A verification flight (or "functional check flight") is a non-commercial flight conducted to ensure that an aircraft is performing correctly after significant maintenance, a long period of storage, or a major component repair. The goal is to verify that the issue has been resolved and that all safety systems are operational before the plane is allowed back into passenger service. These flights are typically short and may involve specific maneuvers or tests, such as cycling the landing gear, testing the engines at various power settings, or verifying the accuracy of cockpit instruments. They are often performed by specially trained test pilots or highly experienced line pilots. For an airline, a successful verification flight is the final step in the regulatory process to return an aircraft to "airworthy" status, ensuring that the work performed by maintenance technicians meets the manufacturer's and the FAA's strict safety standards.