RA-Aus aircraft maintenance
Rev. 0 — first published May 10, 2009
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RA-Aus aircraft maintenanceRev. 0 — first published May 10, 2009 |
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Contents |
In the RA-Aus context 'maintenance' means any task required to ensure — or that could affect — the continuing airworthiness of an aircraft including any one or combination of inspection, adjustment, preservation, overhaul, repair and defect rectification. It includes replacement of materials, parts or the components of an 'aeronautical product'.
Incorporation of manufacturer-specified modifications is included as a maintenance task but own design — or redesign — of modifications/alterations is not.
1. Accreditation of RA-Aus maintenance personnelAircraft conforming to and operated in accordance with CAO 95.10, CAO 95.55 and CAO 95.32 are exempt from those Civil Aviation Regulations listed in the CAOs. The exemptions include CAR 4A Maintenance so RA-Aus assumes responsibility for specifying the maintenance requirements for aircraft registered with the organisation and thus, has responsibility for accrediting suitably qualified and experienced individuals to conduct maintenance on our aircraft.To facilitate maintenance, four levels of RA-Aus Maintenance Authority certification are available to members:
Level 1 Maintenance AuthorityMembers holding a valid RA-Aus Pilot Certificate are consequently accredited with the minimum qualifications necessary to maintain their own aircraft and are automatically granted Level 1 maintenance accreditation.Level 2 Maintenance AuthorityLevel 2 accreditation is awarded on the basis of qualifications and experience of each applicant. Level 2 accreditation is valid for two years and while the holder remains a financial RA-Aus Member.Restricted Level 2 accreditations are deemed to be able to perform line maintenance on training aircraft or aircraft used for hire-and-reward, unless as otherwise defined by the RA-Aus Technical Manager. For more details regarding Level 2 see 'Criteria for assessment' for Level 2 Maintenance Authorities. Level 3 accreditationThe RA-Aus Technical Manager appoints Regional Technical Officers [RTOs] when suitable persons are available. The duties of the RTO include assistance to the Technical Manager in conducting Level 2 maintenance checks on aircraft used in flight school operations, as requested by the Technical Manager.Level 4 accreditationRA-Aus certificates for the purposes of an Amateur Built Inspector rating are issued on receipt of the appropriate requirements. To be eligible for an Amateur Built Inspector approval, the applicant will generally be a CASA Licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineer [LAME] in engines or airframes and be a financial member of RA-Aus.For more details regarding accreditation see 'Accreditation of persons to conduct maintenance'. 2. Maintenance authenticationThe elements of maintenance are what to do, when to do it and how to do it.Maintenance authentication is the action of a suitably qualified person annotating the aircraft maintenance log book underneath the listing of all maintenance carried out at that time and formally indicating that the work conducted is to the standard specified in the RA-Aus Technical Manual. The authentication is made by signing the aircraft maintenance log book, printing name and initials, RA-Aus membership number, aircraft/engine hours and the date. The authentication act is equivalent to signing a maintenance release (i.e. releasing the aircraft for normal flying operations or certifying that the aircraft is fit to fly) even though in most cases the aircraft owner is both the accedited maintainer and the pilot. This can constitute quite a character challenge — and test of responsibility and discipline — when the pilot personality is itching to go and the maintenance technician personality knows there are a few minor things that need attention. The daily inspection [DI], before the first flight of the day, may be completed by the pilot-in-command. A log book authentication is required. Where there is a group-owned aircraft one owner must be appointed to be responsible for — and control of — all maintenance on that aircraft. That one person is to list in the log book all maintenance carried out and sign-off the authentication. 