AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE & AIRWORTHINESS SERVICES

Airworthiness is the ability of an aircraft or other airborne equipment or system to be operated in flight and on the ground without significant hazard to aircrew, ground crew, passengers or to third parties. It is a technical attribute of materiel throughout its lifecycle.

Or in short words: “The Fitness to fly”

Additionally, an aircraft must be operated within the limits laid down in the Flight Manual, an aircraft which exceeds any limit may compromise its airworthiness. In service, an aircraft must also be maintained according to its Approved Maintenance Schedule for it to remain airworthy; through-life maintenance would be included in the term Continuing Airworthiness.

A defect may have a significant effect on safety and, if not rectified, or only partly rectified, may also be a cause for an accident at a later time. However, in many cases, the flight-crew successfully recovers an aircraft after anomalies occur. The following list of possible failures or threats which may affect the airworthiness of an aircraft.

Overload
Operation outside the certificated limits
Component degradation
Accidental Damage and Environmental Damage
Procedural error
Human Factors
Inadequate or incomplete maintenance
Ageing components
Change of usage or unmonitored operation
Lack of configuration control
Obsolescence and/or legislation change
Fuel system hazard
Lack of adequate oversight of the operator
...

The effective management of continuing airworthiness is an excellent defence. Defined as “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 regulator will require that the operator has in place a system to ensure compliance with the activities below.

Compliance with the maintenance programme
Embodiment of Mandatory Modifications and Inspections
Rectification of reported defects and investigation of adverse reliability matters