Is a service bulletin mandatory for pilots to comply with?

Service bulletins are generally issued by aircraft manufacturers to provide information on recommended maintenance, modifications, or inspections for their products. While they are important for safety and operational efficiency, they are not typically classified as mandatory unless they are accompanied by an Airworthiness Directive (AD) from the FAA or the relevant regulatory authority.

Avionics and maintenance personnel often review service bulletins for best practices or to mitigate potential issues, but the enforcement of compliance is ultimately driven by regulations set forth by aviation authorities. For individual pilots operating aircraft, following service bulletins is often considered a guidance or recommendation rather than a requirement.

In contrast, if there is a specific directive from the FAA that relates to a safety issue stemming from a service bulletin, compliance with that directive becomes mandatory. Therefore, regarding individual pilots, adherence to a service bulletin is not mandated, making the choice that states it is not mandatory the correct one.