An annual inspection is the comprehensive FAA airworthiness inspection required every 12 calendar months for most US-registered aircraft, signed off by an IA-rated mechanic. It is scope-equivalent to a 100-hour inspection but with stricter authorisation requirements, and it grounds the aircraft when overdue.
The annual inspection is the comprehensive airworthiness inspection required every 12 calendar months for most US-registered aircraft under 14 CFR 91.409(a). It must be performed and approved for return to service by a mechanic holding Inspection Authorization (IA) or by an appropriately rated repair station, following the scope of 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix D or the manufacturer's equivalent.
The annual and the 100-hour inspection share the same technical scope; the annual's distinguishing features are the calendar basis (due by the last day of the 12th month after the previous one), the IA requirement, and the fact that an annual satisfies a concurrently due 100-hour — but not the reverse. An aircraft past its annual is grounded, though a ferry permit can be obtained to fly it to an inspection facility.
Why it matters for flight schools
Annuals are the single largest planned downtime event per aircraft each year — often one to three weeks once discrepancies are worked. The scheduling stakes are seasonal: a school that lets annuals drift into its peak season donates prime revenue weeks to the hangar. Smart operators stack annuals in the low season and use the discrepancy list strategically, bundling known upcoming items into the same downtime instead of paying for separate groundings later.
How FlightLogger handles it
FL Maintenance tracks each airframe's annual due date alongside projected 100-hour events and utilization, so schools can place the year's biggest downtime where it costs the least revenue.
Frequently asked questions
Can a regular A&P mechanic sign off an annual inspection?
No — the annual requires a mechanic holding Inspection Authorization (IA) or an appropriately rated repair station. A standard A&P may perform much of the work, but the inspection approval itself needs the IA.
What happens if the annual expires?
The aircraft may not be operated until a new annual is completed — except under a special flight (ferry) permit to reach a facility where the inspection can be performed.