The primary European law governing our daily work in the maintenance organization is Regulation EU No 1321/2014. Within this comprehensive regulation, our focus is squarely on Annex II, which the entire industry universally refers to as Part-145. This specific section establishes the strict technical and organizational requirements a facility must meet to qualify for the issue or continuation of an approval certificate for the maintenance of aircraft and components. It covers everything from personnel and facilities to equipment and documentation.

A critical concept established right at the beginning of this regulation is found in paragraph 145.A.10: the Scope of Approval. An approved organization cannot simply decide to maintain any aircraft or repair any part that comes through its doors. The specific scope of work is intricately detailed in the organization’s Maintenance Organisation Exposition, or MOE. Within the approval classes and ratings granted by the competent authority, this scope defines the absolute legal limits of what the organization is permitted to do.

Approvals are broken down into specific classes to clearly define what maintenance can be performed. For example, A Ratings cover Aircraft line and base maintenance. B Ratings cover Engines and Auxiliary Power Units. And C Ratings cover individual Components. These are further divided into specialized systems. For instance, C14 designates Landing Gear, C15 designates Oxygen systems, and C20 designates Structural components. As an inspector, you must know your organization’s specific ratings by heart before accepting any component.

Why does this matter to you, standing in the receiving store? Because you are the organization’s gatekeeper. If your facility is only approved with a specific C-Rating for electrical components, and a shipment of hydraulic pumps arrives for maintenance, you must instantly recognize that this falls completely outside your approved scope. Accepting, inspecting, and routing parts into the facility that are outside of your authorized capabilities is a direct violation of Part-145 rules. Before you verify an EASA Form 1, your very first check must always be a reality check against your own organization’s boundaries. If the part does not fit your scope, it stops at the dock.