Aircraft Certification Considerations - MRB and ISC

Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com takes a look at the Aircraft Certification Considerations: ISC – MRB Relationship

Introduction

The Maintenance Review Board (MRB) process and Industry Steering Committee (ISC) meetings play primary roles in aircraft certification related to the development and approval of scheduled maintenance programs as outlined in the MSG-3 framework.

The Industry Steering Committee (ISC) is central to the creation of the Policy & Procedures Handbook (PPH), which serves as the foundation for guiding the Maintenance Review Board (MRB) process.

• The handbook provides structured methodologies, ensuring consistent development of initial scheduled maintenance programs for new aircraft types.

• By documenting standardized policies and detailed procedures, the PPH facilitates collaboration among stakeholders, including operators, manufacturers, and regulators, while adhering to MSG-3 principles.

• The primary purpose of the handbook is to provide a framework for deriving maintenance tasks and intervals through MSG-3 logic. It ensures tasks address safety, operational reliability, and economic considerations while avoiding unnecessary maintenance efforts.

• The ISC oversees the development of policies for evaluating Maintenance Significant Items (MSIs) and Structural Significant Items (SSIs), defining task selection criteria, and documenting assumptions.

Consider the following elements:

MRB and ISC Overview

• The MRB Report is the primary output of the MSG-3 process. It establishes the initial scheduled maintenance program for new aircraft types, including tasks and intervals that ensure safety, reliability, and operational efficiency.

• It includes tasks derived through MSG-3 logic, considering safety, operational, and economic consequences.

• The Industry Steering Committee (ISC) supervises and manages the maintenance development process, providing a platform for collaboration among operators, manufacturers, and regulatory bodies.

• The ISC is responsible for ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements, establishing policies, and overseeing working groups.

MRB and ISC Meetings - Preliminary Discussions:

• Define objectives, roles, and timelines for maintenance development.

• Assign responsibilities to working groups for system analysis, structural analysis, and zonal inspections.

• Operators and manufacturers provide technical data for analysis.

• Identify Maintenance Significant Items (MSIs) and Structural Significant Items (SSIs).

MSG-3 Analysis:

• Conduct systematic evaluations using MSG-3 logic diagrams to develop tasks based on failure modes, failure effects, and criticality.

Working Group Reviews:

• Specialists from operators and manufacturers validate tasks and intervals.

• Avoid duplication through inter-group coordination (e.g., between systems and structures).

Draft MRB Report Preparation:

• Consolidate MSG-3 analysis results into a draft report.

• Include justification for all recommended tasks and intervals.

ISC Review and Approval:

• ISC evaluates the draft report for consistency with MSG-3 criteria and completeness.

• Address comments or feedback from ISC members.

Regulatory Approval:

• Submit the finalized MRB Report to the regulatory authority for approval.

• The approved report forms the basis of operators’ maintenance programs.

Best Practices

• Ensure detailed evaluation of MSIs, SSIs, and zonal tasks to account for all potential safety and reliability concerns.

• Foster open communication among ISC members, working groups, and stakeholders.

• Follow structured decision-making to eliminate subjective judgments.

• Maintain comprehensive records of assumptions, task derivations, and justifications.

• Incorporate feedback from operational data and adjust tasks and intervals accordingly.

Challenges

• Managing inputs from multiple stakeholders (e.g., manufacturers, operators, regulators) can be time-consuming and complex.

• Adapting the MRB Report to meet new or updated regulatory requirements may introduce delays.

• Ensuring accurate and complete data for MSG-3 analysis is critical but challenging.

• Aligning economic considerations with safety requirements often requires careful negotiation.

• Harmonizing outputs from systems, structures, and zonal analysis demands robust inter-group collaboration.

Approval Process for the MRB Report

• Consolidate analysis results into a structured document.

• Review by ISC:

• Evaluate for adherence to MSG-3 methodology.

• Address operator-specific and environmental conditions.

• Regulatory Submission:

• Submit to authorities like EASA, FAA, or TCCA for validation.

• Approval and Publication:

• Receive regulatory endorsement and distribute to operators for implementation.

Next Steps

See the following link for MSG3 training available as classroom & webinar.

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