Continuing Airworthiness management

European Union Regulation n° 2042/2003

The European Union regulation n° 2042/2003, dealing with continuing airworthiness of aircrafts, was published on November 20^th, 2003.

It establishes technical requirements and administrative procedures for aircrafts registered in the EU, or used by an operator for which a EU state oversees operations. Owners or operators must apply the regulation on September 28^th, 2009 at the latest.

Continuing airworthiness tasks can be done in house or subcontracted to an approved Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO). CAMO approval is defined in a subpart of the regulation: CAMO are also known as “Part M subpart G” organisations.

Continuing airworthiness

Subpart C of the regulation establishes the requirements for continuing airworthiness. It describes the mandatory tasks, the usage of an approved maintenance programme, the application of Airworthiness Directives (AD), and the management of modification and repairs.

The continuing airworthiness record system is described in great detail. The records must include:

1. The status of Airworthiness Directives;
2. The status of modifications and repairs;
3. The status of compliance with the Maintenance Programme;
4. The status of service life limited components;
5. The mass and balance report;
6. The list of deferred maintenance.

Responsibilities and time constraints are specified. For example, total time and flight cycles of the aircraft and life limited components must be kept at least 12 months after the aircraft or component has been withdrawn from service.

Contracting continuing airworthiness

Owners or operators can contract with an approved CAMO in writing. The arrangement identifies the parties and the aircraft.

Obligations of the CAMO (copied from the regulation, Appendix I)

1. Have the aircraft's type in the scope of its approval;
2. Respect the conditions to maintain the continuing airworthiness of the aircraft listed below:
   • develop a maintenance programme for the aircraft, including any reliability programme developed,
   • organise the approval of the aircraft's maintenance programme,
   • once it has been approved, give a copy of the aircraft's maintenance programme to the owner,
   • organise a bridging inspection with the aircraft's prior maintenance programme,
   • organise for all maintenance to be carried out by an approved maintenance organisation,
   • organise for all applicable airworthiness directives to be applied,
   • organise for all defects discovered during scheduled maintenance or reported by the owner to be corrected by an approved maintenance organisation,
   • coordinate scheduled maintenance, the application of airworthiness directives, the replacement of life limited parts, and component inspection requirements,
   • inform the owner each time the aircraft shall be brought to an approved maintenance organisation,
   • manage all technical records,
   • archive all technical records;
3. Organise the approval of all and any modification to the aircraft according to Part-21 before it is embodied;
4. Organise the approval of all and any repair to the aircraft according to Part-21 before it is carried out;
5. Inform the airworthiness Member State of registry whenever the aircraft is not presented to the approved maintenance organisation by the owner as requested by the approved organisation;
6. Inform the airworthiness authorities of the Member State of registry whenever the present arrangement has not been respected;
7. Carry out the airworthiness review of the aircraft when necessary and fill the airworthiness review certificate or the recommendation to the Member State of registry;
8. Carry out all occurrence reporting mandated by applicable regulations;
9. Inform the authorities of the Member State of registry whenever the present arrangement is denounced by either party.

Obligations of the owner or operator (copied from the regulation, Appendix I)

1. Have a general understanding of the approved maintenance programme;
2. Have a general understanding of Part-M;
3. Present the aircraft to the approved maintenance organisation agreed with the approved organisation at the due time designated by the approved organisation's request;
4. Not modify the aircraft without first consulting the approved organisation;
5. Inform the approved organisation of all maintenance exceptionally carried out without the knowledge and control of the approved organisation;
6. Report to the approved organisation through the logbook all defects found during operations;
7. Inform the authorities of the Member State of registry whenever the present arrangement is denounced by either party;
8. Inform the authorities of the Member State of registry and the approved organisation whenever the aircraft is sold;
9. Carry out all occurrence reporting mandated by applicable regulations.