flyable

Flyable is an adjective used to describe a vehicle or craft that is capable of flight. In aviation and aerospace, the term is often used interchangeably with airworthy, though airworthiness is the formal certification status defined by aviation authorities. Flyable denotes practical capability to take off and fly, pending required inspections and checks.

In aircraft operations, a machine is described as flyable when it has been deemed safe to fly for a given period. This assessment considers structural integrity, avionics and flight-control systems, propulsion, fuel and weight-and-balance, and compliance with applicable airworthiness directives. Maintenance, repair, and the provision of required documentation may restore or revoke flyable status.

The process typically includes preflight checks, routine maintenance, and periodic inspections. An aircraft that has recently entered service after maintenance or repair is often described as being re-established as flyable once testing confirms function. Weather, crew qualification, and operating limitations also influence whether a flight is authorized.

Outside traditional aviation, the term is used for unmanned systems such as drones and model aircraft, where flyable indicates the vehicle can perform flight maneuvers as designed. In software or simulation contexts it may describe a virtual object that is capable of flight.

Related terms include airworthy, airworthiness, and flight clearance. While flyable and airworthy are sometimes used interchangeably in informal writing, airworthiness is the formal status required for regulatory flight operations.