M.A.706 Personnel requirements

1.The person or group of persons should represent the continuing airworthiness management structure of the organisation and be responsible for all continuing airworthiness functions. Dependent on the size of the operation and the organisational set-up, the continuing airworthiness functions may be divided under individual managers or combined in nearly any number of ways. However, if a quality system is in place it should be independent from the other functions.

2.The actual number of persons to be employed and their necessary qualifications is dependent upon the tasks to be performed and thus dependent on the size and complexity of the organisation (general aviation aircraft, corporate aircraft, number of aircraft and the aircraft types, complexity of the aircraft and their age and for commercial air transport, route network, line or charter, ETOPS) and the amount and complexity of maintenance contracting. Consequently, the number of persons needed, and their qualifications may differ greatly from one organisation to another and a simple formula covering the whole range of possibilities is not feasible.

3.To enable the competent authority to accept the number of persons and their qualifications, an organisation should make an analysis of the tasks to be performed, the way in which it intends to divide and/or combine these tasks, indicate how it intends to assign responsibilities and establish the number of man/hours and the qualifications needed to perform the tasks. With significant changes in the aspects relevant to the number and qualifications of persons needed, this analysis should be updated.

4.Nominated person or group of persons should have:

4.1. practical experience and expertise in the application of aviation safety standards and safe operating practices;

4.2. a comprehensive knowledge of:

(a)relevant parts of operational requirements and procedures;

(b)the AOC holder's operations specifications when applicable;

(c)the need for, and content of, the relevant parts of the AOC holder's operations manual when applicable;

4.3. knowledge of quality systems;

4.4. five years relevant work experience of which at least two years should be from the aeronautical industry in an appropriate position;

4.5. a relevant engineering degree or an aircraft maintenance technician qualification with additional education acceptable to the competent authority. ‘relevant engineering degree’ means an engineering degree from aeronautical, mechanical, electrical, electronic, avionic or other studies relevant to the maintenance and continuing airworthiness of aircraft/aircraft components; The above recommendation may be replaced by 5 years of experience additional to those already recommended by paragraph 4.4 above. These 5 years should cover an appropriate combination of experience in tasks related to aircraft maintenance and/or continuing airworthiness management and/or surveillance of such tasks;

4.6. thorough knowledge with the organisation's continuing airworthiness management exposition;

4.7. knowledge of a relevant sample of the type(s) of aircraft gained through a formalised training course. These courses should be at least at a level equivalent to Part-66 Appendix III Level 1 General Familiarisation and could be imparted by a Part-147 organisation, by the manufacturer, or by any other organisation accepted by the competent authority. ‘Relevant sample’ means that these courses should cover typical systems embodied in those aircraft being within the scope of approval. For all balloons and any other aircraft of 2 730 kg MTOM and below the formalised training courses may be replaced by demonstration of knowledge. This knowledge may be demonstrated by documented evidence or by an assessment performed by the competent authority. This assessment should be recorded.

4.8. knowledge of maintenance methods.

4.9. knowledge of applicable regulations.