# 14 CFR 43.7: Who may approve a return to service

> Only certain people may sign an aircraft back into service after maintenance: mechanics and Inspection Authorization holders within Part 65, repair stations, manufacturers for their own work, air carriers, and a private pilot or higher after preventive maintenance they did themselves.

Source: https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/43-7
Official text: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-43.7 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-15; section last amended 2016-12-30)

## In plain English

- Mechanics and IA holders approve returns to service within their Part 65 privileges. [(b)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/43-7#b)
- Repair stations approve within Part 145. [(c)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/43-7#c)
- Manufacturers approve work they did under 43.3(j), using approved data except for minor alterations. [(d)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/43-7#d)
- A private pilot or higher may approve the return to service after doing preventive maintenance under 43.3(g). [(f)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/43-7#f)
- A sport pilot may do the same only on a light-sport aircraft they own or operate. [(h)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/43-7#h)

## Common questions

**Who can sign off an annual inspection?**

A mechanic holding an Inspection Authorization, under the Part 65 privileges this section refers to, or a repair station or manufacturer authorized for it.

**Can a student pilot sign off preventive maintenance?**

No. Paragraph (f) requires at least a private pilot certificate.

## Official text of 14 CFR 43.7

Persons authorized to approve aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, or component parts for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration.

(a) Except as provided in this section and § 43.17, no person, other than the Administrator, may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service after it has undergone maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration.

(b) The holder of a mechanic certificate or an inspection authorization may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as provided in Part 65 of this chapter.

(c) The holder of a repair station certificate may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as provided in Part 145 of this chapter.

(d) A manufacturer may approve for return to service any aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part which that manufacturer has worked on under § 43.3(j). However, except for minor alterations, the work must have been done in accordance with technical data approved by the Administrator.

(e) The holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an operating certificate issued under Part 121 or 135, may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service as provided in Part 121 or 135 of this chapter, as applicable.

(f) A person holding at least a private pilot certificate may approve an aircraft for return to service after performing preventive maintenance under the provisions of § 43.3(g).

(g) The holder of a repairman certificate (light-sport aircraft) with a maintenance rating may approve an aircraft issued a special airworthiness certificate in light-sport category for return to service, as provided in part 65 of this chapter.

(h) The holder of at least a sport pilot certificate may approve an aircraft owned or operated by that pilot and issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category for return to service after performing preventive maintenance under the provisions of § 43.3(g).

## Related

- [14 CFR 43.3: Who may perform maintenance](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/43-3.md)
- [14 CFR 43.9: What a maintenance logbook entry must say](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/43-9.md)
- [14 CFR 91.407: Flying after maintenance or alteration](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-407.md)

AerScheduler keeps inspections, squawks and work orders on each aircraft. It tracks the status; the signed logbook stays the record. [https://www.aerscheduler.com/features/maintenance](https://www.aerscheduler.com/features/maintenance)

_The plain-English summary is AerScheduler's reading of the rule, not legal advice. The official text above is the eCFR's, published by the Office of the Federal Register; the eCFR is the current text._