airworthy

[air-wur-thee]

adjective

airworthier, airworthiest 

1. (of an aircraft) meeting established standards for safe flight; equipped and maintained in condition to fly.

airworthy

/ ˈɛəˌwɜːðɪ /

adjective

1. (of an aircraft) safe to fly

Other Word Forms

• airworthiness noun
• unairworthy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of airworthy¹

First recorded in 1820–30; air ¹ + -worthy

Example Sentences

The only airworthy helicopter was being used as an air ambulance.

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But on Monday, an airport official told the BBC that "the aircraft is confirmed to be airworthy".

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The total number of registered airworthy aircraft has tripled since the 1980s, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

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The company is also accused of falsifying Federal Aviation Administration release certificates, used to show that an aircraft is airworthy.

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Only a few dozen airworthy Spitfires remain, including six that belong to the BBMF.

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