A.R.O.W.
Aviation
mnemonic to
remind you of the
required documents to make an airplane
airworthy. These documents are checked as part of any
pre-flight inspection.
Without these documents the airplane can be brand new and in perfect shape but still be
unairworthy. The required documents are:
Airworthiness Certificate.
Registration.
Operating limitations.
Weight and Balance
Airworthiness Certificate:
Each aircraft is issued an airtworthiness certificate as it leaves the factory. This certificate certifies that the airplane meets the design requirements and is safe to operate.
Registration:
Just like the registration in your car. It includes things like Owner's name,
registration number,
Owner's address, and
aircraft serial number.
Operating limitations:
Most people think this means having the aircraft's
Pilot Operating Handbook (
POH). That is usually true however there is another requirement and that is
placards. Some
placards are required by
Airworthiness Directive (
AD) or by the aircraft's
type certificate. These placards are considered part of the
operating limitations.
Weight and Balance:
A current
weight and balance sheet is required to be kept in the aircraft. Also, if the aircraft's
weight and balance has a
special condition (such as the aircraft is easily loaded out of aft
C.G. under
normal loading conditions) a
loading chart must be kept with the
weight and balance.
If you
happen to be flying internationally today you will need to add another "R" document and that is a current
FCC Radion Station License.
If a man comes up and identifies himself as being from the
FAA and asks to see these papers you'd better hope that you either
have them or
aren't flying today. You've just been subjected to the dreaded
ramp check.