Aircraft maintenance is a highly-regulated field requiring a robust regimen of
scheduled or preventive servicing, inspection, testing, repair, and overhaul or
modification activities by certified Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)
technicians on every aircraft in service.
We will encounter airworthiness on many parts of this course so let us discuss first
what is airworthiness.
For an aircraft, or aircraft part (airworthiness), is the possession of the necessary
requirements for flying in safe conditions, within allowable limits. In this definition,
three key elements deserve special consideration: safe conditions, possession of the
necessary requirements, and allowable limits.
The maintenance department is a team responsible in performing the required task in
accordance with the approved data (AMM/AD/SB/MEL etc). Their goal is to provide
airworthy aircraft to flight operations.
The preventive maintenance definition covers preservation or replacement tasks that
do not involve complex assembly operations. Essentially, this is any work performed
from a list of permitted tasks where you're replacing small standard parts or servicing
parts of the aircraft without taking much apart.
The first and most obvious reason that regular aircraft maintenance is important is
that it makes your plane more likely to pass its checks and continue to be airworthy.
You can save a lot of time, energy and money in the future by taking good care of
your plane throughout the year. It even helps to extend the lifespan of the aircraft,
keeping it healthy for years to come.
Second, regular maintenance is key to ensuring the aircraft will fly perfectly every time
you take-off. The last thing you want when you’re up in the air is a malfunction in
mechanical, electrical or gas components. This ties into the next reason aircraft
maintenance is important: ensuring passenger safety.
Here are the reasons why we do aircraft maintenance.
You should note that a slight delay in operation would cost the operator money. How
much more if they will cancel the flight for that particular aircraft? It would cost several
thousand dollars.
Maintenance is important to provide a reliable aircraft. Performance of operational
and functional checks will ensure the serviceability of the aircraft.
This is the priority of each airline, to ensure the safety of their passengers.
Regular maintenance can prolong the life of the aircraft.
The role of an aircraft engineer involves the application of scientific and technological
principles to the research, development and design of aircraft and their components.
Aircraft engineers research design specifications for aircraft and the relevant support
equipment.
Aircraft maintenance technicians use diagnostic equipment and gauges to test aircraft
parts while keeping careful records of any work done. He or she inspects machinery
to ensure it functions correctly. Aircraft maintenance technicians generally work on
general aircrafts, piston-driven airplanes, helicopters or jets.
An airframe mechanic thorough inspections of aircraft frames, mechanical
components and electrical systems to locate wear, defects and other problems.
Performs repair, replace, or upgrade aircraft engines, otherwise known as
powerplants. They also perform inspections on a needed basis as well as regular
intervals within the lifespan of an engine.
Avionics technicians are specialists who repair and maintain a plane's electronic
instruments, such as radio communication devices and equipment, radar systems,
and navigation aids. As the use of digital technology increases, more time is spent
maintaining computer systems.
The FAA defines a maintenance program as "the performance of tasks required to
ensure the continuing airworthiness of an aircraft, including any one or combination of
overhaul, inspection, replacement, defect rectification, and the embodiment of an
alteration or repair."
