Aircraft Maintenance Task and Data Control, An Alternate License Model

There is a growing concern about a forecasted increase in total aircraft accidents due to the expansion of the industry, and the contribution of aircraft maintenance to aviation safety. In that context, this article will examine aircraft maintenance control at the level of the maintenance professionals. Although no clinical testing can verify the attached thesis, this paper initially identifies the need to ensure suitable qualifications of personnel involved in the maintenance and certification of registered aircraft and aeronautical products. It continues by further defining maintenance control by examining current methods and the objectives of licensing. This results in dividing licensing concerns into three fundamental elements; technical or task based competency, regulatory or data control competency, and currency of experience. Based on these three elements, a license model evolves divided between the industry and the regulator with industry verifying technical competency and technical currency of experience and the regulating authority verifying regulatory competency and regulatory currency of experience. These jurisdictions are broken down further by suggesting their purpose, relevant categories and the privileges authorized by those categories. The new model is then compared to the need and definition of licensing control. While concluding this article, the author petitions the reader for additional input. Originally written in response to Transport Canada's “Advantage 2000” discussion paper, the article has been altered to remove specific Canadian content and to remain current. It has been forwarded to you since a similar process is occurring in the U.S. with the writing of FAR Part 66.