Aircraft airworthiness, maintenance and documentation
This domain tests certificate of airworthiness validity, maintenance programmes, defect reporting, mass and balance, and equipment requirements.
Airworthiness documents
An aircraft must have a valid certificate of airworthiness (or special category) and be maintained under an approved maintenance programme. Airworthiness directives must be complied with, and maintenance must be certified by an authorised person. A maintenance release is not a certificate of airworthiness; both are needed where applicable.
Defects and maintenance
Defects must be recorded and reported. Major defects are notified to the CAA under Part 12; deferral is allowed only under an approved minimum equipment list or other authorised procedure, not by informal decision. Maintenance records must be retained and traceable.
Mass, balance and equipment
The PIC must ensure mass and balance are within limits for the planned flight, using load sheets and performance data. Equipment requirements depend on VFR/IFR and operation: radio, transponder, ELT, fire extinguisher, first aid, survival equipment, and instrument/lighting requirements for night or IFR.
Worked example
An aircraft has a current annual inspection but its certificate of airworthiness expired last week. Reasoning: the aircraft is not airworthy for flight. The inspection does not renew the C of A. The operator must restore C of A validity before flight.
Traps
Confusing maintenance release with C of A; deferring a defect without authority; calculating mass but not balance; missing equipment for night/IFR.