Aircraft Maintenance

Topics
• • • • • • • • • • FAA Regulations Aircraft Categories, Types Manuals Maintenance Forms and Records Operations with Inoperative Equipment Special Flight Permits Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) Repairs and Alterations – Airlines Maintenance Organizations Maintenance Terms

Aircraft Maintenance
FAA Regulations Regarding Aircraft Maintenance – Click here

Note, the FAA document has the entry in the table for “14 CFR Part I” as14 CFR Part 1”. The part should not be Roman numeral “I”.

Aircraft Category and Class
• NOTE: There are two definitions in the FARs for Category and Class.
▫ Certification of Airmen ▫ Certification Of Aircraft
• It can easily be confusing

Certification of Airmen

CATEGORY
Airplane Rotorcraft Glider Lighter-than-air

Certification Of Aircraft CATEGORY
Transport Normal Utility Limited Restricted Acrobatic Provisional

CLASS
Single-Engine Land (SEL) Single-Engine Sea (SES) Multi-engine Land (MEL) Multi-engine Sea (MES)

TYPE
Embraer ERJ-145 Boeing 737 Airbus A-319 Etc.

CLASS
Airplane Rotorcraft Glider Lighter-than-air

Manuals
• Airplane Flight Manuals – All Aircraft
▫ Critical part of the aircraft (Airplanespecific) ▫ Includes instrument markings and placards ▫ Manual Contents
 Limitations  Operating procedures  Performance

Manuals
• PART 91 Operation: • Owner/operator – Limited responsibility
▫ Selection of inspection program ▫ Scheduling the aircraft for the inspections ▫ Making the airplane available for authorized inspections and maintenance

• Certificated A & P Mechanics
▫ Responsibility to perform the inspections and maintenance ▫ In accordance with the Manufacturer's Technical Manual

Manuals
• Aircraft Maintenance Manual – FAR Parts 135 and 121
▫ Required by FAA regulations ▫ Defines the maintenance program ▫ Sections  Administrative policies and procedures  Detailed instructions for the administration, management, and accomplishment of the maintenance program  Technical manuals that describe maintenance standards, methods, techniques, and procedures

Maintenance Forms and Records
• Maintenance Record Entries for…..
▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Inspections Corrective Maintenance Preventive Maintenance Rebuilds Altering
    Airframe Engine Propeller Appliance

Maintenance Forms and Records
• Maintenance Record Entries for…..
▫ Total time in service (airframe, each engine, and each propeller) ▫ Status of life-limited parts ▫ Time since the last overhaul ▫ Current inspection status of the aircraft ▫ Current status of applicable ADs

Maintenance Forms and Records
• Maintenance Record Entries … ▫ Description of the work performed ▫ Date the work was completed ▫ Name of the person who performed the work ▫ Signature, certificate number, and kind of certificate

Maintenance Forms and Records

• Major Repairs and Major Alterations ▫ FAA Form 337 ▫ Work must be inspected and approved by a mechanic who holds an Inspection Authorization (IA) ▫ Signed copy given to the owner ▫ Signed copy sent to the local FSDO within 48 hours after the aircraft has been approved for return to service

Operations with Inoperative Equipment – MEL
• Minimum Equipment List (MEL)
▫ A list of equipment that must be installed and operable for the aircraft to be considered airworthy ▫ Valid for a specific aircraft ▫ Must be on board the aircraft during flight

Operations with Inoperative Equipment – MEL
• Creating an MEL: MMEL + Procedures Document + LOA = MEL
▫ Minimum Equipment List (MEL) – is defined by the manufacturer and is a derivative of FAA’s Maser Minimum Equipment (MMEL) ▫ Owner/operator creates a specific procedures document for the aircraft
 "M" procedures – Requires certified mechanic  "O" procedures – can be done by pilot or flight crew

▫ Owner/operator’s procedures document is approved by FAA inspector (Letter of Authorization - LOA)

Operations with Inoperative Equipment – MEL
• Procedure with MEL
▫ When a part of the aircraft is found to be inoperative the pilot will refer to the MEL ▫ If the item is not in the procedures document, the aircraft is grounded ▫ If the item is found, the pilot will take the appropriate actions required by the procedures document ▫ Once the procedures are completed the aircraft is ready to fly

