Final answer:
The owner or operator of an aircraft is responsible for ensuring compliance with Airworthiness Directives (ADs). ADs are mandatory safety mandates issued by aviation authorities to address potential safety issues with an aircraft, its engines, propellers, or appliances. Maintenance professionals execute the necessary actions, but the legal responsibility lies with the owner or operator.
Step-by-step explanation:
The owner or operator of an aircraft is responsible for complying with an Airworthiness Directive (AD). ADs are issued by the aviation authority of a country and they mandate actions to be taken to correct safety issues of an aircraft. These actions may include inspections, repairs, modifications, or restrictions of operations to resolve unsafe conditions that exist in the product (aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance).
Compliance with ADs is mandatory and must be carried out within the specified time frame set by the aviation authority, typically the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. Aircraft maintenance professionals such as mechanics and technicians are usually tasked with conducting the required actions to meet the AD requirements, but it remains the legal responsibility of the aircraft's owner or operator to ensure these directives are followed.