Annex I Acceptable Means of Compliance to Part-M

Section B Procedure for competent authorities

(see AMC Appendix I to AMC M.A.302 and AMC M.B.301 (b))

1. When assessing aircraft maintenance programmes for approval, the competent authority should verify that the maintenance programme is acceptable for the continued airworthiness of the specific aircraft listed and it is appropriate for the proposed operating environment and scheduled utilisation.

2. The competent authority should assess the contents taking into account the origins of the document i.e. the manufacturers recommended maintenance programme, a MRB report, the operators own experience or another approved programme.

3. A competent authority may elect to publish a proposed maintenance schedule for a piston engined aircraft type or a group of piston engined aircraft types below 2730 kgs maximum take off mass (MTOM) or for a sailplane, powered sailplane or balloon type or for a group of sailplanes, powered sailplanes or balloons types. When owners/operators of the aircraft mentioned above elect to use a competent authority proposed maintenance schedule, all the out of phase manufacturer recommendations should be incorporated into the final maintenance programme in order for it to be approved.

Changed by Decision 2008/013/R

4. A copy of the approved programme should be retained by the competent authority, unless the programme is approved by a M.A. Subpart G approved organisation.

5. The documentation issued by the competent authority to approve the operator’s maintenance programme may include details of who may issue certificates of release to service in a particular situation and may define which tasks are considered as complex maintenance tasks or limited pilot owner maintenance according to Appendix VIII to Part- M.

6. In the case of commercial air transport or large aircraft, development of the approved operator’s maintenance programme is dependent upon sufficient satisfactory inservice experience which has been properly processed. In general, the task being considered for escalation beyond the MRB limits should have been satisfactorily repeated at the existing frequency several times before being proposed for escalation. Appendix I to AMC M.A.302 and M.B.301 (b) gives further information.

7. The competent authority may approve an incomplete maintenance programme at the start of operation of an aircraft or an operator, subject to limiting the approval of the maintenance programme to a period that does not exceed any required maintenance not yet approved.

8. If the competent authority is no longer satisfied that a safe operation can be maintained, the approval of a maintenance programme or part of it may be suspended or revoked. Events giving rise to such action include:

8.1 An operator changing the utilisation of an aircraft;

8.2 The owner or M.A. Subpart G approved organisation has failed to ensure that the programme reflects the maintenance needs of the aircraft such that safe operation can be assured.