MSG3 Maintenance Planning Document Considerations

Presented by Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com

Introduction

The Maintenance Planning Document MPD is created using the MRBR (Maintenance Review Board Report), as the source document and includes tasks which are derived from the Type Certificate Holders (TCH) System Safety Assessment (SSA). Typically the MPD includes an ALS (Airworthiness Limitation Section), also may reference Inspection Service Bulletins (ISB) as well as  applicable Airworthiness Directives (ADs).

The Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the MPD is part of the certificated product (aircraft, engine, propeller) type design (Part 21.A.31.a), that contains the mandatory scheduled maintenance items and the limitations for part replacement, necessary to maintain compliance with that type design.

The MPD is not approved by any Regulatory Authority, although it includes multiple documents which come directly from the Authority (e.g. the MRBR and the ADs).

The Maintenance Review Board (MRB) Working Groups form together as a joint effort chaired by a member of the Regulatory Authority as well as Manufacturers and Operators and Industry Specialists. They are gathered together overseen by the “Industry Steering Committee” or “ISC” and typically follows the guidance outlined in the Advisory Circular AC 121-22A (MSG 3 methodology).

Maintenance Review Board - Output

The output is a detailed recommendation following analysis and recommendations for scheduled maintenance periodicity for a given aircraft systems structure and engines.

The MSG-3 (Maintenance Steering Group 3) MPD (Maintenance Planning Document) is a task-driven document providing the basic information needed to define the aircraft maintenance program.

It is identified as “task-driven” because it refers to each referenced maintenance task, identified by its Aircraft Maintenance Manual specific ATA reference. (Tasks are called up in respect of flight cycles, flight hours or calendar days.)

The MPD typically identifies some “planning information”, like man hours and the required skills so you have basic guidance (rudimentary only).

It is necessary for each operator to analyse the MPD to create a specific “Customised Aircraft Maintenance Program” - Applicable to the Aircraft Line No / Serial No.

Typical MPD Construction

Within the MPD maintenance tasks and their frequencies are presented in the Systems/APU/Power Plant, Structure and Zonal sections.

Each section defines specific tasks at the level of each Maintenance Significant Item (MSI) considering the failure effects and failure causes.

The Structures section defines the necessary inspections for each Structural Significant Item (SSI) developed through evaluation with respect to environmental and ageing deterioration, accidental and fatigue damage. (A Corrosion Prevention and Control Program (CPCP) is also integrated into the Structures section)

The Zonal Inspection section defines General Visual Inspections of system installations, EWIS and structure by aircraft zone.

Any specific HIRF / Lightning maybe found either as a standalone section or incorporated into the Systems section of the MPD under ATA 20.

Next Steps

Please see www.sassofia.com and www.sofemaonline.com for multiple courses related to EASA Part M and Part CAMO regulatory requirements and best practices. Please email [email protected] for questions or guidance.