Aircraft Maintenance
Core concepts
Maintenance questions test knowledge of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, inspection programs, and the meaning of airworthiness directives and service bulletins. The candidate should understand the difference between line maintenance, base maintenance, and component overhaul, and how the maintenance program is derived from the manufacturer's MRB report. Know the role of the approved maintenance organization, certifying staff, and the release to service. Understand the concepts of on-condition maintenance, hard-time limits, and condition monitoring. Also know how defects are recorded, deferred, and cleared, and the meaning of a minimum equipment list deferral.
Traps in questions
A frequent trap is confusing an airworthiness directive (mandatory) with a service bulletin (advisory unless mandated). Another is treating the MEL as permission to fly with any defect - it lists specific items with specific conditions. Questions may ask who may certify a release; the answer depends on the organization's approval and the staff's authorization.
Worked example / rule of thumb
If a component exceeds its hard-time limit, it must be removed regardless of condition. If an item is on-condition, its condition determines continued service. Rule of thumb: ADs are law, SBs are advice, MELs are conditional relief - never mix the three.