by Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

It’s rare to find even a brand-new airplane without at least one “squawk”—a mechanical deficiency. Of course, the FAA would say that all equipment and components of an aircraft must be working properly or placarded as inoperative, else the airplane isn’t legally airworthy. The FAA will also say that all equipment listed in the aircraft’s Type Certificate Data Sheet must be installed and operating for airworthiness, and any additional equipment required by regulation for the specific operation must be in good working order, also. …