Contents
What documents should the pilot ensure are onboard the aircraft during the preflight inspection?
Make sure the airplane has an ARROW, the acronym that helps you remember the required documents: airworthiness certificate, registration, radio station license, operating limitation documents, and weight and balance information. You will most likely find them all in a clear plastic pouch attached to a cockpit wall.
Why do we conduct a preflight and postflight inspections?
The pre-flight inspection is an inspection that is performed on the aircraft before each and every flight to ensure the safety and correct operation of all aspects of the aircraft, and to discover defects and maladjustments that, if not corrected, would cause accidents or aborted missions • Checks of the airframe • …
What do pilots check before take off?
Before taking off in any aircraft, pilots have to ensure the aircraft has been released by the maintenance engineers, complete visual inspections of the aircraft, test emergency and safety systems, configure the GPS and instrumentation, check the weather, routing, and weight & balance.
What should a pilot look for in a preflight inspection?
The visual preflight inspection of the airplane should begin while approaching the airplane on the ramp. The pilot should make note of the general appearance of the airplane, looking for discrepancies such as misalignment of the landing gear and airplane structure.
What are the two parts of an airplane inspection?
The inspection has two parts and involves the pilot inspecting the airplane’s airworthiness status and a visual preflight inspection of the airplane following the AFM/POH to determine the required items for inspection.
What are the flight manuals for an airplane?
Figure 2-3. Airplane Flight Manuals (AFM) and the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) for each individual aircraft explain the required items for inspection. A review determines if the required maintenance and inspections have been performed on the airplane. Any discrepancies must be addressed prior to flight.
How often does an airplane have to be inspected for IFR?
If the airplane is flown IFR, the pitot/static system and altimeter must also be inspected every 24 calendar months, and VOR accuracy must be checked and signed off every 30 days. Maintenance technicians must perform all these inspections except for VOR accuracy, which you can do (and should do before every IFR flight).