M.B.301 Aircraft maintenance programme

For the competent authority of registry to verify compliance with M.A.302, the auditing surveyor/inspector should have received training on maintenance programme development and control.

1.When assessing aircraft maintenance programmes for approval, the competent authority should verify that the maintenance programme is acceptable for the continuing airworthiness of the specific aircraft listed and it is appropriate for the proposed operating environment and scheduled utilisation.

2.The competent authority should assess the contents taking into account the origins of the document, i.e. the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance programme, an MRB report, the CAMO or operator’s own experience or another approved programme.

3.A competent authority may elect to publish a proposed maintenance schedule for a piston engine aircraft type or a group of piston engine aircraft types below 2 730 kg maximum take-off mass (MTOM) or for a sailplane, powered sailplane or balloon type or for a group of sailplanes, powered sailplanes or balloon types. When owners/operators of the aircraft mentioned above elect to use a competent authority proposed maintenance schedule, all the out of phase manufacturer recommendations should be incorporated into the final maintenance programme in order for it to be approved.

4.A copy of the approved programme should be retained by the competent authority, unless the programme is approved by a CAMO.

5.The documentation issued by the competent authority to approve the aicraft maintenance programme may include details of who may issue certificates of release to service in a particular situation and may define which tasks are considered as complex maintenance tasks or limited pilot owner maintenance according to Appendix VIII to Part-M.

6.In the case of aircraft used by air carriers licensed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 or complex motor-powered aircraft, the development of the aircraft maintenance programme is dependent upon sufficient satisfactory in-service experience which has been properly processed. In general, the task being considered for escalation beyond the MRB limits should have been satisfactorily repeated at the existing frequency several times before being proposed for escalation. Appendix I to AMC M.A.302 and M.B.301(b) gives further information.

7.The competent authority may approve an incomplete maintenance programme at the start of operation of an aircraft or an operator, subject to limiting the approval of the maintenance programme to a period that does not exceed any required maintenance not yet approved.

8.If the competent authority is no longer satisfied that a safe operation can be maintained, the approval of a maintenance programme or part of it may be suspended or revoked. Events giving rise to such action include:

8.1. An operator changing the utilisation of an aircraft;

8.2. The owner or CAMO has failed to ensure that the programme reflects the maintenance needs of the aircraft such that safe operation can be assured.

1.Approval of an aircraft maintenance programme through a procedure established by a CAO/ CAMO should require the organisation to demonstrate to the competent authority that it has competence, procedures and record-keeping provisions, which will enable the organisation to analyse aircraft reliability, the instructions issued by the TC holder or the declarant of a declaration of design compliance, and other related operating and maintenance criteria.

2.According to the complexity of the aircraft and the nature of the operation, the maintenance programme procedures should contain reliability centred maintenance and condition monitored maintenance programme procedures and have procedures relating to the programme control which contain the following provisions:

(a)task escalation or adjustment,

(b)maintenance programme review,

(c)SB or Service Information assessment,

(d)component and structures in service performance review,

(e)maintenance programme revision,

(f)maintenance procedure effectiveness review and amendment,

(g)maintenance review board report (MRBR) or manufacturer maintenance planning document (MPD) review and assessment, as appropriate,

(h)AD review and assessment,

(i)owner/maintenance/CAO or CAMO liaison,

(j)training.

3.When the competent authority requests it, the organisation should make provision for the attendance of a representative of the competent authority at meetings held to consider maintenance implications arising from reviews of the above provisions.