The airworthiness of an aircraft can be determined by a preflight inspection and a

• A. Review of the maintenance records
• B. Pilot safety briefing
• C. ATC clearance check
• D. Fuel system check

Answer: (A)

Airworthiness comes from showing the aircraft is fit to fly both in today’s condition and in its maintenance history. The preflight inspection checks the current state of the airplane—controls, structure, systems, fuel, fluids, tires, and any obvious defects—so you can confirm there are no immediate safety issues for this flight. But there must also be evidence that the aircraft has been properly maintained over time, which is found in the maintenance records. These records show that required inspections have been completed, ADs and service bulletins have been addressed, and any major repairs have been properly documented. Together, today’s physical check and the maintenance history provide a complete picture of airworthiness.

The other items don’t provide that complete picture. A pilot safety briefing is about crew and passenger safety during the flight, not the aircraft’s condition. An ATC clearance check ensures you have permission to fly in controlled airspace, not that the aircraft is airworthy. A fuel-system check is important, but it’s only one subsystem; it doesn’t by itself verify the overall airworthiness reflected by proper maintenance and current condition.