The responsibility for ensuring that maintenance personnel make the appropriate entries in the aircraft maintenance records indicating the aircraft has been approved for return to service lies with the

• A. Owner or operator
• B. Maintenance supervisor
• C. Pilot in command
• D. ATC

Answer: (A)

The person responsible for making sure the aircraft maintenance records show that the aircraft has been approved for return to service is the owner or operator. This stems from the fact that the owner or operator is accountable for the aircraft’s airworthiness and for keeping the maintenance log accurate and up to date. After any maintenance, someone who performed or supervised the work will sign off indicating completion and approval for return to service, but the obligation to ensure that the proper entry exists—and to ensure the records reflect the current state of airworthiness—rests with the operator or owner. The pilot in command relies on those records to determine if the aircraft is airworthy, but does not bear the responsibility for recording the maintenance entries. ATC has no role in maintenance records.