Operations with Inoperative Equipment – FAR 91.213
• For aircraft operating without an MEL, use the FAR 91.213 process to determine airworthiness of an aircraft with inoperative equipment: • Is the affected equipment part of the VFR-day type certificate? ▫ YES, the aircraft is grounded ▫ NO, go to the next question. • Is the affected equipment listed as required on the aircraft's equipment list or kinds of operation list? ▫ YES, the aircraft is grounded ▫ NO, go to the next question. • Is the affected equipment required by any other regulation? ▫ YES, the aircraft is grounded ▫ NO, go to the next question. • Is the affected equipment required to be operative by an AD? ▫ YES, the aircraft is grounded ▫ NO, go to the next question. • Procedure with FAR 91.213 ▫ When a part of the aircraft is found to be inoperative the affected item must be removed from the aircraft or deactivated and placarded inoperative

Special Flight Permits – Special Airworthiness Certificate,
• Aircraft that may not meet applicable airworthiness requirements but is safe for a specific flight. • May require inspection to determine its safety for the intended flight • Some Instances:

▫ to allow the aircraft to be flown to a base for repairs, alterations, or maintenance ▫ For delivering or exporting the aircraft ▫ for evacuating an aircraft from an area of impending danger ▫ to allow an overweight aircraft for flight beyond its normal range over water or land areas where adequate landing facilities or fuel are not available

Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) Program
• NASA is a third party to receive Aviation Safety Reports • Invites pilots, controllers, flight attendants maintenance personnel and other users of the system to voluntarily report to NASA
▫ Actual or potential discrepancies and deficiencies involving the safety of aviation operations

• Ensures the anonymity of the reporter

Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) Program
• Prohibits the use of any reports submitted to NASA under the ASRS in any disciplinary action • Except information concerning criminal offenses or accidents • All information that might establish the identification of persons filing ASRS reports will be deleted

Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) Program
ASRS Advisory Circular– Click here

Repairs and Alterations – Airlines
• Line Maintenance (On Aircraft) & Hangar Maintenance (On Aircraft)
▫ Usually directed by a Maintenance Supervisor ▫ Collaborate with flight crews with respect to serviceability of aircraft ▫ Testing, troubleshooting, installing and maintaining parts ▫ Complete and certify log books and work sheets ▫ Release aircraft for return to service ▫ Primary consideration to personal safety, the safety of co-workers and customers

Repairs and Alterations – Airlines
• Maintenance overhaul shops (Off aircraft)
▫ Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)  Repair stations providing major and minor maintenance, modifications, refurbishment and repairs  Company-owned or Contract  Airline, Corporate, Military, etc.  Visit aerospace-technology.com, the MRO Gallery: http://www.aerospacetechnology.com/contractors/maintenance/gallery.html

Repairs and Alterations – Airlines
• Maintenance overhaul shops (Off aircraft)
 OEM refers to the aircraft manufacturers  Examples of global OEMs are Airbus of Europe, ATR of France/Italy, Boeing of the United States, Bombardier of Canada, and Embraer of Brazil  Global Customer Support  Material Management and Spares  Maintenance and Engineering Services  Flight Operations Support

▫ OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)

Repairs and Alterations – Airlines
• Aircraft maintenance checks • Periodic (required by FAA) checks • after a certain amount of time or usage • A check, B check, C check, or D check ▫ A and B checks are lighter checks ▫ C and D are considered heavy checks.

Repairs and Alterations – Airlines
• A Check
▫ Performed approximately every month ▫ Usually done overnight at the gate ▫ Check vary by
    aircraft type cycle count number of hours flown since the last check Can be delayed by the airline if certain conditions are met.

• B Check

▫ Performed approximately every 3 months ▫ Usually done overnight at an airport gate ▫ Requirements similar the A check

Repairs and Alterations – Airlines
• C Check
▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Performed approximately every 12-18 months Puts the aircraft out of service Requires space - usually at a hangar at a maintenance base Schedule of occurrence has many factors and components Varies by aircraft category and type. heaviest check for the airplane Occurs approximately every 4-5 years. More or less, takes the entire airplane apart for inspection Requires even more space and time than all other checks, and must be performed at a maintenance base.

• D Check

Maintenance Organizations
• Professional Aviation Maintenance Association
PAMA seeks to promote professionalism among aviation maintenance personnel; to improve aviation maintenance, and to disseminate information to practitioners. Web address: http://www.pama.org/.

• Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance
AWAM is a nonprofit organization formed to champion women's professional growth in the aviation maintenance fields. Web address: http://www.awam.org/.

• Aircraft Electronics Association
The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) represents over 1100 aviation businesses, including repair stations that specialize in maintenance, repair and installation of avionics and electronic systems in general aviation aircraft. Web address: http://www.aea.net/

Maintenance Terms
Maintenance Terms – Click here

Summary
• • • • • • • • • • FAA Regulations Aircraft Categories, Types Manuals Maintenance Forms and Records Operations with Inoperative Equipment Special Flight Permits Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) Repairs and Alterations – Airlines Maintenance Organizations Maintenance Terms

End of Presentation