An annual inspection provides an important checkpoint in an aircraft’s maintenance history, but the aircraft’s condition develops throughout the rest of the year. Regular use, timely repairs, routine maintenance, and consistent recordkeeping all influence what eventually arrives at the next annual inspection.

In this episode of The Preflight Checklist, we discuss why aircraft condition is the product of ongoing ownership rather than a once-a-year maintenance event. The decisions made between annual inspections can affect maintenance costs, long-term condition, and how the aircraft is ultimately evaluated when it changes hands.