The validity of a pre-flight inspection lasts for how long?

The validity of a pre-flight inspection generally lasts for a duration of 72 hours, provided that no significant maintenance or operational changes occur to the aircraft during that time. This timeframe is established to ensure that the aircraft remains airworthy and that no new issues have arisen that could compromise safety. The 72-hour window allows for a balance between thoroughness of the pre-flight inspection and operational flexibility, enabling crews to efficiently schedule flights without needing to repeat the inspection too frequently.

Other durations, such as 12, 24, or 48 hours, might not provide adequate oversight of the aircraft's condition since various factors, including environmental influences or changes in operational status, can affect an aircraft's airworthiness. Therefore, 72 hours is established as an appropriate timeframe for maintaining safety and compliance within aviation operations.