Tach and Hobbs meter numbers are critical for determining when certain aircraft inspections are due, when airworthiness directives need to be complied with, and how much the customer will be billed for the flight. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]
Key Takeaways:
Pilots must diligently check Hobbs and Tachometer numbers before flights, as they are crucial for accurate billing, logbook entries, and tracking essential maintenance such as 100-hour inspections and Airworthiness Directives (ADs).
The Hobbs meter primarily measures time for billing and logbooks, while the tachometer measures engine operating time, which determines maintenance intervals and is typically 20 percent less than Hobbs time.
Failing to review these numbers can lead to pilots overpaying or inadvertently overflying maintenance requirements, resulting in potential FAA sanctions or penalties from flight schools.
While aircraft used for hire require 100-hour inspections, a pilot not flying for compensation can legally operate a flight school aircraft past its 100-hour inspection for currency, provided all ADs are current.
I wish I had a dollar for every time I was asked this, or asked someone else this. These numbers are critical for determining when certain aircraft inspections are due, when airworthiness directives (ADs) need to be complied with, and how much the customer will be billed for the flight.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
