Who is responsible for determining that the aircraft is safe for flight during the preflight inspection?

Who is responsible for determining that the aircraft is safe for flight during the preflight inspection?

• A. Remote pilot-in-command.
• B. Pilot in command of a manned aircraft.
• C. Visual observer.
• D. Maintenance technician.

Answer: (A)

The remote pilot in command is the person who determines that the aircraft is safe for flight during the preflight inspection. In drone operations, the remote PIC has the ultimate responsibility for flight safety and must conduct or oversee the preflight check to verify the aircraft is airworthy. This means verifying the airframe and propellers for damage, ensuring the battery is charged and secured, checking the control link and failsafe settings, confirming GPS/compass data is valid, and ensuring firmware and calibration are appropriate. If anything isn’t right, the flight should not proceed until the issue is resolved. A maintenance technician handles repairs and ongoing maintenance to keep the aircraft in a serviceable condition, but the day-of-flight airworthiness decision rests with the remote PIC. A visual observer’s role is to assist with seeing and avoiding hazards, not to determine airworthiness, and a pilot in command of a manned aircraft applies to manned flights, not this drone operation scenario.

The remote pilot in command is the person who determines that the aircraft is safe for flight during the preflight inspection. In drone operations, the remote PIC has the ultimate responsibility for flight safety and must conduct or oversee the preflight check to verify the aircraft is airworthy. This means verifying the airframe and propellers for damage, ensuring the battery is charged and secured, checking the control link and failsafe settings, confirming GPS/compass data is valid, and ensuring firmware and calibration are appropriate. If anything isn’t right, the flight should not proceed until the issue is resolved.

A maintenance technician handles repairs and ongoing maintenance to keep the aircraft in a serviceable condition, but the day-of-flight airworthiness decision rests with the remote PIC. A visual observer’s role is to assist with seeing and avoiding hazards, not to determine airworthiness, and a pilot in command of a manned aircraft applies to manned flights, not this drone operation scenario.