Transcript
Commercial aircraft are designed to operate safely for many years, but they remain airworthy only when maintenance is continuously performed in accordance with approved requirements.
This ongoing process is known as continuing airworthiness.
Throughout the operational life of the aircraft, maintenance organisations perform inspections, repairs, modifications, scheduled maintenance, defect rectification, troubleshooting, and component replacement activities intended to keep the aircraft in a safe operating condition.
Continuing airworthiness is therefore not a single maintenance event.
It is an ongoing system of planning, maintenance, inspection, certification, and operational control that continues throughout the entire life of the aircraft.
Without controlled maintenance systems, aircraft safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance would quickly be affected.
For this reason, aviation authorities require maintenance organisations to operate within approved systems designed to control how maintenance is:
- planned,
- performed,
- supervised,
- inspected,
- recorded,
- and certified.
These systems are intended to reduce the risk of maintenance errors, ensure standardisation between personnel, and maintain consistent maintenance quality.
The objective is not only regulatory compliance, but also protection of aircraft safety and continued airworthiness.
Part-145 is the European regulatory framework governing approved aircraft maintenance organisations.
Any organisation performing maintenance on commercial aircraft or aircraft components under EASA regulations must operate within an approved maintenance system.
Part-145 applies to a wide range of maintenance activities including:
- aircraft maintenance,
- engine maintenance,
- component maintenance,
- and specialised maintenance services.
The regulation establishes both technical and organisational requirements intended to ensure that maintenance activities are performed safely and within controlled conditions.
Personnel should become familiar with the structure of Part-145 itself, particularly the Implementing Rules, Acceptable Means of Compliance, commonly referred to as AMC material, and Guidance Material, commonly referred to as GM.
Understanding how these regulatory references are used within daily operations is an important part of working within a Part-145 environment.
The regulation defines how organisations must control:
- personnel,
- facilities,
- tooling,
- maintenance data,
- component handling,
- certification activities,
- and safety management functions.
AMC guidance further explains how organisations are expected to practically implement these controls within daily operations.
This means that Part-145 does not simply describe what organisations must have.
It also explains how organisations are expected to manage maintenance activities in practice.
A Part-145 organisation operates as part of the wider continuing airworthiness system.
Maintenance organisations work closely with:
- aircraft operators,
- Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisations, commonly referred to as CAMOs,
- competent authorities,
- manufacturers,
- and approved suppliers or contractors.
The maintenance organisation is responsible for physically performing maintenance required to keep the aircraft airworthy.
However, maintenance activities must always remain within the organisation’s approved scope, capability, and operational control system.
Part-145 approval is not simply an administrative approval or business licence.
The approval confirms that the organisation has demonstrated the ability to:
- perform maintenance safely,
- follow approved procedures,
- control maintenance activities,
- manage safety risks,
- and comply with applicable aviation regulations.
Maintaining compliance is therefore an ongoing operational responsibility and an important contributor to aviation safety.
The organisation must continuously monitor its activities to ensure that maintenance standards, procedures, and safety controls remain effective over time.
Regulatory References
- 145.A.10
- 145.A.15
- AMC1 145.A.15