3. RA-Aus maintenance policyOwner-operated aircraftMaintenance to owner-operated RA-Aus aircraft is the sole responsibility of the owner(s).The selection of appropriate maintenance schedules and the qualifications and experience of persons to complete the maintenance on CAO 95.10 and CAO 95.55 paragraph 1.2 and 1.5 (i.e. the non-LSA privately-built and amateur-built categories) is the responsibility of the owner. Maintenance conducted on CAO 95.32 and CAO 95.55 paragraph 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9 aircraft (i.e. the factory-built plus the LSA kit-built categories) shall be in accordance with the manufacturers' maintenance/service manuals and schedules including all supplementary service instructions, service letters and service bulletins issued from time-to-time. Where such a schedule does not exist or a copy cannot be obtained, the Technical Manual's 'Maintenance schedules and periodic inspections' document must be followed. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration produced a substantial 613 page A4 size advisory circular AC 43.13-1B titled 'Acceptable methods, techniques and practices — aircraft inspection and repair'. Such methods are acceptable when there are no manufacturer repair or maintenance instructions. The AC generally applies to relatively minor repairs. A PDF version of the book is included in the RA-Aus Members' CD or a hard copy may be purchased from the RA-Aus shop. For an example of the contents the safetying section of AC 43.13-1B is available in html format in the 'Builders guide to safe aircraft materials'. Note: an example of a manufacturer's service manual can be downloaded from the Jabiru website. Scroll down the left-hand frame of their home page, click 'Manuals' then scroll down to 'Aircraft technical manuals' and click 'J160 J170' — it is a 15 MB pdf file. Aircraft used for hire-and-rewardOnly factory-produced aircraft may be offered for hire-and-reward; i.e. flight training — other than the CAO 95.55 para 1.5 aircraft used for flight training of the aircraft builder or builders. Aircraft used for hire-and-reward are to be wholly maintained, and/or the maintenance authenticated by, a Level 2 Maintenance Authority holder. Daily inspections may be completed by the pilot-in-command.A solo check flight after scheduled maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer's schedule is mandatory before the aircraft is used for hire-and-reward. Successful completion of this check flight is to be recorded in the aircraft log book and signed for by the Level 2 accredited person who conducted the technical work and the pilot who conducted the flight. Engine controls, engine accessories, propellers and flight controls are regarded as critical maintenance items and should be checked by an independent person after any maintenance. This applies to both owner-operated aircraft and hire-and-reward aircraft. For more details regarding maintenance policy see 'Policy' and 'Maintenance tasks and authorities required'. Aircraft used for glider towingAn RA-Aus aircraft used for glider towing has to be both certified for glider towing by the manufacturer and accepted by the Gliding Federation of Australia [GFA]. The GFA also approves the pilot, even if they have an RA-Aus glider towing endorsement. Maintenance must be carried out by a Level 2 accredited person, in accordance with the manufacturer's glider towing supplement, or a GFA approved maintenance scheme or one approved by the RA-Aus Technical Manager.4. Technical Manual maintenance sectionMaintenance section contents:
5. Listings of L2, L3 and L4 accredited personnelThe following documents are extracted from the RA-Aus data base generally about once per month. They are in PDF format.
6. Civil Aviation ordersThe following CAOs are downloadable from this website in pdf format:
7. The 2008 FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook"The Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – General was developed as one of a series of three handbooks for persons preparing for mechanic certification with airframe or powerplant ratings, or both. It is intended that this handbook will provide basic information on principles, fundamentals, and technical procedures in the subject matter areas common to both the airframe and powerplant ratings. Emphasis in this volume is on theory and methods of application. The handbook is designed to aid students enrolled in a formal course of instruction preparing for FAA certification as a maintenance technician, as well as for current technicians who wish to improve their knowledge. This volume contains information on mathematics, aircraft drawings, weight and balance, aircraft materials, processes and tools, physics, electricity, inspection, ground operations, and FAA regulations governing the certification and work of maintenance technicians. New to this volume is a section addressing how successful aviation maintenance technicians incorporate knowledge and awareness of ethics, professionalism, and human factors in the field." Note: the chapters are contained in large PDF files. |
Web author: John Brandon [contact information]