Bahrain CAA Part-66 AME Exam key terms

A mandatory instruction issued by the state of registry requiring inspection, modification, or repair of an aircraft or component to correct an unsafe condition. Compliance is legally required and must be recorded in the maintenance records.

The set of processes, inspections, and records that keep an aircraft in a condition meeting its type design and safe operating limits throughout its service life, from delivery until withdrawal from service.

A certificate confirming that an aircraft's continuing airworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory, allowing it to remain on the register. It is renewed periodically after a documented review of records and physical inspection.

A personnel licence issued under Part-66 that permits the holder to certify maintenance work within the category and ratings endorsed. It is obtained by meeting experience, training, and examination requirements and is subject to renewal and currency rules.

A person authorised to sign a certificate of release to service after maintenance, confirming the work was performed to the required standard. Certification authority depends on licence category, type ratings, and company authorisation.

A Part-66 licence that permits the holder to issue certificates of release to service for scheduled line maintenance tasks within defined limits, after limited maintenance work experience and basic training.

A Part-66 licence covering mechanical and airframe systems, allowing the holder to certify maintenance and issue certificates of release to service for aircraft structure, engines, and mechanical systems within endorsed type ratings.

A Part-66 licence covering avionics systems, allowing the holder to certify maintenance and issue certificates of release to service for electrical, instrument, and radio systems within endorsed type ratings.

An endorsement on a maintenance licence permitting certification on a specific aircraft type. It is granted after documented type training, examination, and practical experience on the type concerned.

An approved document specifying the scheduled tasks, intervals, and standards required to keep an aircraft airworthy. It is derived from manufacturer recommendations and regulatory requirements and is managed by the operator or continuing airworthiness organisation.

An operator document, approved by the authority, listing equipment that may be inoperative while the aircraft still operates under stated conditions and limits. It is derived from the master minimum equipment list.

A document approved with the aircraft type design that lists external missing items, such as fairings, which may be absent for flight under stated performance limitations and conditions.

A signed statement confirming that maintenance has been completed to an acceptable standard and the aircraft or component is fit for release. It must identify the work, the date, and the authorised signatory.

A structured organisational framework for managing safety risk, including hazard identification, risk assessment, reporting, and continuous improvement. It requires documented policies, defined responsibilities, and a non-punitive reporting culture.

An action or decision by a person that deviates from intended or required behaviour and contributes to an undesired outcome. It is generally treated as a symptom of system weaknesses rather than a cause in itself.

A safety philosophy that distinguishes honest mistakes from reckless or intentional violations, encouraging reporting without fear of punishment while still holding people accountable for gross negligence.

A widely used list of twelve common human-factor precursors to maintenance error, including fatigue, pressure, distraction, lack of communication, and complacency. It helps engineers recognise and counter error-likely conditions.

A person's accurate perception and understanding of the current environment and task state, and the ability to predict how it will change. Loss of it frequently precedes maintenance and inspection errors.

A set of policies and controls, including duty limits, rest requirements, and reporting, intended to reduce the likelihood that tired personnel perform safety-critical maintenance. It recognises fatigue as a manageable hazard rather than a personal failing.

A verification method in which a second qualified person inspects work without influence or prior knowledge of the first person's findings, used for critical tasks such as rigging, assembly, or flight-control connection.

The principal longitudinal structural member of a wing or stabiliser, designed to carry bending and shear loads from the lifting surfaces to the fuselage attachment points.

A transverse structural member that shapes and supports a wing or stabiliser section and transfers loads between the skin, stringers, and spars.

A longitudinal stiffening member attached to the skin of a wing, fuselage, or empennage that carries axial loads and helps maintain the aerodynamic shape under load.

Any structural element whose failure could endanger the aircraft, such as spars, pressure bulkheads, and principal fittings. It requires stricter inspection, damage tolerance, and repair approval than secondary structure.

A design and inspection philosophy assuming that undetected cracks or defects may exist, so structure must sustain allowable loads until the damage is found by scheduled inspection.

The electrochemical deterioration of metal caused by environmental exposure and moisture, appearing as pitting, exfoliation, or galvanic attack. It weakens structure and must be found, treated, and recorded during inspections.

A system that transmits force and motion through pressurised fluid to actuate components such as landing gear, brakes, and flight controls. It typically includes reservoirs, pumps, filters, accumulators, and pressure-limiting protection.

A pressure vessel, often divided by a diaphragm or piston, that stores hydraulic fluid under gas pressure to absorb pulses and supply emergency or peak flow when pumps are unavailable.

The assembly of struts, wheels, brakes, and retraction mechanisms supporting the aircraft on the ground and absorbing landing loads. It requires scheduled inspection of tyres, brakes, and structural attachments.

A powerplant in which air is compressed, mixed with fuel and burned, and the resulting high-energy gas drives a turbine that turns the compressor and produces thrust or shaft power.

A disruption of smooth airflow through the compressor, causing a sudden loss of pressure rise and often a bang or surge. It can result from disturbed inlet air, excessive fuel, or damaged blades.

Permanent elongation of a turbine blade caused by sustained high temperature and centrifugal stress. It is monitored against limits because excessive creep can lead to blade failure and uncontained damage.

A visual inspection of internal engine components, such as compressor and turbine blades, using a flexible or rigid optical instrument inserted through access ports without engine disassembly.

Full Authority Digital Engine Control, an electronic system that computes and commands fuel flow and engine parameters without a mechanical backup, providing precise control and built-in fault monitoring.

Diagnostic circuitry built into an aircraft system that monitors its own operation, detects faults, and stores or displays codes to help engineers troubleshoot and confirm serviceability.

A calculation confirming that the aircraft's electrical generation capacity can supply all connected loads under defined operating conditions. It is revised whenever equipment is added or removed.

The deliberate electrical connection of aircraft structure and components to provide a low-resistance return path and prevent static build-up, sparking, and interference. Bonds must be inspected and resistance-checked periodically.

The controlled tightening of a fastener to a specified torque value using a calibrated wrench, following the manufacturer's sequence and friction conditions. Correct torque prevents loosening and overstress.

Inspection methods such as dye penetrant, magnetic particle, eddy current, ultrasonic, and radiography that reveal defects without damaging the part. Each method suits particular materials and defect types.

A manufacturer-issued document recommending inspection, modification, or part replacement to improve safety or reliability. It is advisory unless made mandatory by an airworthiness directive.

A fault recorded but not corrected before flight because it is permitted by the MEL or an approved deferral procedure. It must be tracked, time-limited, and cleared within the stated conditions.

The formal process of declaring an aircraft or component fit for operation after maintenance, supported by completed work records, required inspections, and a signed certificate of release to service.