What is a requirement for aircraft operating over congested areas?

• A. Must have a 100-hour or annual inspection by an authorized person within the preceding 100 hours
• B. No special inspection
• C. Weekly rapid checks
• D. Only the pilot's personal evaluation

Answer: (A)

Operating above densely populated areas requires the aircraft to be airworthy and formally verified by a current inspection. The condition of the airplane must be checked by an authorized person, with the relevant inspection completed within the last 100 hours of flight (or as part of the annual inspection, which serves as the overall yearly check). This ensures critical systems, structure, and safety features meet required standards because congested areas present higher risk in the event of an anomaly or emergency.

Weekly rapid checks or relying solely on the pilot’s personal impression do not meet regulatory airworthiness standards, and there is no separate informal inspection program that substitutes for the mandated 100-hour or annual inspection.