FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX)RegulationsMedium
An aircraft owner wants an inspection program that spreads required inspection items across shorter, more frequent intervals to keep the aircraft continuously airworthy, rather than performing one large annual inspection. Which inspection program should the owner request from the FAA?
- AAirworthiness directive compliance program
- BProgressive inspection program
- CStandard annual inspection
- D100-hour inspection program
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Progressive inspection program
A progressive inspection program, authorized under 14 CFR 91.409(d), allows an owner or operator to divide the inspection requirements into smaller segments performed at shorter, more frequent intervals so that the entire aircraft is inspected progressively, avoiding the need for one lengthy annual inspection.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. AD compliance addresses specific safety issues, not a general inspection schedule
- C. An annual inspection is a single comprehensive inspection performed once a year
- D. The 100-hour inspection is a fixed-interval inspection, not a segmented program
Progressive Inspection Program
An FAA-approved alternative under 91.409(d) that divides inspection tasks into smaller segments performed at shorter, recurring intervals to maintain continuous airworthiness.
- Approved under 91.409(d)
- Requires an approved inspection program
- Avoids grounding aircraft for one large annual inspection
Memory trick: 'Progressive = piece by piece' inspection.