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Annual Inspection
A thorough aircraft inspection required at least once every 12 calendar months under 14 CFR 91.409(a). No person may operate an aircraft unless it has had an annual inspection within the preceding 12 calendar months. An annual also satisfies the 100-hour inspection requirement when applicable.
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Learn more in Private Pilot License→Related Terms
- ARROWA student-pilot mnemonic for the documents that must be aboard an aircraft: Airworthiness certificate, Registration certificate, Radio station license (when required for international operations), Operating limitations (POH/AFM), and Weight and balance data. ARROW pairs with AV1ATE, which covers required inspections.
- ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System)An automated weather observing system that continuously reports surface weather at many airports, including wind, visibility, sky condition, temperature, dew point, and altimeter setting. ASOS observations often feed METARs and may be available by frequency or telephone when ATIS is not.
- ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service)A continuous broadcast of recorded aeronautical information at airports with control towers. ATIS provides current weather, active runways, NOTAMs, and other operational information, updated hourly or when conditions change significantly.
- Attitude IndicatorAlso known as the artificial horizon, this gyroscopic instrument displays the aircraft's pitch and bank attitude relative to the actual horizon. It is the primary instrument for maintaining aircraft control during instrument flight.