Aircraft maintenance
Encyclopedia
Aircraft maintenance is the overhaul, repair, inspection or modification of an aircraft
or aircraft component
.
Maintenance includes the installation or removal of a component from an aircraft or aircraft subassembly, but does not include:
Maintenance may include such tasks as ensuring compliance with Airworthiness Directive
s or Service Bulletins.
this may be an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
or Aircraft Maintenance Technician
, while for amateur-built aircraft
this may be the owner or builder of the aircraft.
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
or aircraft component
Aircraft part
An aircraft part is an article or component approved for installation on a certificated aircraft. Approval for these parts is derived from the jurisdictions of the countries that an aircraft is based...
.
Maintenance includes the installation or removal of a component from an aircraft or aircraft subassembly, but does not include:
- Elementary work, such as removing and replacing tires, inspection plates, spark plugs, checking cylinder compression, etc.
- ServicingAircraft ground handlingIn aviation, aircraft ground handling defines the servicing of an aircraft while it is on the ground and parked at a terminal gate of an airport.-Overview:...
, such as refueling, washing windows. - Any work done on an aircraft or aircraft component as part of the manufacturingManufacturingManufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
process, prior to issue of a certificate of airworthiness or other certification document.
Maintenance may include such tasks as ensuring compliance with Airworthiness Directive
Airworthiness Directive
An Airworthiness Directive is a notification to owners and operators of certified aircraft that a known safety deficiency with a particular model of aircraft, engine, avionics or other system exists and must be corrected....
s or Service Bulletins.
Regulation of Aircraft Maintenance
Aircraft maintenance is highly regulated. There are various airworthiness authorities around the world. The major airworthiness authorities include:- Civil Aviation Safety AuthorityCivil Aviation Safety AuthorityThe Civil Aviation Safety Authority is the Australian national aviation authority , the government statutory authority responsible for the regulation of civil aviation.-History:...
(CASA) Australia - European Aviation Safety AgencyEuropean Aviation Safety AgencyThe European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
(EASA) Europe - Federal Aviation AdministrationFederal Aviation AdministrationThe Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA) United States - Transport CanadaTransport CanadaTransport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
(TC) Canada
Maintenance release
At the completion of any maintenance task a person authorized by the national airworthiness authority signs a release stating that "The described maintenance has been performed in accordance with the applicable airworthiness requirements." In the case of a certified aircraftType certificate
A Type Certificate, is awarded by aviation regulating bodies to aerospace manufacturers after it has been established that the particular design of a civil aircraft, engine, or propeller has fulfilled the regulating bodies' current prevailing airworthiness requirements for the safe conduct of...
this may be an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
An Aircraft maintenance engineer is a licenced person who carries out aircraft maintenance. This same title is used in a number of different counteries, including:*Aircraft maintenance engineer *Aircraft maintenance engineer...
or Aircraft Maintenance Technician
Aircraft Maintenance Technician
Aircraft maintenance technician, as used in the United States, refers to an individual who holds a mechanic certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration; the rules for certification, and for certificate-holders, are detailed in Subpart D of Part 65 of the Federal Aviation Regulations ,...
, while for amateur-built aircraft
Homebuilt aircraft
Also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits.-Overview:...
this may be the owner or builder of the aircraft.
See also
- Aircraft maintenance checksAircraft maintenance checksAircraft maintenance checks are periodic checks that have to be done on all aircraft after a certain amount of time or usage. Airlines and other commercial operators of large or turbine-powered aircraft follow a continuous inspection program approved by the Federal Aviation Administration in the...
- Aircraft maintenance engineerAircraft Maintenance EngineerAn Aircraft maintenance engineer is a licenced person who carries out aircraft maintenance. This same title is used in a number of different counteries, including:*Aircraft maintenance engineer *Aircraft maintenance engineer...
- Aircraft maintenance engineer (Canada)Aircraft maintenance engineer (Canada)In Canada an aircraft maintenance engineer is a person who is Transport Canada licensed to sign the maintenance release for certified aircraft returning the aircraft to service....
- Aircraft Maintenance TechnicianAircraft Maintenance TechnicianAircraft maintenance technician, as used in the United States, refers to an individual who holds a mechanic certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration; the rules for certification, and for certificate-holders, are detailed in Subpart D of Part 65 of the Federal Aviation Regulations ,...
- AirworthinessAirworthinessAirworthiness is a term used to describe whether an aircraft has been certified as suitable for safe flight. Certification is initially conferred by a Certificate of Airworthiness from a National Airworthiness Authority, and is maintained by performing required maintenance actions by a licensed...
- Charles Taylor Master Mechanic AwardCharles Taylor Master Mechanic AwardThe Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award is an honor presented by the United States Federal Aviation Administration in honor of Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. The award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior aviation mechanics...
- Maintenance Resource Management
- Maintenance, repair, and operationsMaintenance, repair, and operationsMaintenance, repair, and operations or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involves fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it become out of order or broken...