What do Should and May indicate in a TO?

• A. Express non-mandatory provisions
• B. Express mandatory provisions
• C. Express ambiguous terms
• D. Express no requirements

Answer: (A)

Should and May indicate non-mandatory provisions in a Technical Order. “Should” signals a recommended action—the preferred or best practice, but not required. “May” means the action is allowed or permitted, but not required. Together, they guide what you should consider doing or what you are allowed to do without imposing a mandatory obligation. This differs from terms like “shall” or “must,” which denote actions that must be followed. For example, a procedure might state that a safety check should be performed annually (recommended) and that technicians may use a specific test tool to verify results (permitted).