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General Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Basics

Learn the business basics of aircraft maintenance and repair

By Cathy Salustri
Whether your company owns one plane or a fleet of aircraft, maintenance and aircraft repair likely comprise a significant part of your aviation budget. General aircraft maintenance, which includes annual and 100-hour inspections, helps your planes or helicopters perform at their optimal level. An airframe and power plant mechanic (commonly referred to as an A&P) performs regular aircraft maintenance and repairs while an authorized inspector (AI) can do all those things and also has FAA approval to sign off on an aircraft's annual inspection.

As with automobiles, airplanes rarely have catastrophic breakdowns without warning, and regular aviation maintenance keeps any time offline to a minimum. Unlike with cars, aircraft repairs must meet certain federal guidelines and, any time a plane is used to make money, meet other requirements. As part of general aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul basics, three things are required on the part of the aircraft owner:

1. Knowledge of the laws and regulations governing aviation maintenance and aircraft repairs;

2. Hiring or retaining competent A&P or aircraft maintenance companies; and

3. Commitment to addressing any and all aircraft repairs and aviation maintenance issues in a timely and thorough manner.

 

Understand--in no uncertain terms--your legal obligation in regard to general aviation maintenance

The moment your business uses its aircraft to make money, rules and laws apply to your planes and pilots that don't apply to private aircraft and pilots. Many of these rules apply to your pilots but some address aircraft maintenance and repair, depending on how your business uses its aircraft. Following the rules governing general aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul basics is crucial to the safe and legal operation of commercial aircraft.
Try: Find the rules governing your aircraft and general aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Your company should also keep a copy of the most recent FAR/AIM manual on hand. You can purchase a copy of this manual, which Jeppesen publishes annually, at your local flight shop or online at Sporty's.

Hire a qualified A&P or AI or an aircraft maintenance company

Whether you hire one or two certified mechanics or an aircraft maintenance company will depend on the number of aircraft your business owns as well as your budget. Each option has its benefits and downfalls. If you hire a full-time A&P, then that person make aircraft repairs or performs other aircraft maintenance services on your schedule, but you'll pay a salary even when you don't need the A&P. Aircraft maintenance services may cost your company less money, but you'll have to work around their schedule.
Try: Consider both options before making a decision. You'll get a good idea of where to find a qualified aircraft maintenance service at Thirty Thousand Feet. To find an A&P or an AI, register on Avjobs and search its resume database.

Let your mechanic or aircraft repair company know your business is committed to aviation maintenance

Whether its aircraft maintenance, aircraft repairs or an aircraft overhaul (together known as aircraft MRO), aviation services like these don't come cheap. It's tempting to cut corners on aviation maintenance, and while some companies may put off some general aircraft maintenance, it often costs more money in the long term and makes pilots and mechanics uneasy. Let your aviation staff know your business will perform general aircraft maintenance regularly and make needed aircraft repairs immediately.
Try: Post something called a "squawk sheet" in the maintenance hangar. Pilots list issues with aircraft on a squawk sheet, and mechanics address those issues. Make sure the issues get addressed in a timely fashion. You can get a sample of a squawk sheet from the documents section of the Flying Twenty. In addition to a squawk sheet, make sure your pilots have access to an aircraft flight log like the one available at PilotMall.com. This lets pilots see what aircraft MRO have been performed on the plane.

 

  • Don't ever question your pilots' judgment. If they tell you they feel something's not right with the aircraft, then contact your mechanic or aircraft maintenance service immediately.

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