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Airworthiness Function Flights
From SKYbrary Wiki
| Article Information | ||
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| Category: | Airworthiness | 
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| Content source: | SKYbrary | 
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| Content control: | EUROCONTROL | 
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Contents |
Description
An Airworthiness Function or Check Flight is a description normally given to a non revenue flight carried out by flight crew for whom normal duties are line flying and which has the sole purpose of testing for the correct airborne function of aircraft systems either:
- after a single significant rectification maintenance input
- after a major Base Maintenance Check such as a 'C' Check or a 'D' Check
- in association with requirements for the acceptance or handback of an aircraft
The term does not include formal test flights carried out by trained test pilots employed by an aircraft manufacturer or NAA for purposes such as customer acceptance of new aircraft or the renewal of a Certificate of Airworthiness
Hazards
This type of flight, which is also sometimes referred to as a Functional Evaluation Flight or a Functional Check Flight, has been associated with an above average risk of an Accident or Serious Incident. The operation of an aircraft with systems intentionally degraded in order to validate the operational status of an aircraft may occur and on all such flights, a very thotough flight crew pre flight external and internal inspection can help reduce the chances of unexpected malfunctions occurring in flight. Some of the potential issues and mitgations for this risk are examined in the more general article "Mitigating Risk for Non Standard Flights" and examples of Accidents and Serious Incidents can be found at "Accident and Serious Incident Reports: Non-Revenue Flights". A recognition that a specific process is needed for the selection and training of flight crew who are to perform this type of flight is essential, and this aspect is examined further in the article Crew Training for Airworthiness Function Flights
Related Articles
- Non Revenue Flights
- Crew Training for Airworthiness Function Flights
- Mitigating Risk for Non Standard Flights
Further Reading
UK CAA
- UK CAA Check Flight Handbook, Issue 2.2, 22 April 2009.
- Safety Regulation Group: Airworthiness Communication 2009/03 - Applicable to all operators and maintenance organisations.