10.7 Applicable National and International Requirements in Maintenance I

Applicable National and International Requirements in Maintenance I (10.7)

• Aircraft maintenance management programs, maintenance checks, and inspections are key aspects of aircraft maintenance.
• It is important to understand how aircraft maintenance management programs are conducted.

Master Minimum Equipment Lists (MMELs), Minimum Equipment Lists (MELs) and Dispatch Deviation Lists (DDLs)

• These lists are used to manage aircraft operations with certain inoperative equipment
• Understanding their purpose and creation is important.

Airworthiness Directives (ADs)

• These directives are issued by regulatory authorities
• ADs mandate compliance to address safety concerns.

Service Bulletins (SBs)

• Service Bulletins and manufacturer's service information provide essential details for aircraft maintenance
• It is important to understand where they originate and the types of data they contain.

Modifications and Repairs

• Understanding how modifications and repair schemes are authorized and performed within a Part 145 Aircraft Maintenance Organization (AMO) is important.

Maintenance Documentation

• It is important to know how maintenance documentation, including manuals, structural repair manuals, and illustrated parts catalogues, are produced, distributed, and managed within organizations.

Regulations and Guidelines

• Publications that supplement regulations are published by CASA and other National Aviation Authorities (NAAs).
• These publications help maintain aircraft airworthiness.
• Airworthiness Directives (ADs) are issued by NAAs.
• Advisory Circulars (ACs) are issued by the FAA.
• Civil Aviation Advisory Publications (CAAPs) and Airworthiness Advisory Circulars (AACs) are issued by CASA (CASR 1998).
• Safety Information Notices (SINs) are issued by EASA.
• Airworthiness Bulletins (AWBs) are issued by CASA.

Approved Maintenance Programs

• An Approved Maintenance Program details scheduled maintenance tasks and their frequency.
• It is related to procedures, like a Reliability Program, necessary for safe aircraft operation.
• Aircraft should be maintained under only one Approved Maintenance Program at any time.
• Transfer checks may be needed when changing programs.

System of Maintenance

• A System of Maintenance comes from the aircraft manufacturer's Maintenance Planning Document (MPD) and Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMM).
• For transport and commercial aircraft, it includes the operator's maintenance documents.
• The system must meet CASA or other NAA requirements.
• A system of maintenance documentation should include what maintenance is needed, when to perform it, and guidance for both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.

System of Maintenance Documents

• Required maintenance documents include Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMM), Structural Repair Manuals (SRM), Illustrated Part Catalogues/Lists (IPC/IPL), Policy and Procedures Manuals, MEL and Dispatch Deviation List/Guide (MEL and DDL/DDG), and Maintenance Schedules.

Maintenance Schedules

• Large aircraft (IAW CASR Part 42) require an approved System of Maintenance included in the aircraft’s maintenance program.
• Class B aircraft (other than large aircraft) need an approved maintenance schedule per CAR 41.
• A Class B aircraft is an Australian aircraft that is small and not flown commercially.
• The Registered Operator (RO) is responsible for aircraft maintenance to keep it airworthy.
• Two maintenance schedule types include manufacturer’s schedules and CASA schedules (Schedule 5 of the CARs).

Manufacturer’s Maintenance Schedules

• Maintenance schedules vary among manufacturers and aircraft types.
• Maintenance schedules are found in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual, Airworthiness Limitations Section, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness, Maintenance Review Board Report, Maintenance Planning Data, Continuing Airworthiness Program, Supplemental Inspection Document, Corrosion Prevention and Control Program and other documents.

CASA Maintenance Schedules

• The CASA maintenance schedule is in Schedule 5 of CAR 1988 Vol. 4.
• It does not replace the manufacturer’s schedule; it checks for inadequate manufacturer schedules.
• A list of aircraft types with inadequate maintenance schedules is in CAO 100.5.

Approved Maintenance Data

• Approved maintenance data, as per CASR Part 42 (in order of precedence):
  • Data in or required by an Airworthiness Directive (AD).
  • Data in or required by a direction from CAR 35.
  • Data in or required by a condition on a maintenance release or CRS.
  • Data included and approved during Type Certification (TC).
  • Instructions from the manufacturer about aircraft maintenance.
  • Instructions from designers of approved modifications.
  • Instructions from CASA for safety.

Maintenance Data and Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) Requirements

• AMOs under Part 145 must show how they access and keep maintenance data current.
• Data sources include the Registered Operator (RO), vendors, subscription services and the aircraft owner.
• Subscribing to an online provider means an AMO holds the data, with access provided to maintenance employees when needed.

AMO-Generated Maintenance Data

• An AMO can create new maintenance data only when no existing data covers required maintenance.
• Generated data cannot set wear limits for the aeronautical product.
• An AMO may alter maintenance data used if it makes maintenance more efficient, existing instructions are not compliant, or the alteration involves tools/equipment not in the data.
• A process must notify the manufacturer, TC holder, STC holder, or design/repair approval holder about new maintenance data.
• Alterations follow an AMO exposition procedure approved by the Quality Manager, ensuring an equivalent or improved maintenance standard.

