The Role of Continuous Airworthiness Management

Sofema Online (SOL) Considers the roles & responsibilities of an EASA Compliant Continuous Airworthiness Manager (CAM)

The Continuing Airworthiness Manager is either an employee of the operator (nothing to do with an EASA 145 approved organization) or heads up a standalone Continuous Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO), the CAMO has a specific responsibility to ensure the Continuing Airworthiness of the applicable aircraft are maintained.

Note - It is a fundamental responsibility of the operator to perform oversight of the aircraft's maintenance compliance.

For operators based in EU nations and others who choose to follow EASA regulations, a Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) must be in place. This is an (approved) organization responsible for the implementation of continuing airworthiness management tasks.

In accordance with EU 2018/1139 Annex V Section 6, the owner or - if designated by contract - the lessee is responsible for the continuing airworthiness of an aircraft 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 program as specified in Part M.A.302.

The duties of the CAM involve the management of 4 key areas:

      a) The Maintenance Planning Department, which manages the Maintenance Program and generates Work Packages

      b) The Technical Records Department, which looks after all the Aircraft Records

      c) The Engineering Department, which performs analysis of  in Service information and

      d) The Reliability Department, which maintains oversight of the effectiveness of the maintenance product.

In addition, other activities may encompass any of the following:

     - Detailed Work Planning and Scheduling

     - Budgetary Control and other considerations

     - Inventory control

     - Subcontract Co-ordination

     - Planning of safety-critical tasks

     - Co-ordination with Production Planning

     - Availability and the control of approved data

     - Considering Airworthiness Reviews

Note Concerning Airworthiness Review Staff

Airworthiness Review Staff are Form 4 approved persons, authorized by the Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) and accepted by the Regulatory Authority or Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Airworthiness Review Staff Typically perform Airworthiness Reviews on aircraft which are listed on the CAMO approval certificate or the Air Operators Certificate (AOC).

Airworthiness Review Staff must be able to demonstrate “appropriate” recent “Continuing Airworthiness” management experience (records shall be maintained) experience in continuing airworthiness’ means any appropriate combination of experience in tasks related to aircraft maintenance and/or continuing airworthiness management and/or surveillance of such tasks.

(Note the use of the word appropriate provides a degree of flexibility however the CAA will ultimately accept or not as they decide.)

Summary

Continuing Airworthiness encompasses activities which

     - Ensure the maintenance of aircraft and equipment.

     - Monitor the performance of products in service.

     - Recording service difficulties (Mandatory Reporting Obligations) to assess significance with respect to safety and airworthiness for the specific aircraft/product involved and for similar aircraft/products.

Note - Timely response is required where airworthiness is affected, which means devising and provisioning rectification action and promulgating the necessary information to restore safety levels.

Inspection methods and intervals, repair actions, modifications and timescales are all part of Continuing Airworthiness, as are feedback to design/production and formal airworthiness review (or Airworthiness Review Certificate, ARC).

Next Steps

Sofema Aviation Services SAS (www.sassofia.com) and Sofema Online (SOL) (www.sofemaonline.com) provide Classroom, Webinar & Online Training Courses specifically focused on the needs of the Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO)  and Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO).

For details please see the websites or email team@sassofia.com