What are Airworthiness Directives (ADs) and who issues them?

• A. Mandatory safety directives issued by aviation authorities to correct unsafe conditions on aircraft or equipment.
• B. Optional maintenance recommendations issued by manufacturers.
• C. General safety guidelines for airlines.
• D. Procedures for pilot licensing.

Answer: (A)

Airworthiness Directives are the legally enforceable safety orders issued by the aviation safety authority to correct unsafe conditions on aircraft or their parts. They come from the regulatory body that oversees aviation in a country (for example, the FAA in the United States or EASA in Europe) and are issued after an issue with a specific aircraft model, engine, propeller, or component is found to pose a risk to continued airworthiness. The directive details the actions required—such as inspections, part replacements, or modifications—and provides a timetable for doing them. Non-compliance can render the aircraft unairworthy and legally grounding its operation. There can be emergency ADs with immediate effect or standard ADs with a set compliance window. These are different from optional maintenance recommendations from manufacturers, which do not carry the same regulatory force.