Annual Due, Transponder Expired
Priya rents a 1978 Cessna 172 from a small flying club. She plans a 90 NM VFR flight to a fly-in at an airport inside Class C airspace. The aircraft's annual inspection was signed off 11.5 months ago; the next annual is due in two weeks. The transponder was last tested 26 months ago, but it responds normally on the ground. The maintenance release is current. The route would cross 15 NM of Class C airspace; a detour around the Class C airspace adds 25 minutes. Priya's passenger has already paid for breakfast and is eager to go. The aircraft's certificate of airworthiness and registration are in the seat pocket. Priya holds a valid private pilot licence and Category 3 medical.
1. Is the aircraft airworthy for the planned flight? Discuss the annual inspection and the transponder.
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The annual inspection is still valid because it is due every 12 months and only 11.5 months have passed. The aircraft is not automatically unairworthy just because the next annual is two weeks away. The transponder is the problem: in Canada, a transponder used in airspace that requires one must be tested every 24 months. At 26 months, the test is expired. Class C airspace requires a transponder, so the aircraft cannot legally enter Class C on this flight, even though the unit responds on the ground. A ground response does not replace the required test. The maintenance release is current, but it does not cure the expired transponder test.
2. What are Priya's lawful options for completing or changing the flight?
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Priya has three lawful options: first, fly the route but remain completely clear of Class C airspace, accepting the 25-minute detour; second, have the transponder tested and certified before departure, which may not be practical today; or third, cancel or postpone the flight. She must not enter Class C relying on the owner's assurance that the transponder works fine. If the detour keeps her in Class E or G airspace, the flight can proceed with the current annual and maintenance release. She should also check that the detour does not create fuel or weather problems. The passenger's breakfast plans are not a factor in the legal decision.
3. What documents and records should Priya confirm before departure, and does passenger pressure change the answer?
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The aircraft should carry its certificate of registration, certificate of airworthiness or flight authority, and operating limitations. The pilot must carry a valid licence and medical certificate. Weight-and-balance and equipment lists should be available. Passenger expectations do not change the requirements. If a required document or test is missing, the flight is not legal. Priya should make the decision before taxiing, not after she is airborne and committed. The presence of a paying passenger or a social event does not create an exemption from the airworthiness or airspace rules.