Aviation Institute of Maintenance Block 1 Practice Test

An Airworthiness Directive (AD) is a legally enforceable regulation issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that directs aircraft owners and operators to address safety issues affecting their aircraft. When specific safety concerns are identified, whether from service history, incidents, or technical analysis, the FAA issues an AD to mandate corrective actions that must be taken within a designated timeframe. Compliance with an AD is required by law, which helps ensure that any potential hazards are mitigated, maintaining the overall safety of aviation operations.

This regulation is crucial because it provides a formal process for addressing safety concerns that have been identified after an aircraft type or component has already entered service. By contrast, voluntary maintenance guidelines or optional recommendations from manufacturers are not mandatory, and a safety report issued by a pilot typically shares observations but does not have the enforceable weight of an AD.