Definition
A permanent written history of an aircraft, engine, propeller, or component that documents its operation, maintenance, alterations, inspections, and overall airworthiness status. Service records are required by regulation, must be kept current by the owner or operator, and must be made available for inspection.
Plain English
The official written history of an aircraft or one of its parts. Every inspection, repair, change, and time-in-service entry goes in here, so anyone can see what has been done to it and confirm it is safe and legal to fly.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance logbooks, inspection entries, aircraft sale records, and preflight document reviews.
Derivation
‘Service’ comes from the Latin servitium, meaning the work performed for someone. ‘Record’ comes from the Latin recordari, meaning to remember or call to mind. Together: a written memory of the work performed on the aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
It confirms the aircraft meets required safety standards before any flight.
Intuition Check
Do not read service record as a general customer-service note. In aviation, it means a maintenance record that helps show the condition and legal status of the aircraft or part.
Example Sentence 1
Before the annual inspection, the mechanic reviewed the service record to confirm all prior airworthiness directives had been complied with.
Example Sentence 2
After replacing the brake pads, the mechanic added the details to the service record.