Imagine this: You have an aircraft on lease and operate this successfully, you pay 450,000 USD a month for the aircraft and an airworthiness directive is required in the near future. This was not scheduled when you leased the aircraft and now this is a requirement. You complete the inspection and need to repair post inspection – you loose a week of aircraft availability, the parts must be purchased and all maintenance costs covered.
ADs, issued by aviation authorities, address safety concerns and supersede even the Aircraft Maintenance Program (AMP).
While seemingly disruptive and essential for airworthiness, they hold benefits for lessors and lessees alike, but also have a cost attached for this benefit and it is important to think about these costs.