What Makes an Airplane Safe to Fly? – Episode 340
When is an aircraft truly airworthy? The answer is more complicated—and more important—than most pilots and aviation professionals realize.
Aviation safety experts Todd Curtis and John Goglia are joined by aviation attorney Sarah MacLeod and certification expert Mike Borfitz for a fascinating discussion about what airworthiness really means. Is an airplane airworthy simply because it matches an approved design, or does it also have to be safe to fly today?
The panel dives into real-world aviation issues that affect pilots, mechanics, maintenance managers, manufacturers, and regulators every day:
- The difference between regulatory conformity and operational safety
- How maintenance records and paperwork omissions can change critical decisions
- Why organizational pressure can lead to unsafe outcomes
- The role of tolerances, imperfections, and human judgment in aviation maintenance
- Who is accountable when something doesn’t look right
- Why new aviation professionals must learn to speak up, ask questions, and report mistakes
Todd also shares a revealing story from his flying club that demonstrates why every pilot should have access to maintenance information before accepting an aircraft.
Watch now to hear four aviation experts tackle one of the industry’s most misunderstood safety questions—and learn the habits that help keep aircraft, crews, and passengers safe.
Resources:
Episode 300: Aviation Maintenance Disconnects with Sarah MacLeod
Episode 304: Digging Into the Data on Aviation Risks with Mike Borfitz
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