Aircraft Maintenance Control - Term Paper Example

Maintenance Control Part I The Holder of the Certificate of Registration or the Registered Operator is responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft. The Registered Operator makes sure that all the maintenance activities carried out on the aircraft are in accordance with the requirements of the SoM. To carry out that responsibility effectively, the Registered Operator appoints a person as the maintenance controller for the aircraft or sometimes appoints a Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO). One of the key roles of maintenance controllers includes setting departmental goals and developing effective strategies to meet those goals. Aircraft maintenance and aeronautical repair are the two major functions of aviation maintenance controllers and these tasks are necessary to ensure the unit’s readiness to perform its mission. Another key function of maintenance controllers is to manage the maintenance of aircraft, aircraft components, and aviation support equipment (Maintenance Management Philosophy). They are also assigned to manage and schedule aviation support equipment inspections. The maintenance controllers have a crucial role to play in informing the Aircraft Maintenance Officer of work progress and advising them on matters regarding the maintenance of aircraft, aircraft components, and aviation support equipment. They direct and monitor requisition and allocations of materials, tools, and aircraft components. They have to use maintenance instruction manuals for the appropriate selection of aircraft models, associated systems, aeronautical components, and aviation support equipments. Maintenance controllers are strictly assigned to deal with collection and dissemination of data that are related to aircraft components and aviation support equipment maintenance. Finally, they also function to ensure that the required materials and tools are available for use by closely working with Aviation Supply Department. More functions of a maintenance controller are described in Schedule 9 of the 1988 CARs. The CAMO is a new proposed change to the regulation and presently it can be substituted for the words maintenance controller because the CAMO’ all goals and purposes are almost same as that of a maintenance controller. Development of a Maintenance Control Manual (MCM) and coordination of arrangements set up in the MCM are some of the common functions of a maintenance controller and CAMO (Topic No. 6, Maintenance Control). In order to be appointed as a maintenance controller, an individual must be approved by Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA); there are a number of processes to be approved as a maintenance controller. Scrutiny of application is the first process in the maintenance controller selection, which will be carried out by the CASA Service Centre (Civil Aviation Safety Authority). The assessment, interview, and recommendation of the appointment approval will be managed by appropriate CASA Field Office. The application will be scrutinized by CASA Service Centre staff in order to ensure that it includes all information necessary to meet CASA identification requirements. Documentation is the next process involved in the application approval of a maintenance controller. In this process, the AWI will check the written procedures of the operator and ensure that there is well documented process to alert “any changes to the particulars of the appointed maintenance controller” (Topic No.6, Maintenance Control). The next phase is ‘inspection and test’ that will be assessed by the Field Officer in accordance with the section 7.26.5 and formulate a suggestion to approve (or disapprove) the appointment. In the initial issue process, the person, whose appointment has been validated for the first time, is interviewed in the presence of a CASA approved invigilator. The CASA has framed an assessment matrix to examine whether the appointee possesses specific skills to meet its (CASA) expectations. Certification is the next process by which the Assessing Officer recommends the approval granting, if the appointee meets the requirement set by CAR 42ZW (2). Section 7.26.7 deals with difference procedures related to the process of granting the approval. The final process in the approval of a maintenance controller is ‘distribution and publication’. Here, the original instrument is issued to the approved maintenance controller whereas a copy is issued to the operator and another coy is retained with CASA for further reference. Part II Evidently, a maintenance controller is the authorized person who must manage all aircraft maintenance which is completed at the Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO) on the Operator’s aircraft. For this purpose, maintenance controller must possess sufficient knowledge of the Operator’s Maintenance Control Manual; Operator’s approved System of Maintenance; and other acts and regulations (Topic No.6, Maintenance Control). Maintenance controllers arrange adequate resources and licensed maintenance engineers for the maintenance of aircraft operated by the Registered Operator in accordance with the Aircraft System Maintenance. In order to effectively deal with aircraft maintenance, a maintenance controller has to deal with several duties such as technical services, maintenance planning and watch, and contracts and quality assurance which are specifically listed in the Maintenance Control Manual. So as to oversee airworthiness control maintenance as well as aircraft system development, a maintenance controller has to work with Technical Service