The Aircraft Maintenance Program as a Core Element of Continuing Airworthiness Management Program (CAMP)

Introduction – Sofema Online (SOL) takes a deep dive into the role & purpose of the Aircraft Maintenance Program (AMP)

Continuing Airworthiness (CAW)

Definition - Continuing Airworthiness management is the process by which an aircraft is kept in a condition where it remains airworthy throughout its life - or in other words i.e. technically fit for flight. In the words of ICAO:

“All of the processes ensuring that, at any time in its life, an aeroplane complies with the technical conditions fixed to the issue of the Certificate of Airworthiness and is in a condition for safe operation" - source: ICAO Airworthiness Manual [ICAO, 2014]

Primary Areas of Activity of Continuing Airworthiness Management

• Maintenance Planning (AMP accomplishment);
• Components Control;
• Deferred Defects Control;
• Technical Documents Control;
• Modifications and repairs Control.
• Additionally, besides these five control activities the CAM shall define and develop the following activities:
• Reliability Program
• Engine Condition Monitoring (ECM);
• Technical Engineering;
• Management of Technical documents and manuals;
• Management of Aircraft and Components Records;

Description of CAW Responsibility

The ultimate responsibility for continued airworthiness is assigned in ICAO Annex 8 to the State of Design but the programme to achieve continuing airworthiness is a matter for the State of Registry. It is useful to compare Continued and Continuing as they are sometimes used interchangeably. Continued Airworthiness is also known as Type Airworthiness [MAA, 2016] or Initial Airworthiness [EC, 2014]

• Continued Airworthiness = “All the actions associated with the upkeep of a type design and the associated approved data through life.”
• Continuing Airworthiness = “All of the processes ensuring that, at any time in its operating life, the aircraft complies with the airworthiness requirements in force and is in a condition for safe operation”
• The rule-making of Continuing Airworthiness is complex because it depends of requirements that change over time, technology developments and the diversity of aircraft and manufacturers. The process of Continuing Airworthiness derives from the initial aircraft Type-Certificate (certification given to a manufacturer to confirm that a certain aircraft type abides the design safety or airworthiness requirements).
• The rules, standards and laws that regulate Continuing Airworthiness are established in two different organizational levels:

>> Three types of organizations are regulated and controlled by EASA:

Air Operators;

• Aircraft and Systems Design and Production Organizations;
• Maintenance Organization.
• The ultimate responsibility for Continued Airworthiness is assigned in ICAO Annex 8 to the State of Design but the programme to achieve it is a matter for the State of Registry.

EASA – European Aviation Safety Agency

With the adoption of the BASIC Regulation (EC) No. 1592/2002 by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (EU) and the subsequent setup of the EASA, a new regulatory framework was created in European aviation. According to this Regulation for EU Member States, national regulations of airworthiness have been replaced by EU Regulation, and certification tasks have been transferred from National Authorities to EASA.

Note – Current Basic Regulation is EU 2018/1139

EASA Responsibilities

The main tasks of the Agency include

• harmonizing regulations and certification
• developing the single EU aviation market
• drawing up technical aviation rules
• type certification of aircraft & components
• approving companies that design, manufacture & maintain aeronautical products
• providing safety oversight and support to EU countries (e.g. on air operations, air traffic management)
• promoting European and global safety standards
• working with international stakeholders to improve safety in Europe (e.g. the 'EU air safety list' – a list of banned operators).
• EASA Part-M establishes the requirements and procedures necessary to Continuing Airworthiness
• Management. In accordance with AMC M.A. 201 of Part-M for commercial air transport, the operator is
• responsible for the continuing airworthiness of the aircraft it operates and shall ensure that no flight takes place unless:

>> The aircraft is maintained in an airworthy condition, and;

>> Any operational and emergency equipment fitted is correctly installed and serviceable or clearly identified as unserviceable, and;

>> The airworthiness certificate remains valid, and;

>> The maintenance of the aircraft is performed in accordance with the approved maintenance programme.

EASA Part – 145 Organisational Obligations

Part-145 establishes the requirements and procedures necessary for the approval of maintenance

organizations of aircraft. In accordance with Part-M, all maintenance actions shall be undertaken by and

approved maintenance organization.

The Role of the Aircraft Maintenance Program

• The aircraft maintenance program (AMP) establishes the maintenance tasks to be performed on applicable aircraft, to ensure airworthiness.
• The maintenance tasks and their interval shall be such that they must enable the maintenance of the aircraft in the same operating and safety condition established by their design, throughout its life, either by the prevention of wear of materials and systems (preventive maintenance) or by the restoration of adequate operation and performance of aircraft and its systems (corrective maintenance).

Next Steps

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