Regulations – Required Documents | Training Blog

What documents must be onboard the aircraft?

An aircraft may be perfectly maintained, fueled, and ready to fly.
But if required documentation is missing, the flight is not legal.

Federal regulations require certain aircraft documents to be onboard and accessible during flight. These documents verify that the aircraft is registered, approved for operation, and operated within its certified limits.

Pilots commonly remember these documents using the acronym A.R.O.W.

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📋 Why This Matters (Operational + Legal Reality)

Missing required aircraft documents can lead to:

• Grounded aircraft during ramp inspections
• Regulatory violations
• Insurance complications
• Operational delays

Unlike inspections or maintenance records that may be stored elsewhere, AROW documents must be onboard the aircraft.

They are part of the airplane’s legal identity.

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✈️ The A.R.O.W. Acronym

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1️⃣ Airworthiness Certificate
Reference: 14 CFR 91.203
This certificate confirms that the aircraft meets its approved type design and is in condition for safe operation.

Key points:

• Must be visible to passengers or crew inside the aircraft
• Issued by the FAA when the aircraft is certificated
• Remains valid as long as the aircraft meets its approved configuration and maintenance requirements

If the aircraft no longer conforms to its type design, the certificate is effectively invalid — even if the paper is still displayed.

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2️⃣ Registration Certificate
Reference: 14 CFR 91.203
This document shows that the aircraft is registered with the FAA and identifies the legal owner.

Key points:

• Must be carried in the aircraft
• Links the aircraft registration number to the owner
• Must be current and valid

A temporary registration may be issued during ownership transfers, but it must still be onboard.

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3️⃣ Operating Limitations
Reference: 14 CFR 91.9
Operating limitations define how the aircraft may be legally operated.

For most general aviation aircraft, this information is found in:

• The Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH)
• The approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)
• Placards and markings inside the cockpit

These limitations include:

• Airspeed limits
• Weight limits
• Approved maneuvers
• Configuration restrictions

If the airplane is operated outside its limitations, the flight is not compliant with the regulations.

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4️⃣ Weight & Balance Information
References: 14 CFR 91.9 and 91.103
Weight and balance documentation provides the approved loading limits and center-of-gravity range for the aircraft.

This information ensures the aircraft remains within safe aerodynamic and structural limits.

Pilots must verify:

• Aircraft loading is within limits
• Center of gravity remains within the approved envelope

Even a properly flying aircraft may become unsafe or uncontrollable if loaded incorrectly.

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! GREE CASTLE NOTES:

Green Castle Aero Club airworthiness documents can be found on each aircraft page on our website. 
Click here for Checklists, In-Flight Guides, and Airworthiness Documents for each aircraft.

Additionally, member pilots have access to our CrewChief Systems digital maintenance records program which authorizes the use of digital means to meet airworthiness requirements.
Learn more about CrewChief Systems and AC 120-78B on our website.

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🌎 When AROW Becomes ARROW

Some pilots expand the acronym to ARROW.

The additional “R” stands for:
Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit

This permit is required when operating internationally, because radio communications cross national boundaries.

For purely domestic operations within the United States, this permit is not required.

NOTE: Green Castle Aero Club aircraft are not operated outside of the continental United States and therefore do not have this radio permit.

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🧠 Operational Scenario

Ramp Inspection
An FAA inspector approaches after shutdown and asks to see the aircraft documents.
What must you be able to produce?

• Airworthiness Certificate (displayed)
• Registration Certificate
• Operating Limitations (POH/AFM or placards)
• Weight & Balance information

If any of these are missing, the aircraft cannot legally depart.

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⚠️ Common Pilot Mistakes

• Assuming the POH automatically satisfies all documentation requirements
• Forgetting to update weight and balance after equipment changes
• Flying with an expired or temporary registration that is no longer valid
• Believing maintenance logs must be onboard (they generally do not)
• Confusing required onboard documents with inspection records

The key distinction: AROW documents stay with the aircraft.

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🧩 The Big Takeaway

The required onboard aircraft documents are remembered as:
A — Airworthiness Certificate
R — Registration Certificate
O — Operating Limitations
W — Weight & Balance

These documents confirm the aircraft is:

• Properly certificated
• Properly registered
• Operated within approved limitations
• Loaded within safe parameters

Without them, the aircraft may be mechanically sound — but legally grounded.

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🗓 Next Week

Plane & Pilot – The Four Forces of Flight

What keeps an airplane moving through the air?

Next week, we’ll break down the four fundamental forces that act on every aircraft in flight: lift, weight, thrust, and drag — and how their balance determines climb, cruise, descent, and performance.

​Because every maneuver in aviation begins with understanding these forces.