OLDER AIRCRAFT and SFAR 41C AIRCRAFT

Airworthiness Notice No. C004 Edition 7, issued 31 March 2005

MAINTENANCE RELEASE PRIVILEGES;

OLDER AIRCRAFT and SFAR 41C AIRCRAFT

(This Airworthiness Notice supersedes AN C004 Edition 6, dated 12 July 2001.)

Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to provide guidance when assessing the scope of maintenance release privileges for the current aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) licensing model, introduced by the issuance of Canadian Aviation Regulations Standard 566. This notice also includes information relating to issuance of the Transport Canada (TC) Global Exemption from subsection 571.11(1) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) dated 09 July 2001.

Background

Upon implementation of the current licensing model (August 1999) all holders of a valid AME license were assessed by TC and reissued with an appropriately rated AME licence. The TC assessment was based on the scope of the maintenance release privileges of the current licensing model and the certification basis of the aircraft type designators previously held.

On 9 July 2001, TC issued a Global Exemption from subsection 571.11(1) of the CARs, which revised the maintenance release privileges for holders of both M1 and M2 rated AME licences. This exemption detailed the new AME licence privileges pertaining to turbine-powered helicopters and SFAR 41C aeroplanes, including their associated variants and derivative Airworthiness Manual (AWM) 523 Commuter Category models. The information provided by the exemption has now been incorporated into STD 566.03(8)(b) as of September 2003.

Assessment

In order to exercise the privileges of an AME licence, and sign a maintenance release in accordance with Chapter 571.11 of the CARs, an individual must hold a valid AME licence with a rating appropriate to the aeronautical product being certified. This means that the AME licence holder must ensure that their licence rating includes the aircraft type for which the maintenance release is being signed, based on the design standards in place at the time the aircraft was type certified.

Aircraft type certificates issued prior to the 1965 recodification of the United States design standards will not have a direct reference to Canadian AWM design standards such as AWM 522, 523, 527, 525, etc. In such cases, it may be difficult for AME’s with a single M-Aircraft rating to determine whether a particular aircraft falls within their scope of maintenance release privileges.

Appendix A of this notice gives an explanation, and some examples, of how to assess an aircraft type to determine the applicable AME licence rating. This appendix focuses on aircraft that were type certified prior to the United States recodification or where an aircraft certification basis may not be readily known.

Appendix B of this notice gives an explanation of the requirements stated in STD 566.03(8)(b) and the maintenance release privileges for holders of both M1 and M2 rated AME licenses. This appendix also includes a list of applicable aircraft affected by the exemption.

Appendix C of this notice gives an explanation of the privileges associated with the E, S, and Balloon ratings, including an example of their associated maintenance tasks.

Signing of a Maintenance Release – Training Requirements

In addition to having the appropriate ratings, AME’s are required to have completed training appropriate to the type of aircraft, engine or system on which the work was performed on, (ref: CAR 571.11), for example:

Transport Category aircraft:

AME’s are required to have successfully completed an aircraft type or engine (as applicable) course that has been approved by, or recognized (validated) by, Transport Canada.

SFAR 41C Aircraft:

AME’s are required to have obtained a sufficient level of training on the aircraft type for which privileges are granted and/or exercised.

Turbine powered rotorcraft:

AME’s are required to have successfully completed an aircraft type course that has been approved by, or recognized (validated) by, Transport Canada. The requirement for appropriate training applies to both an M1 and M2 licence holder when exercising the privileges associated with the provision of STD 566.03(8)(b).

Aircraft Electronic Systems // Aircraft Structures:

AME’s are required to have obtained appropriate training on the system/component for which privileges are granted and/or exercised.

APPENDIX A

AME LICENCE RATING M1 AND M2: AIRCRAFT

The M1 and M2 ratings are dependent upon the aircraft type certification basis and propulsion system. The scope of maintenance release privileges includes all specialized and non-specialized work and can be assessed generically as follows:

M1

- Aircraft built to CAR 522, 523, 523-VLA, 527, 549, and equivalent standards, but excluding turbojet aircraft.

- Includes gliders, small piston powered, and small turboprop aircraft.

M2

-  All aircraft (excluding balloons) not included in M1, which include (but is not limited to), aircraft built to CAR 525, 529, and equivalent standards.

-  Includes all turbojet aircraft.

As a general reference the following table can be used when assessing aircraft and equivalent standards. This table is not exhaustive and was developed primarily for older aircraft, where the certification basis may be difficult to identify.

APPENDIX B

CARs STD 566.03(8)(b) permits holders of either an M1 or M2 rated AME licence to sign a maintenance release for certain aircraft types without holding a rating appropriate to the aeronautical product being maintained. This will enable either M1 or M2 rated AME licence holders to sign maintenance releases in respect of the maintenance of turbine-powered helicopters and SFAR 41C aeroplanes, including their associated Commuter Category variants and derivatives.

This applies to all holders of Canadian AME licences endorsed with either an M1 or M2 aircraft rating when signing maintenance releases for the following aircraft:

Note: The AME shall comply with all other applicable requirements of the CARs, and in particular with all other requirements set out in Section 571.11 of the CARS in respect of persons who may sign a maintenance release.

APPENDIX C

AME LICENCE RATING E: AIRCRAFT ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

This is a blanket rating and the scope of privileges is not dependent on the aircraft type certification basis. The scope of privileges is based on the type of aircraft electronic system and includes certification following the testing, troubleshooting, repair, adjustment, installation/removal, and any structural work directly associated with the maintenance of the following systems:

AME LICENCE RATING S: STRUCTURES

This is a blanket rating and the scope of the privileges is not dependent on the aircraft type certification basis. The scope of privileges applies to all airframe structures and includes certification following fabricating, assembly, installation, and repair of the following structures:

AME LICENCE RATING: BALLOONS

This is a blanket rating and the scope of the privileges is not dependent on the balloon type certification basis. The scope of privileges applies to all balloon maintenance activities including the certification of the following items where applicable: