FAR 43.7 — Return to Service Approval
FAR 43.7 lists who may approve an aircraft for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration. Key facts for pilots.
In Plain English
FAR 43.7 spells out exactly who is authorized to approve an aircraft, airframe, engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration. Unless one of the listed people signs it off, the aircraft is not legal to fly.
Authorized approvers include:
- Certificated mechanics and holders of an Inspection Authorization (IA) — under Part 65.
- Repair stations — under Part 145.
- Manufacturers for work they performed under §43.3(j), using FAA-approved technical data (except for minor alterations).
- Air carriers operating under Part 121 or 135.
- A pilot holding at least a private pilot certificate — but only after performing preventive maintenance allowed by §43.3(g) on their aircraft.
- Light-sport repairmen with a maintenance rating, for special airworthiness light-sport aircraft (Part 65).
- Sport pilots (or higher) for preventive maintenance on a light-sport aircraft they own or operate.
Why it matters: as a pilot-owner, you can legally do oil changes, tire changes, and other preventive maintenance items and sign the aircraft back into service yourself — but anything beyond that list requires a properly certificated mechanic or repair station.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 43.7§ 43.7 Persons authorized to approve aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, or component parts for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration.
(a) Except as provided in this section and § 43.17, no person, other than the Administrator, may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service after it has undergone maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration.
(b) The holder of a mechanic certificate or an inspection authorization may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as provided in Part 65 of this chapter.
(c) The holder of a repair station certificate may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as provided in Part 145 of this chapter.
(d) A manufacturer may approve for return to service any aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part which that manufacturer has worked on under § 43.3(j). However, except for minor alterations, the work must have been done in accordance with technical data approved by the Administrator.
(e) The holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an operating certificate issued under Part 121 or 135, may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as provided in Part 121 or 135 of this chapter, as applicable.
(f) A person holding at least a private pilot certificate may approve an aircraft for return to service after performing preventive maintenance under the provisions of § 43.3(g).
(g) The holder of a repairman certificate (light-sport aircraft) with a maintenance rating may approve an aircraft issued a special airworthiness certificate in light-sport category for return to service, as provided in part 65 of this chapter.
(h) The holder of at least a sport pilot certificate may approve an aircraft owned or operated by that pilot and issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category for return to service after performing preventive maintenance under the provisions of § 43.3(g).
[Amdt. 43-23, 47 FR 41084, Sept. 16, 1982, as amended by Amdt. 43-36, 61 FR 19501, May 1, 1996; Amdt. 43-37, 66 FR 21066, Apr. 27, 2001; Amdt. 43-39, 69 FR 44863, July 27, 2004]
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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1After your A&P performs an annual-related repair, who can approve the airplane for return to service?
Per FAR 43.7(b), a mechanic or holder of an Inspection Authorization may approve the aircraft for return to service as provided in Part 65.
Q2As a private pilot owner, can you ever sign off your own aircraft for return to service?
Yes. Under FAR 43.7(f), a person holding at least a private pilot certificate may approve their aircraft for return to service after performing preventive maintenance authorized by §43.3(g).
Q3Can a sport pilot approve a light-sport aircraft for return to service after maintenance?
Only after preventive maintenance on an LSA they own or operate, per FAR 43.7(h). Other maintenance on an LSA must be approved by a light-sport repairman with a maintenance rating or other authorized person under FAR 43.7(g).
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