What is the purpose of 14 CFR Part 39?

• A. Airworthiness Directives
• B. Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration
• C. Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors
• D. Medical Standards and Certification

Answer: (A)

14 CFR Part 39 governs Airworthiness Directives. An Airworthiness Directive is a regulatory notice from the FAA addressing an unsafe condition found in a product such as an aircraft, engine, propeller, or certain appliances. When an AD is issued, it requires the mandatory actions needed to correct the condition, which can include inspections, repairs, replacements, or modifications, and these actions must be completed within the specified time frame. Some ADs are issued as emergencies and demand immediate compliance, while others provide a longer compliance window. These directives apply to all operators of the affected product, making them enforceable nationwide and even globally for aircraft operated under FAA oversight. This part is separate from other sections that cover maintenance (which falls under a different Part), pilot and instructor certification, or medical certification, helping to clearly delineate regulatory actions tied specifically to airworthiness.