More Aircraft Records
Twisted-Wrench LLC   Aircraft Maintenance Special Projects
This from our friends at AOPA about ELTs
As of February 1, 2009, the international COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system will discontinue
satellite-based monitoring of the 121.5/243-MHz frequencies, in part because of a high number of false
signals attributed with these frequencies. While there's no requirement in the United States to replace the
first- and second-generation 121.5-MHz ELTs, after this date, 121.5/243-MHz distress signals transmitted
from ELTs operating on the lower frequency will only be detected by ground-based receivers such as
local airport facilities and air traffic control facilities or by overflying aircraft. It is important to note that
after 2009, existing 121.5-MHz ELTs, although still legal from the FAA's perspective, will provide
extremely limited assistance if an aircraft crashes, especially in a remote location.
Bottom Line
If you just want to be legal - 121.5
If you want to be found - 406

If you have a 406 MHz ELT, it must be registered
- if -
you want someone to come save you!

Limitations, Placards, Flight Manuals
From Advisory Circular 60-6B - Flight Instructors should emphasize civil aircraft operating limitations and
markings as a part of student pilot training in the general operating rules of Part 91, and help each student
become familiar with the information available to them in the Type Certificate Data Sheets or the Aircraft
Specifications.

Prior to operating a civil airplane, pilots must assure that there is available in that airplane either a current
AFM or approved manual materials, if required, along with necessary markings and placards.  If you have
any uncertainty about specific requirements for a given airplane, clear up that uncertainty through one of
the above sources before you fly.

Flight Manual Supplements (FMS) may be required due to optional equipment installed by the
manufacturer under factory installed Service Bulletins or Modifications Status.  If so, the original AFM
should reference these modifications and indicate the required FMS for each.  If the aircraft is modified or
altered by Supplemental Type Certificate or Field Approval, any required FMS would be listed on the 337
Record of Major Alteration for that change.  As a side note, the 337 will list any additional maintenance
limitations or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness.
VOR accuracy checks 91.171 - If your aircraft is IFR equipped and has Nav
radio(s), the indications must be checked for accuracy every 30 days and
documented somewhere in the records.  Not applicable if you only fly VFR.
Compass Correction Card  23.1547 - Required
Altimeter Correction Card  23.1325 e & g, 43 Appendix E - IFR flight requires a
24 month cycle 91.411 altimeter inspection.  Altimeter functions are not always
linear so your inspection facility will supply a Correction Card which should be
available to the pilot in flight.  Having the Altimeter Correction Card(s) available to
the pilot in flight is an Industry Best Practice and not regulatory.
Navigation Database
Like paper charts, airborne navigation databases are ubject to revision. Pilots using the
databases are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the database they
are operating with is current. This includes checking “NOTAM-type information”
concerning errors that user is responsible for learning how the specific navigation
equipment handles the navigation database.
Information published on current aeronautical charts must be used in cases where
discrepancies or uncertainties exist with a navigation database.

Under the current rules, nav data updating is classified as preventive maintenance.

Whoever updates the nav database must make an entry in the aircraft’s documents, and
there are other requirements:

(1) No disassembly of the unit is required.

(2) The pilot has written procedures available to perform and evaluate the
accomplishment of the task.

(3) The database is contained in a field-loadable configuration and imaged on a medium,
such as a compact disc read-only memory (CD–ROM), synchronous dynamic random-
access memory (SDRAM) or other nonvolatile memory that contains database files that
are non-corruptible upon loading and where integrity of the load can be assured and
verified by the pilot upon completing the loading sequences.

(4) Records of when such database uploads have occurred, the revision number of the
software and who performed the upload must be maintained.

(5) The data to be uploaded must not contain system operating software revisions.