Document in which the manufacturer of an aircraft, engine or component recommends an inspection, improvement or modification to its operators.
What it is
Manufacturers issue service bulletins throughout a model's life. Some correct defects found in service; others improve reliability, extend the life of a part or allow new equipment to be fitted. Each bulletin states which aircraft or engines it applies to, usually by serial number, and sets out the work step by step together with the parts required.
In principle they are voluntary: operators decide whether to embody them on the basis of cost and benefit. When a bulletin addresses a safety matter, the manufacturer issues it as an alert service bulletin and the authority usually makes it mandatory through an airworthiness directive. The same job can therefore begin as a recommendation and end up as a legal requirement.
Related terms
Cite
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This page was last updated on October 9, 2026
APA
Vuelopedia. (2026, October 9). Service bulletin. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/service-bulletin
MLA
“Service bulletin.” Vuelopedia, Fundación Poderia, 9 Oct. 2026, vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/service-bulletin. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Vuelopedia. “Service bulletin.” Fundación Poderia. Last modified October 9, 2026. https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/service-bulletin.
Harvard
Vuelopedia (2026) Service bulletin. Available at: https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/service-bulletin (Accessed: 16 October 2026).
BibTeX
@misc{vuelopedia_en_glossary_service_bulletin,
author = {{Vuelopedia}},
title = {{Service bulletin}},
publisher = {Fundación Poderia},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-10-09},
url = {https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/service-bulletin},
howpublished = {\url{https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/service-bulletin}},
urldate = {2026-10-16},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16}
}Wikipedia
{{cite web |url=https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/service-bulletin |title=Service bulletin |website=Vuelopedia |publisher=Fundación Poderia |date=2026-10-09 |access-date=2026-10-16 |language=en}}