Who issues Airworthiness Directives?

Airworthiness Directives are critical notifications issued by the National Authority responsible for civil aviation safety in a country, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Europe. These directives inform aircraft owners and operators about specific issues that may affect the airworthiness of their aircraft and provide mandatory instructions on addressing those issues.

The National Authority evaluates safety concerns, which can arise from various sources like accidents, incidents, or newly discovered faults. Based on this assessment, they enforce regulations to ensure that aircraft are maintained and operated in a manner that prioritizes safety. This can include requiring inspections, modifications, or other corrective actions to be taken within specific timeframes to mitigate risks associated with identified safety concerns.

In contrast, the design organization is typically responsible for the design and certification of aircraft and their components, but they do not have the authority to issue directives. The Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) and Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA) may have similar responsibilities in their respective contexts, but the direct issuer of Airworthiness Directives is the National Authority itself, which ensures regulatory compliance and aviation safety at a national level.