Master Minimum Equipment Lists (MMEL)

• The Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) lists equipment that can be temporarily inoperative.
• The Type Certificate (TC) holder generates the MMEL, which must meet specific conditions and maintain safety.
• Each MMEL is specific to an aircraft type.
• An MMEL is approved by the NAA that issued the Type Certificate.
• It establishes which equipment can be inoperative under certain conditions and forms the basis for the Minimum Equipment List (MEL).

Minimum Equipment Lists (MEL)

• The Minimum Equipment List (MEL) is approved by CASA and based on the TC holder’s MMEL.
• It specifies conditions for operating an aircraft with inoperative equipment at dispatch.
• The MEL provides a time frame for fixing faulty items, related to their operational significance.
• It is carried on board and guides whether a flight should proceed.
• The MMEL and MEL are relieving documents, not meant to encourage operating with inoperative equipment.
• Operations with inoperative equipment are permitted only after careful analysis ensures an acceptable safety level is maintained as intended by CASA.
• Continued operation in such conditions should be minimized.

MEL Rectification Intervals

• Inoperative items deferred under the MEL must be fixed within specific timeframes:
  • Category A: No standard interval is specified; a time period starts at 00:01 the day after discovery.
  • Category B: Repair within three consecutive calendar days, starting at 00:01 the day after discovery.
  • Category C: Repair within 10 consecutive calendar days, starting at 00:01 the day after discovery.
  • Category D: Repair within 120 consecutive calendar days, starting at 00:01 the day after discovery.

Dispatch Deviation List/Guide

• The Dispatch Deviation List (DDL), also known as the Dispatch Deviation Guide (DDG), contains the MEL and Configuration Deviation List (CDL)
• It is carried on the flight deck of large transport aircraft.
• The DDL/G is an approved publication subject to review and amendment.

Configuration Deviation List (CDL)

• The Configuration Deviation List (CDL) identifies missing external parts of an aircraft at flight commencement.
• The CDL includes operating limitations and aircraft performance corrections.
• It is established by the TC holder, approved by the State of Design, and published with the MEL in the DDL/G.

Service Bulletins (SBs)

• Service Bulletins (SBs) inform owners/operators of potential serviceability issues, issued by manufacturers of aircraft, engines, propellers, parts, and appliances.
• If a Service Bulletin relates to an airworthiness safety problem, the regulator issues an Airworthiness Directive (AD).

Airworthiness Bulletins (AWB)

• An Airworthiness Bulletin (AWB) provides essential, non-mandatory information for clarity.
• AWBs are issued by CASA for quick and clear communication.

Airworthiness Directives (AD)

• An Airworthiness Directive (AD) alerts owners/operators of certified aircraft about a known safety deficiency in a specific aircraft model, engine, avionics, or system, which must be corrected.
• CASA and other NAAs issue ADs, and compliance is mandatory.
• An AD can be issued for an aircraft or aeronautical product if an unsafe condition exists or is likely to develop in other aircraft.

AD Requirements:

• The AD must be in writing, state the aircraft or product it relates to, and identify a known safety deficiency that must be corrected.
• The AD may require compliance with a Directive (Foreign Directive) from a foreign NAA that is similar to an AD.
• It may also require compliance with an instruction, direction, or requirement from the aircraft manufacturer related to the Airworthiness Directive.
• No person can operate an Australian aircraft covered by an AD or fitted with a product covered by an AD without complying with the AD.

Modifications and Repairs

• According to CASR Part 42, aircraft modifications require a Part 21 approval for the design and must be compatible with the aircraft configuration.
• Repairs that change the approved design require a Part 21 approval.
• Damage should be assessed against approved repair data.
• Actions for damage beyond limits include replacement of damaged parts or seeking technical support from the Type Certificate holder, approved Part 21 organization, or an agency approval.

Maintenance Documentation and Aircraft Logbooks

• The Certificate of Registration holder must maintain a logbook and related documents for the aircraft, accessible to CASA and maintenance personnel.
• The logbook must record maintenance, certification, time-lifed component installations/removals, AD compliance, and weight changes.
• Logbook sections with certification pages must be bound and sequentially numbered.

Aircraft Logbook Statements

• Per CAR 50A, aircraft logbooks must identify the aircraft, engine, propeller model, and whether the aircraft is equipped for IFR, VFR Day, or VFR Night operations.

Alternative Aircraft Logbooks

• CASA may approve alternative logbooks besides those sold by CASA, which must be available to CASA and maintenance personnel.
• An example is the AOC holder’s aircraft technical log.

Maintenance Records

• Maintenance records are part of Continuing Airworthiness records.
• AMOs need control processes for record identification, legibility, storage, protection, retrieval, and retention.
• Records must be protected from damage or tampering.
• Aircraft maintenance records to be kept for one year after the aircraft's operating life ends include the Aircraft Logbook, Engine Logbook, Propeller Logbook, Major Assembly History Card, Component History Card, Maintenance Release or CRS, and other Maintenance Records.
• If an Australian aircraft is exported, its maintenance records must go with it.