Department more time since most of the work related with aircraft maintenance is conducted within this department. By preparing monthly reliability reports on the technical aspects of the aircraft, a maintenance controller can effectively manage system maintenance. For this purpose, the maintenance controller must have in-depth knowledge in technical elements of the aircraft as well as new technological developments in this field. Similarly, the maintenance controller has to form effective strategies to deal with maintenance planning which is necessary for scheduling the maintenance work required on each aircraft including A Checks and C Checks for preparing maintenance work policies for the concerned providers. By following such a practice, it is possible to complete maintenance works timely and efficiently and thereby to meet the interests of the providers. In addition, maintenance controllers can also make use of Maintenance Watch activity for closely monitoring technical potency and level of performance of the aircraft being prepared. It is also beneficial for aircraft that is already operating on network routes of the operator. The effective applicator of quality assurance program may be capable of maintaining a technical oversight over the activities of the maintenance providers. A well structured quality assurance practice would also help the maintenance controller to ensure that his staff conducts work up to the technical standards set in the Maintenance Control Manual. For overseeing the aircraft maintenance activities effectively, it is recommendable to appoint appropriate number of staff in maintenance control organisation in accordance with the number and types of aircraft used by operators. In addition, the maintenance controller must distribute different jobs among his staff on the basis of their experience and skill levels. Generally, seven staff would be adequate to manage five aircraft fleet operation using one type of aircraft, whereas the number may increase to 22 for a 50 aircraft fleet operation with one type of aircraft (Topic No.6, Maintenance Control). It is obvious that aircraft maintenance operations are complex and hence their success depends upon the efficacy of communication and teamwork. Usually, the effectiveness of aviation maintenance is measured by the safety and quality of the maintenance operation conducted. According to Robertson (2009), nowadays a wide range of new techniques have been developed in maintenance resource management (MRM) in order to improve the elements of effectiveness, safety, and communication in airline maintenance operations. Recent airline industry reports show that MRM adds value to the reliability of technical operations by enhancing coordination and information exchange among team members (p.235). It is advisable for the maintenance controllers to adopt such strategies to increase the efficiency of his team members and thereby to ensure the quality of the maintenance operations. Continuing Airworthiness Management Operations (CAMO) is responsible for approving continuing airworthiness management and has the privilege to issue airworthiness review certificates. CAMO has recently framed a number of new regulations that strictly directs aviation maintenance team to thoroughly check the airworthiness of the aircraft before taking off. The Regulation (EC) 2042/2003 explains various laws for the continuing airworthiness and aircraft maintenance subject to EASA regulation (Civil Aviation Authority). Therefore, the emerging CAMO regulations make the maintenance controllers responsible for taking every possible measure to ensure the aircraft’s airworthiness. As discussed earlier, both the CAMO and a maintenance controller have almost similar objectives and purposes. Likewise, a maintenance controller should effectively manage the costs associated with the operator’s aircraft maintenance. In the opinion of Lampe, Strassner, and Fleisch (2006), maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) costs represent 12% of the total operating costs of an aircraft (p.62). For the effective maintenance of an aircraft, the maintenance controller must timely report the Director of Quality Control regarding the irregularities encountered during the flight maintenance. Such a practice will enable the maintenance controller to improve the quality of operations in future. In addition, management and control of deferred discrepancies may be potential policies to effectively deal with aircraft maintenance. It is essential to keep the records of each and every day to day activity so that it will contribute to the flawless aviation maintenance. Sometimes, the maintenance controllers may determine to spend extra hours to ensure the technical reliability of an aircraft and thereby its airworthiness. References “Air operator certification manual”, Dec 2004, Australian Government: Civil Aviation Safety Authority, pp. 7.26-1-7.26-8, Viewed 07 October 2011, “EASA part-M subpart G”, n.d, Civil Action Authority, Viewed 07 October 2011, Lampe, M, Strassner, M & Fleisch, E 2006, Tool Management in Aircraft Maintenance, Roussos, G, Ubiquitous and Pervasive Commerce: New Frontiers for Electronic Business, Springer, UK. “Maintenance management”, n.d, Global Security.org, Viewed 07 October 2011, Robertson, MM 2009, Resource management for aviation maintenance team, Salas, E, Bowers, CA, Edens, E, Improving Teamwork in Organizations: Application of Resource Management Training, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc, New Jersey. Topic No: 6. Maintenance Control, July 2008, Aircraft management Guide, Swinburne University. Read More