Definition
The condition of an aircraft, component, or piece of equipment that has been determined, through inspection or testing, to be airworthy and fit for its intended use. A serviceable item meets all applicable manufacturer and regulatory requirements and may be installed and operated without further repair or maintenance action.
Plain English
Checked, approved, and ready to be used. The part or aircraft is in good working order and safe to put into service.
Context Anchor
Seen in maintenance records, inspection notes, equipment status decisions, and preflight discussions about whether an item can be used.
Derivation
From 'serve' (Latin servire, to be of use) plus '-able' (capable of). Literally 'capable of being put into service.' This helps because the word is not about how well something works in general — it's about whether it is approved and ready to be put back into use on an aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
A pilot's preflight depends on knowing what is serviceable and what is not. An unserviceable item may need to be deferred under the Minimum Equipment List or repaired before flight. Flying with an unserviceable required item is a regulatory violation and a safety risk.
Intuition Check
Serviceable does not just mean clean, new-looking, or recently used. In aviation, it means the item is fit for safe use in its intended role.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic tagged the overhauled magneto as serviceable and returned it to stock.
Example Sentence 2
Only serviceable tires may be installed during the preflight inspection.