Aviation Legislation
Core concepts
Know the structure of ICAO (Convention on International Civil Aviation, Annexes, especially Annex 1 personnel licensing and Annex 8 airworthiness), the role of the national authority (EASA in Europe, FAA in the US), and the Part-66 licensing system: categories (A, B1, B2, B3, C), subcategories, basic knowledge requirements, experience requirements and the route to certification. Understand Part-145 maintenance organisations, Part-M/Part-CAMO continuing airworthiness, airworthiness directives, service bulletins, and the technical log.
Traps to watch
- ICAO does not regulate directly: it sets standards; states implement them in national law.
- ADs are mandatory: service bulletins are manufacturer recommendations unless made mandatory by an AD or authority.
- Part-66 versus Part-145: Part-66 is the licence; Part-145 is the approved maintenance organisation. They are often confused.
- Category scope: B1 covers mechanical/airframe/engine; B2 covers avionics/electrical systems. Certification privileges follow the category.
- Record retention: know the required retention periods for maintenance records and certificates of release to service.
Worked example
A manufacturer issues a service bulletin recommending a modification. Until the authority issues an AD mandating it, it is not legally required - though an operator may adopt it voluntarily. If an AD is issued, compliance is mandatory within the stated period and must be recorded.
Rule of thumb
When a question asks "is this required?", trace the chain: ICAO standard → state law → implementing rule (Part) → individual requirement (AD, licence, approval). Only the last link is legally binding on the individual.