Part-66 Module 10 key terms

The European Union agency that drafts and maintains common civil aviation safety rules and holds type-certification, organisation-approval and standardisation responsibilities. National authorities apply those rules locally under EASA oversight.

The United Nations specialised agency that adopts international standards and recommended practices for civil aviation through its Annexes, which member states then translate into their own national law.

The 1944 international treaty that created ICAO and the basic legal framework for civil aviation, including each state's responsibility to certify the airworthiness of aircraft on its register.

The ICAO annex containing minimum standards for airworthiness of aircraft, covering type certification, continuing airworthiness and mutual recognition of certificates between contracting states.

The top-level EU aviation safety regulation that establishes EASA and the common rules; the detailed requirements such as Part-21, Part-M, Part-145 and Part-66 are adopted under it.

The EU continuing airworthiness regulation for aircraft. It sets out maintenance programme obligations, record keeping, defect reporting, airworthiness reviews and the issue of the airworthiness review certificate.

The EU regulation for organisations maintaining commercial air transport aircraft and components. It covers facilities, personnel, procedures, records, tooling and an independent quality system.

The EU regulation defining aircraft maintenance licences: their categories and subcategories, the required basic knowledge and experience, and the certification privileges attached to each licence.

The EU regulation governing design and production, including type certificates, approval of changes and repairs, parts approval, and the issue of airworthiness and noise certificates.

The EU regulation for approved maintenance training organisations that deliver basic and type training and run examinations whose results count towards a Part-66 licence.

A certificate issued after an airworthiness review confirms that the aircraft's records and its physical condition show it is still airworthy. It is normally valid for one year and must then be renewed.

The document issued by the state of registry confirming that the aircraft conforms to an approved type design and is safe to fly within stated conditions and limitations.

The certification made after maintenance confirming that the work has been completed satisfactorily by properly authorised persons and that the aircraft or component may return to service.

A personal licence issued by a competent authority under Part-66 allowing the holder to certify maintenance within the privileges of the categories and type ratings endorsed on it.

A Part-66 licence with limited privileges, typically covering scheduled line maintenance and simple defect rectification within a defined scope, issued after a shorter training and experience route.

A Part-66 licence covering airframe, engine and electrical system maintenance. The holder may issue certificates of release to service for the work covered by the type ratings endorsed.

A Part-66 licence covering avionics: electrical, instrument, autopilot, communication, navigation and related systems. It permits certification of release to service within the endorsed type ratings.

A Part-66 licence that allows the holder, in a base maintenance environment, to certify that a complete maintenance package has been finished and properly recorded.

An endorsement on a licence showing the holder has completed the type training and experience required for a specific aircraft type and may therefore certify maintenance on it.

People authorised to decide that maintenance has been carried out correctly and to sign the certificate of release to service. They work under a licence or an organisation authorisation.

A written authorisation from an approved maintenance organisation permitting a named person to certify defined maintenance tasks within stated limits, used where full licence privileges are not held.

An organisation approved to perform maintenance, repair, inspection, modification and component work within the scope of its approval, such as a Part-145 organisation.

The manual explaining how an approved maintenance organisation meets its regulatory obligations. It describes the organisation, facilities, procedures and scope of approval and must be accepted by the authority.

The certificate issued to an approved maintenance organisation. It identifies the organisation and lists the ratings and limitations that make up the scope of its approval.

Maintenance carried out before flight to confirm the aircraft is fit for the intended flight. It includes troubleshooting, defect rectification, component replacement and certain scheduled checks.

Large-scale maintenance performed in a hangar, involving extensive inspection, structural work and check packages, where the organisation takes responsibility for the whole set of tasks.

An authorised release certificate for aircraft parts, confirming that the item was manufactured or maintained under an approved scheme and is regarded as serviceable.

A mandatory instruction from a competent authority to correct an unsafe condition in a type design. It must be complied with within the stated time or usage limits.

A document from the type certificate holder recommending inspection or work on a product. It becomes mandatory only when an authority adopts it through an airworthiness directive or regulation.

The document by which a certifying authority approves the design of an aircraft type, engine or propeller after confirming compliance with the applicable airworthiness code.

An approval for a change to an existing type design that is significant enough to need design approval but does not warrant a completely new type certificate.

A change to a type design that may appreciably affect mass, balance, structural strength, performance, reliability or other airworthiness characteristics, and so must go through the formal design-change approval process.

A document from the type certificate holder, approved by the certifying authority, listing items that may be inoperative when the aircraft departs, subject to stated conditions. Operators derive their own MEL from it.

All the processes and records, including maintenance, inspection and modification, by which an aircraft is kept in conformity with its approved type design throughout its working life.

An organisation approved to manage aircraft continuing airworthiness: maintenance programmes, airworthiness directives, defect control, records and airworthiness reviews on behalf of the operator.

The document approved for an aircraft type or individual aircraft that lists the scheduled maintenance tasks and the intervals at which they must be carried out to keep it airworthy.

The national body a state designates to apply aviation regulation within its territory, including licensing, organisation approvals, oversight, airworthiness reviews and enforcement action.

Instructions identifying design features that must be preserved during maintenance, typically to keep fuel tank ignition risks under control, so that hazardous configurations are not reintroduced.

The operation of aircraft to carry passengers, cargo or mail for payment or reward. It attracts the highest operational and maintenance requirements, including the use of Part-145 organisations.

A certificate granted to an operator permitting it to perform specified commercial air transport operations, subject to meeting the applicable operational, crew and maintenance requirements.