as PIC. After all, it’s your life (and those of your passengers) on the line. So it’s vital you determine from the renting agency that all ADs are complied with.

Finding applicable ADs

To find ADs affected a particular airplane:

1. Go to the FAA’s AD website.
2. Select “Current ADs by Make” from the left column.
3. Pick the letter corresponding to the manufacturer from the top of the page (e.g., “P” for Piper, “C” for Cirrus Design, “R” for Raytheon/Beech, etc.).
4. Click on the triangle to the left of the manufacturer’s name.
5. Click on the triangle to the left of the specific airplane model.

You’d get a list with links to all ADs affecting that airframe. You’ll need to do the same search for engine ADs, propeller ADs, and ADs affecting other components by finding the engine manufacturer from the By Make page.

Aero-Tip of the day: Get familiar with the ADs that apply to any airplanes you fly, and watch the aviation media for new Airworthiness Directives.

FMI: Aero-Tips