Plane Sense was produced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the assistance of The Wicks
Group, PLLC. The FAA wishes to acknowledge the providers of the following images used in this handbook:
Skycatcher used on the cover and in chapter 6, courtesy of Cessna Aircraft Corporation
Cirrus SR20-1 used on the cover and in chapter 1, courtesy of Cirrus Design
Eclipse 500 used on the cover, courtesy of Eclipse Aviation Corporation
The FAA would also like to extend its appreciation to several aviation industry organizations that provided
assistance and input in the preparation of this handbook, including:
General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Acknowledgments
Plane Sense
Plane Sense is a handbook for aviation enthusiasts, especially aircraft owners and operators or those who are
interested in becoming aircraft owners, who are looking for a quick reference guide on a number of general
aviation topics. This handbook is published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA is the executive agency responsible for aviation oversight in the United States. The FAA’s mission is
to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.
The FAA is responsible for the safety of civil aviation. The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 created the agency
under the name Federal Aviation Agency. The FAA adopted its present name in 1967 when it became a part of
the Department of Transportation (DOT). The FAA’s major roles include:
• Regulating civil aviation to promote safety
• Encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology
• Developing and operating a system of air traffic control and navigation for both civil and military aircraft
• Researching and developing the National Airspace System (NAS) and civil aeronautics
• Developing and carrying out programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil
aviation
• Regulating U.S. commercial space transportation
FAA Headquarters is located in Washington, D.C. However, the FAA is organized into eight geographical
regions and the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. FAA regions are
organized as follows:
• Alaskan (Alaska)
• Central (Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee)
• Eastern (Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia)
• Great Lakes (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
• Northwest Mountain (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)
• Southern Region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virgin Islands)
• Southwest Region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)
• Western-Pacific Region (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada)
Within each region, you will find several Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs). Your local FSDO is your
best resource for questions about aircraft ownership, operation, maintenance, regulatory compliance, and other
issues. FAA inspectors are generally assigned to a FSDO. Aviation safety inspectors (ASIs) can assist you with
issues related to the operation of your aircraft, airman certification, maintenance, and other general questions.
You can find your local FSDO on the FAA website at www.faa.gov by selecting “About FAA” from the top menu
bar and following the links to locate your local FSDO’s contact information.
Aircraft certification-related activities are handled by the FAA Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) that serves
your geographic area.
introduction
Plane Sense
You can contact your ACO for guidance on:
• Design approval and certificate management
• U.S. production approvals
• Engineering and analysis questions
• Investigating and reporting aircraft accidents, incidents, and service difficulties
• Designated Engineering Representative (DER) oversight
You can find the nearest ACO on the FAA website at www.faa.gov by selecting “About FAA” from the top menu
bar and following the links to locate the nearest ACO’s contact information.
This handbook has been revised to include additional topics and updated website addresses to enable you to find
relevant information more easily. You will also notice that some information is repeated in multiple chapters of
Plane Sense, and this is designed to allow each chapter to stand alone as a reference tool to aid you in locating
the information easily.
Please contact your local FSDO if you have any questions about the material in Plane Sense or how the
information might specifically apply to your aircraft. This handbook is intended to provide general guidance for
aircraft owners and operators; however, you should always ensure that the guidance provided applies to your
specific aircraft and/or your specific situation.
The FAA website is continually updated. If your question is not answered in this handbook, you can access a
great deal of helpful information on the FAA’s website at www.faa.gov. This new edition of Plane Sense is color-
coded to assist you in quickly finding useful information.
The chapters containing information that may be useful to all general aviation readers are coded in blue:
Chapter 1: Aircraft Owner Responsibilities
Chapter 11: Obtaining FAA Publications and Records
Appendix A: FAA Contact Information
Appendix B: Regulatory Guidance Index
The chapters containing information about aircraft acquisition, registration, and ownership are coded in green:
Chapter 2: Buying an Aircraft
Chapter 3: Airworthiness Certificate
Chapter 4: Aircraft Registration
Chapter 5: Special Flight Permits
Chapter 6: Light Sport Aircraft
The chapters containing information on aircraft maintenance are coded in red:
Chapter 7: Aircraft Maintenance
Chapter 8: Maintenance Records
Chapter 9: Airworthiness Directives
Chapter 10: Service Difficulty Program
You will also note the addition of several new checklists to assist you in applying the information found in
Plane Sense. These checklists and any relevant FAA or other forms discussed in the chapter are located
at the end of that particular chapter for ease of reference. For your convenience, FAA Contact Information
is at the end of this handbook.
Also, the Regulatory Guidance Index at the end of this handbook locates within each chapter the relevant
regulatory guidance material, including pertinent sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),
FAA Orders, and Avisory Circulars (ACs).
The FAA wishes you safe landings as you embark on your own aviation journey.