ICAO Airworthiness Manual [ICAO, 2014].
… all of the processes for ensuring that, at any time in its life, an aeroplane complies with the technical conditions fixed to the issue of the Certificate of Airworthiness and is in a condition for safe operation …
- Develop and control a maintenance program for the aircraft managed, including any applicable reliability programs such as condition monitoring and submit the aircraft maintenance program and any amendments to the National Aviation Authority for approval.
- Collate service difficulties and assess significance with respect to safety and airworthiness for the specific aircraft involved or for similar aircraft. Where airworthiness is affected, devise and provision rectification action and promulgate the necessary information to restore safety levels.
- Monitor in-service reported defects and control the rectification process to mitigate any disruption to operational availability and quickly restore the condition of the aircraft for safe operation.
- Manage the approval of major alterations, (i.e., major modifications and repairs).
- Ensure that all defects discovered during scheduled maintenance or otherwise reported are corrected by an appropriately approved maintenance organisation, in accordance with the aircraft maintenance program, and released in accordance with the applicable Rule Part with a Certificate of Release to Service.
- Ensure that all applicable Airworthiness Directives and operational directives with a continuing airworthiness impact, are applied.
- Arrange for the aircraft to be taken to an appropriately approved maintenance organisation whenever necessary.
- Coordinate scheduled maintenance, the application of Airworthiness Directives, the replacement of Life Limited Parts, and component inspections to ensure the work is carried out properly.
- Manage and archive all continuing airworthiness records.
- Ensure the regular scrutiny of maintenance history compared to the requirements of the aircraft maintenance program, (i.e., Maintenance Review).
- Ensure that the weight and balance statement and other critical operational documentation mandated as necessary for safe flight reflects the current status of the aircraft.
- Prepare defect incident reports, regular reliability reports, (i.e., failure trend analysis), and comprehensive EDTO (ETOPs) reports for timely submission to the National Aviation Authority when required to do so.