Types of Aviation Maintenance Checks
A lot of maintenance is needed for aircraft. An airplane receives aviation maintenance every day to keep it in tune and flight-ready. Because safety is everything in the aviation sector, it cannot accept the absence of a successful inspection and maintenance program. The likelihood of failure would increase if airlines around the world didn't regularly inspect their fleets. But what exactly is aviation maintenance, in the eyes of airlines? What is an A Check? Why is there no longer a B Check available? Let's conduct some research today with Officehepls.
What are aviation maintenance checks?
The aviation sector is heavily regulated. Therefore airlines and other commercial airline enterprises are required to adhere to ongoing inspection protocols set forth by aviation authorities.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets strict safety and upkeep standards for commercial airline operators. Before leaving the hangar, they ensure that every aircraft complies with strict safety requirements.
Commercial airline firms are required to establish and maintain a Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program as part of that. An outline of the tasks an aviation maintenance technician will typically conduct may be found on this page. Inspections, C Checks, and D Checks are also part of line maintenance checks.
What conditions does the FAA have for a CAMP?
Let's start by examining the types of aviation maintenance's legal requirements.
A CAMP must "contain the Person's full Inspection Program and the Program covering Other Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, and Alterations, which constitute the Other Maintenance Part of the Person's Required Manual," according to the FAA. The specified methods, techniques, and practices (including those alluded to within) are what people must adhere to when doing aviation maintenance tasks on their own aircraft. A CAMP must include all ten components and be thorough in scope and detail to satisfy the certificate holder's/program manager's obligation to guarantee:
- Its work is carried out in accordance with the D072-authorized manual of the certificate holder/program manager for all repairs, maintenance, and modifications;
- For the proper performance of maintenance, preventive maintenance, and modifications, adequate facilities and equipment are provided;
- Each aircraft that is put into service has been properly maintained and is airworthy.
Line aviation maintenance checks
Line maintenance examinations are the most frequent for an aviation maintenance technician. Line checks are the most frequent since they include all essential inspection tests. During line checks, aircraft maintenance workers may typically check things like wheels, brakes, and fluid levels (oil, hydraulics).
A line maintenance check may ensure an aircraft is safe and airworthy. Depending on the operator, aviation requires line maintenance for each aircraft every 24 to 60 hours of total flight time.
A line technician keeps track of fuel inventory and analyzes gasoline levels to ensure that every jet has the right fuel for every flight. That entails ensuring that fuel trucks are loaded with fuel and prepared for distribution. These experts also inspect the plane's body for any obvious damage and check the oil level, hydraulics, wheels, and brakes. Transit checks, post-flight, maintenance pre-flight, service checks, and overnight checks are other names for this procedure. It guarantees fundamental safety and airworthiness for the aviation industry.
A checks
Checks are the next level of aviation maintenance checks. Depending on the type of aircraft, the A check is conducted every 200–300 flights or every 400–600 flight hours. Typically performed at a hangar, check maintenance can need a minimum of 10 working hours, depending on the services required.
In order to maintain the aviation timetable, this repair is sometimes carried out overnight. The frequency of this check varies depending on the kind of aircraft, the number of flying cycles, or the amount of time since the previous inspection.
The upkeep work done during A checks of the interior and the aircraft's hull are frequently included in checks to look for signs of damage, deformation, corrosion, and missing parts. It also involves service, engine, and functionality inspections.
Other tasks that might be carried out during this type of aviation maintenance check include:
- Looking at the emergency lights;
- Lubricating the retracting nose gear actuator;
- Testing the pressure in the parking brake accumulator.
B checks
Next, because airlines and operators have phased out B inspections, B checks are frequently finished during the A check phase in aviation maintenance checks. Some B check duties have been incorporated into the A check phases so airlines and operators can efficiently maintain, repair, and overhaul an aircraft. This helps by decreasing the time aviation maintenance technicians and specialists spend working on the aircraft, optimizing maintenance schedules, and improving the way resources like hangars and test equipment is used.
Every six to eight months, aviation maintenance experts execute B maintenance checks. Depending on the aircraft, it takes between 160 to 180 labor hours and can be finished in 1-3 days at an airport hangar.
C checks
The "heavy maintenance" phase of aviation maintenance is now entering. Between 18 months and two years is when the C Check occurs. This probably takes 1-2 weeks to complete in a specialized facility. An aircraft maintenance specialist thoroughly examines individual systems and components for serviceability and functionality during a C Check.
This kind of check frequently necessitates the aircraft remaining at a maintenance facility for the required space, equipment, maintenance specialist work hours, and materials. For C checks in aviation, up to 6,000 maintenance hours are normally required.
According to Aviation Pros, some examples of C Check items include:
- Visually inspect the security and condition of the flight compartment escape ropes.
- Check the DC bus tie control unit's functionality.
- Visually inspect the entry door seals for damage.
- Check the flap asymmetry system's functionality.
- Check the APU fuel line shroud for pressure decay.
- Check the TAI ducting at the engine inlet for cracks.
- Check the stabilizer's mounting bolts.
- Check the floor beams.
- Thorough examination of the wing box's construction
D checks
Last but not least, depending on the aircraft, a "major aviation maintenance visit" happens every 6 to 10 years. D checks, which may entail disassembling the aircraft to check for damage and corrosion, are thorough examinations and repairs of the entire aircraft. The procedure can need between 30,000 and 50,000 labor hours spread over four to six weeks.
The aviation industry frequently decides to renovate the aircraft's interiors and modernize them during D inspections because the entire aircraft has been disassembled and the equipment removed.
The majority of airlines arrange D checks years in advance due to the nature and expense of a D check. Using specialized tools and methods, a thorough examination of the structure will be conducted to check for any indications of corrosion, structural deformation, cracking, or deterioration/distress. All lower checks are also included in the D Check.
Maintaining aviation is a never-ending process
Any aircraft is a finely tuned machine with both primary and backup systems. They make the aircraft one of the most effective technological creations ever made, enabling it to fly increasingly farther distances. Because of this, many older airplanes are still in the air today. A plane from the 1950s can still fly if it receives the required aviation maintenance.
Every commercial aircraft receives line maintenance continuously, as every aviation maintenance technician is aware. The least complicated maintenance is this kind, which is frequently referred to as post-flight or pre-flight. It often takes place at the airport gate and includes fundamental inspection tests. For instance, engineers and technicians inspect the wheels, brakes, and fluid levels.
Today’s aviation maintenance checks!
As time passes, a stringent system is in place to ensure that aircraft are properly maintained, repaired, overhauled, and inspected. The Federal Aviation Administration establishes this system, and it is up to airlines and other aviation operators to implement it and ensure it is adhered to.
Being an aviation maintenance technician is primarily about avoiding damage to aircraft and focusing on maintaining its safe operation!
It's also vital to consider this list to be a general, condensed overview of the kinds of maintenance checks carried out by experts.
Each airline or operator and every aircraft are unique!
Need some tips? We’re here to help
We’re hoping that with the help of OfficeHelps, you can now distinguish the difference between A checks, B checks, C checks and D checks in the aviation industry.
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Though my main major is Economic law, I have an interest in writing. Doing this job not only helps me to fulfill my writing hobby in my free time but also provides useful knowledge for my field of study. Besides, I usually spend my free time hanging out with friends to cheer myself up and make good memories in life.
