CA.I.B.K1cFAA-S-ACS-7B · Nov 2023Knowledge
c. Airworthiness Directives and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins
General airworthiness requirements and compliance for airplanes, including: c. Airworthiness Directives and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins
Bottom line
Airworthiness Directives (AD) must be complied with within the required time limit, and the fact of compliance, the date of compliance, and the method of compliance must be recorded in the aircraft’s maintenance records. If you do not have this authority, the local Flight Standards District Office of FAA may issue you a special flight permit unless the airworthiness directive states otherwise.
Key numbers
| Number | What it means |
|---|---|
| immediate compliance prior to further flight | Emergency ADs |
| compliance within a specified period of time | Less urgent ADs |
| fact, date, and method of compliance recorded in maintenance records | AD records |
| free on the Internet at http://rgl.faa.gov | Free ADs |
FAA references
- AFH Glossary (p. G-2) — FAA-H-8083-3C
- PHAK ch. 9 (p. 9-12) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
- AFH ch. 17 (p. 17-5) — FAA-H-8083-3C
- 14 CFR 39.23 (May I fly my aircraft to a repair facility to do the work required by an airworthiness directive?) — eCFR current as of 2026-10-08
- 14 CFR 39.25 (How do I get a special flight permit?) — eCFR current as of 2026-10-08
- 14 CFR 39.21 (Where can I get information about FAA-approved alternative methods of compliance?) — eCFR current as of 2026-10-08
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