Who is responsible for compliance to an AD (airworthiness directive)?

• A. Chief Mechanic
• B. Aircraft owner and operator
• C. Pilot in Command
• D. Flight Dispatcher

Answer: (B)

Airworthiness Directives are binding regulatory actions that must be followed to maintain aircraft safety. The person accountable for ensuring those directives are met is the aircraft owner and operator. They hold the ongoing responsibility for the aircraft’s airworthiness, must arrange and supervise the required maintenance or modifications, ensure the actions are completed, and maintain proper records showing compliance. The mechanic or maintenance provider performs the actual work and signs off the maintenance, but they don’t bear the ultimate accountability for whether the AD is satisfied. The pilot in command is responsible for the safety of the flight, but not for regulatory compliance of the aircraft’s airworthiness across operations. A flight dispatcher helps coordinate operations but does not own the aircraft’s airworthiness obligations.