Aircraft Documentation, Registration, Airworthiness and Markings
Registration and nationality
An aircraft carries a nationality mark and a registration mark, required by ICAO Annex 7 to be displayed on the aircraft. The certificate of registration identifies the State of registry and the owner or operator. A change of ownership normally requires re-registration or amendment. The State of registry is responsible for airworthiness and for issuing the certificate of airworthiness.
Airworthiness documents
The certificate of airworthiness confirms that the aircraft meets the applicable airworthiness requirements. In EASA maintenance, the certificate is supported by the airworthiness review certificate (ARC), normally valid for 12 months. An expired ARC makes the aircraft non-airworthy for flight even though the certificate of airworthiness document still exists. Other documents include the noise certificate, radio station licence, insurance, flight manual, mass and balance schedule, and maintenance release. Maintenance must be under Part-M or Part-145 as applicable.
Worked example
Before a private flight, the pilot finds the certificate of airworthiness in the folder but notices that the ARC expired last week. The certificate alone is not enough. The aircraft cannot legally fly until the airworthiness review is completed and a new ARC is issued. The pilot should also check the maintenance release, insurance, and that the registration marks match the aircraft documents.
Traps
Do not treat the certificate of airworthiness as an annual document; the ARC carries the 12-month validity. Do not confuse nationality and registration marks. A radio station licence is not the certificate of airworthiness. Airworthy is a legal and technical status, not merely that the aircraft starts and flies.