The Air Navigation Order 1989

Technical log

10.—(1) A technical log shall be kept in respect of an aircraft registered in the United Kingdom being an aircraft in respect of which a certificate of airworthiness in either the transport or in the aerial work category is in force.

(2) At the end of every flight by an aircraft to which the provisions of this article apply the commander of the aircraft shall enter:

(a) the times when the aircraft took off and landed;

(b) particulars of any defect which is known to him and which affects the airworthiness or safe operation of the aircraft, or if no such defect is known to him, an entry to that effect; and

(c) such other particulars in respect of the airworthiness or operation of the aircraft as the Authority may require;

in a technical log, or, in the case of an aircraft of which the maximum total weight authorised does not exceed 2730kg. and which is not operated by a person who is the holder of or is required by article 6(1) of this Order to hold an air operator’s certificate, in such other record as the Authority shall approve and he shall sign and date such entries:

Provided that in the case of a number of consecutive flights each of which begins and ends:

(i) within the same period of 24 hours;

(ii) at the same aerodrome, except where each such flight is for the purpose of dropping or projecting any material for agricultural, public health or similar purposes; and

(iii) with the same person as commander of the aircraft;

the commander of an aircraft may except where he becomes aware of a defect during an earlier flight, make the entries as aforesaid in a technical log at the end of the last of such consecutive flights.

(3) Upon the rectification of any defect which has been entered in a technical log in accordance with paragraph (2) of this article a person issuing a certificate of release to service required by article 11 of this Order in respect of that defect shall enter the certificate in the technical log in such a position as to be readily identifiable with the defect to which it relates.

(4) The technical log referred to in this article shall be carried in the aircraft when article 61 of this Order so requires and copies of the entries referred to in this article shall be kept on the ground:

Provided that, in the case of an aeroplane of which the maximum total weight authorised does not exceed 2730kg., or a helicopter, if it is not reasonably practicable for the copy of the technical log to be kept on the ground it may be carried in the aeroplane or helicopter, as the case may be, in a container approved by the Authority for that purpose.

(5) Subject to the provisions of article 65 of this Order, a technical log or such other approved record required by this article shall be preserved by the operator of the aircraft to which it relates until a date 2 years after the aircraft has been destroyed or has been permanently withdrawn from use, or for such shorter period as the Authority may permit in a particular case.