# How do I approve repairs during an inspection?

Source: https://www.wingmanaerocare.com/answers/how-do-i-approve-repairs (updated 2026-10-16)
Published by Wingman AeroCare, Northern Colorado Regional Airport (KFNL). (970) 292-0719.

**Short answer:** At Wingman AeroCare, every finding from an inspection goes onto an online estimate with photos and video. Each item is labeled Airworthy (required to return to service), Recommended, or Optional, and you approve or decline each one individually. Nothing beyond the approved scope is done without your approval, and parts and estimated labor for approved repairs are paid before parts are ordered.

## How does the approval process work, step by step?

1. **We inspect.** An annual is performed and signed off by an A&P mechanic holding Inspection Authorization.
2. **We document.** Each finding is photographed or recorded on video and added to your online estimate with a description and price.
3. **We label each item.** Every finding gets one of three labels (see below).
4. **You review.** Open the estimate on your phone or computer, look at the evidence, and ask questions.
5. **You decide, item by item.** Approve or decline each line individually. You are never forced into an all-or-nothing package.
6. **You pay for approved repairs.** Parts and estimated labor are paid before parts are ordered, by bank transfer link.
7. **We do only what you approved.** If we find something new while doing the work, it goes back on the estimate for your decision.

## What do Airworthy, Recommended, and Optional mean?

| Label | What it means | What happens if you decline |
|---|---|---|
| **Airworthy** | Required to return the aircraft to service. Examples: an overdue AD, a cracked exhaust, inoperative required equipment. | The aircraft cannot be approved for return to service until the item is corrected. |
| **Recommended** | Not required today, but advisable to prevent a bigger problem or a future failure. | The aircraft can return to service; the item is noted for you to watch. |
| **Optional** | An improvement or convenience item. | No airworthiness impact. |

The labels exist so you can spend money where it matters most. An owner on a tight budget can fix every Airworthy item and defer Recommended ones with eyes open; an owner who wants the airplane in top shape can approve everything.

## What happens if I decline an Airworthy item?

It is your decision, but the regulations set the consequences. Under 14 CFR 43.11(a)(5), when an aircraft is not approved for return to service after an annual or 100-hour inspection, the inspector records that a signed and dated list of discrepancies and unairworthy items was provided to the owner. Under 14 CFR 91.7, the aircraft may not be flown in an unairworthy condition.

Your options at that point include having the item fixed elsewhere, performing eligible preventive maintenance yourself under 14 CFR 43.3(g) and Part 43 Appendix A, or (for certain non-required equipment) deactivating and placarding it under 14 CFR 91.213(d). See [what happens if your aircraft fails its annual](https://www.wingmanaerocare.com/answers/what-happens-if-my-aircraft-fails-its-annual).

## What makes an item "required"?

An item is labeled Airworthy when it affects whether the aircraft conforms to its type design (including STCs, approved alterations, and applicable ADs) or is in condition for safe operation. Those are the two conditions that define airworthiness. See [what makes an aircraft legally airworthy](https://www.wingmanaerocare.com/answers/what-makes-an-aircraft-airworthy).

## Tips for fast, confident approvals

- **Look at the photos and video first.** They show exactly what the mechanic saw.
- **Ask questions on anything unclear.** A short call often settles a decision.
- **Prioritize Airworthy items,** since nothing flies without them.
- **Bundle while open.** If a Recommended item requires removing the same panels as an Airworthy one, doing both now can save labor later.
- **Respond the same day when you can.** Repairs and parts orders cannot start until you approve, so quick answers mean shorter downtime.

## What if something new turns up during a repair?

Opening one area sometimes reveals another problem. Because nothing beyond the approved scope is done without your approval, any new finding goes onto the estimate with photos or video and its label, and waits for your decision like everything else. You also end up with a complete record of what was found and why each item was done.

## How Wingman handles it

This approval system is how Wingman AeroCare runs every inspection and repair: online estimates with photos and video, three clear labels, item-by-item approval, and no work beyond the approved scope. Combined with inspection deposits settled against actual hours, it means you know what you are paying for before you pay for it. See [how Wingman bills](https://www.wingmanaerocare.com/answers/how-does-wingman-bill), our [annual inspections](https://www.wingmanaerocare.com/services/annual-inspections), or call (970) 292-0719 to schedule.