Definition
A legally enforceable regulatory notice issued by the FAA when an unsafe condition is identified in an aircraft, engine, propeller, or appliance. It specifies the affected products and prescribes the inspections, corrective actions, or operating limitations that must be complied with, along with the deadline for compliance, before the aircraft can be operated legally.
Plain English
An official FAA order that tells owners and operators they must inspect, fix, or change something on their aircraft because a safety problem has been found. Until the work is done within the time allowed, the aircraft is not legal to fly.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter Airworthiness Directives during aircraft records checks, maintenance planning, pre-purchase inspections, and any decision about whether an aircraft is legal and safe to fly.
Derivation
From 'airworthy' (fit to fly safely) and 'directive' (an authoritative instruction). The word together signals that the FAA is directing — not suggesting — what must be done to keep the aircraft fit to fly.
Why Pilots Care
Compliance is required by law; failure to follow an Airworthiness Directive can ground the aircraft, void insurance coverage, and create serious safety hazards.
Intuition Check
Do not read directive as a suggestion or helpful notice. In this term, a directive is a mandatory FAA rule that must be followed.
Example Sentence 1
Before the flight, the pilot reviewed the maintenance logbook to confirm that all applicable Airworthiness Directives had been complied with.
Example Sentence 2
The mechanic verified that all outstanding Airworthiness Directives had been complied with before returning the aircraft to service.