Aviation Maintenance Aviation Maintenance ManagementManagement

Aviation Maintenance Aviation Maintenance ManagementManagement

Quality AssuranceChapter 17

Quality AssuranceQuality AssuranceQuality AssuranceQuality Assurance

Introduction Requirements for Quality Assurance (QA) Quality Audits ISO 9000 Quality Standards Technical Records Other Functions of QA Summary

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

Quality Assurance (QA) Airline must generate/establish maintenance and inspections

programs to keep aircraft in an airworthy condition.

Referred to as the CAMP (Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program)

FAR 121.373 (Continuing Analysis and Surveillance) provides an additional requirement (pg 181)

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

Although airline must have an FAA approved maintenance and inspection program:

They must monitor these programs to determine effectiveness and implement corrective actions when not effective

The requirement is for work performed by themselves and any work performed by third-party organizations (including other airlines)

Functions of Quality AssuranceFunctions of Quality AssuranceFunctions of Quality AssuranceFunctions of Quality Assurance

Functions of QA: Administration and Management of QA and

CASS activities Conducts QA audits of all M&E organizations Maintenance of Technical Records Liaison with the regulatory authority for all M&E

functions

Quality AuditsQuality AuditsQuality AuditsQuality Audits

Audits should be detailed, fact-finding designed to look at all aspects, determine discrepancies and establish a corrective action with a finite time for correction of each discrepancy

Must review administrative and supervisory aspects of the operation as well as the performance of the work

QA AuditsQA AuditsQA AuditsQA Audits Audits of Work Performance should include:

Adequacy of tools, test equipment, and facilities Competency of assigned personnel (licenses, training, skills, and skill levels, etc) Shop and office orderliness Use and handling of tools, parts, supplies, and paperwork

Airline Organization aspects to be audited: (pg 182 – Table 17-1) Processes and procedures related to line, hangar, and shop maintenance Processes and procedures related to materiel Processes and procedures related to engineering Processes and procedures related to training of maintenance and inspection

personnel

Purpose is to review current operations and ensure deficiencies are corrected – Spot checks or surprise audits could be warranted

QA AuditsQA AuditsQA AuditsQA Audits Supervisor of QA responsible for auditing

all outside organizations Part suppliers, parts pools, third-party

organizations and other contractors

NOTE: FAR 121.373 – “Airline responsible for monitoring all maintenance on its aircraft regardless of who performs that maintenance.”

QA AuditsQA AuditsQA AuditsQA Audits Certain audits may span two or more organizations

or activities within M&E (pg 185-186) Audited for their part within the larger process, procedure, or

function without a full audit Ramp Operations Airplane Tire pressures Shop records Required Inspection Items (RIIs) AD & SB compliance Major repairs & alterations Safety equipment Safety training Accident/incident reporting Fire protection/prevention Hazardous materials handling

ISO 9000 Quality StandardISO 9000 Quality StandardISO 9000 Quality StandardISO 9000 Quality Standard

Establishes the requirement for a quality system in organizations performing design and/or manufacturing or providing technical services

ISO 9001 For facilities that design/develop, produce, install, and

service products or services to customers who specify how the product or service is to perform

ISO 9002 For facilities that provide goods or services to the

customer’s design specifications ISO 9003

For those doing final inspection and testing Table 17-2 page 187

Technical RecordsTechnical RecordsTechnical RecordsTechnical Records Requirement is to ensure aircraft are maintained

in airworthy condition and IAW certification req. Records allow FAA or other regulatory

authorities to validate: Current status and that status is up-to-date

Records allow new owner/operator or lessor to validate:

Exact status w/respect to ADs, SBs, and modifications and major repairs

Know what maintenance schedule is for that aircraft Progression of maintenance checks at time of transfer

(A, B, C, etc…)

Technical RecordsTechnical RecordsTechnical RecordsTechnical Records

Classification of Records (pg 188-189) Continuous, Routine, Repetitive and Permanent

Continuous Continuously updated to reflect status at any point in time

Routine Usually maintained for 15 months – may be transferred to

permanent status Repetitive

Work repeated at regular intervals (daily, transit, or letter checks)

Permanent Permanent changes to configuration of the aircraft, engines,

components, and appliances Retained permanently

Other Functions of QAOther Functions of QAOther Functions of QAOther Functions of QA

QA may be responsible Currency of mechanic’s licenses Inspector's qualifications Inspector’s authorizations

RIIs and conditional inspections Administrative control over the

development and modification of the airline’s Technical Policies and Procedures Manual (TPPM)

Quality AssuranceQuality AssuranceQuality AssuranceQuality Assurance

Introduction Requirement for Quality Assurance (QA) Quality Audits ISO 9000 Quality Standard Technical Records Other Functions of QA Summary

Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?