Designing for Continued Airworthiness — General Aviation

Airworthiness became a national concern with the Air Commerce Act in 1926. Continuing airworthiness has become increasingly important because airplanes tend to have long lives. This certainly includes, but goes far beyond the airframe, to include power plant and every essential system: everything needed for safe flying. The designer begins by anticipating and providing for continuing flight safety against the wear and tear of use and the ravages of time and environment. He will provide owners with all the guidance and instructions he knows to keep the airplane airworthy. But the operator is the final and most vital link in this chain – to follow instructions and to feed back to the manufacturer anything unanticipated. As airplanes get older they just need more tender care. Continuing airworthiness is essential.