BASIC AIRMEN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT (BAM 136) _ 2023

DEFINITION OF MAINTENANCE

Maintenance is the act of maintaining or the state of being maintained. It is the various activities
carried out to keep any equipment component or item in proper condition. Maintenance is
usually routine and recurring and is required to keep a facility (plant, building, structure, ground
facility, utility system, or other real property) in such condition that it may be continuously
utilized, at its original or designed capacity and efficiency, for its intended purpose. Furthermore,
Maintenance is defined as the action(s) taken to retain a material in or to restore it to a specified
condition.

Aircraft Maintenance may also be defined as all activities or groups of activities involved in
looking after the aircraft and equipment and keeping them in serviceable condition. It includes:
inspection to detect faults which in aircraft maintenance is known as troubleshooting., testing,
Rectification of the faults, Replacement of all things that get used up, Replacement of
unserviceable components and parts, repair of damaged parts, Functional testing, Cleaning,
Lubrication and servicing amongst other functions.

The activities listed above imply a lot of financial expenses and are usually included in the Direct
Operating Cost of the aircraft. Financially, maintenance can thus be viewed as expenditure
incurred to safeguard an investment.

Unlike other modes of transportation air transport does not have the privileges enjoyed by other
means of transport when they break down without reaching their destination. A train, car or even a
ship can break down at any sport without necessarily jeopardizing the lives of those that are
stranded. Rescue can easily be organized to recover such vehicles on the spot and towed to a
nearby facility for repairs. However, if an aircraft has a malfunction while airborne and is a great
distance from an airport/airfield it could result to fatal consequences if the failed component is
critical to flight safety. The amount of research and engineering that goes into aircraft manufacture
and production has to be high to ensure high system reliability and safety. Due to the need to
ensure that the high level of safety and reliability achieved during production is maintained,
aircraft maintenance is highly supervised and regulated by regulatory authorities.

The purpose of a maintenance program is to maintain aircraft performance, component

serviceability and flight readiness above a permissible minimum level. It must be adapted to
operational requirements and compatible with safety, cost and efficiency considerations.
Maintenance includes not only routine servicing but also reconditioning operations and may be
implemented in conjunction with modifications.

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TYPES OF MAINTENANCE

Aircraft maintenance covers three basic activities, the first two of which are preponderant.

(a) Preventive Maintenance covers all routine scheduled and repetitive operations
designed to check and maintain a given operational level.
(b) Corrective Maintenance Designates operations carried out after the appearance
of a fault or malfunction, and designed to restore the initial operational level.
(c) Despite preventive and corrective maintenance action, certain specific and
unacceptable conditions or faults may require extensive reconditioning, also known as
Remedial Maintenance.

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT

Aircraft Maintenance Management is the effective and efficient organization, control and
administration of the many facets of the maintenance operations required to meet the objectives
and roles of the organization. Maintenance management is not just restricted to the actual
maintenance activities alone, it involves ensuring that adequately qualified manpower is
available, all maintenance requirements are accomplished at the appropriate time and the
materials and tools necessary to accomplish the imminent tasks are available. It could be defined
as the act of coordinating the efforts of people to accomplish desired goals; maintaining the state
of operability of aircraft using available resources efficiently and effectively. These resources
includes; manpower, technology, equipment, tools and funds available to the manager.

FEATURES OF AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION

Management includes amongst others planning, organizing, staffing, leading or directing, and
controlling.

Planning: plans and prepares maintenance activity, evaluation of the necessary resources
involved (human, financial, materials, information), evaluation of time requirements

Organizing: Organizing refers to the judicious use of resources to achieve the objectives.
Periodic analysis of activity (daily and weekly) in order to estimate the amount of resources
necessary for the next period. In addition, it provides the necessary time to relocate resources as
needed.

Staffing: Assign the right personnel for the maintenance activity, according to the requested
technical specialty for each position team.

Maintaining a high level of qualification by training courses

Leading: Setting clear attributions and responsibilities for the technical team members according
to the military regulations. The technical team leader must make sure that his team members
work in accordance with the technical regulations. He is the one who decides what would be
right in a particular situation and takes the necessary measures.

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Control: the leader is permanently informed about the work in progress, based on the hierarchies
inside the team or by personal inspections.

Time Management: Prioritization of actions in order to be on schedule.

Motivation: Motivation goes a long way in binding the team members together. Appreciating the
employees for their good work makes them work efficiently for a longer span of time.

Performances: represent the outputs. Maintaining aircrafts and equipment in a full mission
capable status.

Aircraft Maintenance Managers are responsible for actualizing the efficient management of
aircraft maintenance. He is to ensure proper supervision of the aircraft maintenance, repair, and
overhaul functions of an aircraft operational unit.

FUNCTIONS OF AN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE MANAGER

a. Ensure the Maintenance is carried out.

b. Availability of adequate manpower.

c. Accomplishment of all Maintenance Requirements

d. Maintenance is carried out at the appropriate time.

e. Availability of tools and materials for the maintenance.

f. Maintenance is carried out with highest quality achievable

LEVELS OF MAINTENANCE

There are 3 major levels of maintenance. They are:

a. Organization Level maintenance. Organizational or first level maintenance is the

responsibility of, and is performed by a using organization on its assigned aircraft or equipment,
adjusting and replacing of parts, minor assemblies and sub-assemblies. The Line Servicing
squadrons LSS/Flight Line are normally responsible for carrying out this level of maintenance.

b. Intermediate (second Level) Maintenance. Intermediate or second level maintenance

(usually referred to as Field Level Maintenance) is normally the responsibility of, and performed
by a designated maintenance set-up for direct support of the using organizations. This level of
maintenance normally consists of calibration, repairs or replacement of components or
unserviceable parts or assemblies, modification of materials, emergency manufacturing of
unserviceable parts and provision of technical assistance to using organizations. This level of
maintenance is carried out in fixed or mobile workshops, or by a dispatch of specialists from
shops in the using organizations.

c. Depot (third level) Maintenance. Depot or third level maintenance is performed by

designated maintenance activities to augment stocks of serviceable material. It also supports the

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other levels of maintenance by more extensive shop facilities, equipment, and personnel of
higher technical skill than are normally available in the other 2 levels. It normally consists of
repairing, modifying, overhauling, reclaiming or rebuilding parts, assemblies, sub-assemblies
and components or end items, the emergency manufacturing of unavailable parts and providing
technical assistance to the lower levels of maintenance. Depot level maintenance is normally
performed in fixed shops or by onsite teams. It should be noted that each level of maintenance
depends on the others and that each has specific duties. Generally speaking, organizational
maintenance is preventive, intermediate is corrective and depot is restorative.

THE ENGINEERING CONTROL OFFICE

The ECO is the nerve Centre of the entire maintenance complex. It is the focal point where all
maintenance information is assembled, arranged and weighed to ascertain what functions are
necessary to satisfactorily complete a particular standard or objective. Having established what
is to be maintained; both aircraft and related ground support equipment, the ECO specifies how
such equipment is to be maintained in accordance with the manufacturers’ specifications. The
specifications are included in the equipment technical data, SBs, and Time Compliance
Technical Orders (TCTO). A maintenance schedule normally follows through job specifications
and work cards.

To perform its functions effectively, the ECO is made up of the following elements each with a
defined area of responsibilities:

a. Maintenance Control Office (MAINTCO)

b. Material Control (MATCO)

c. Management Control (MGTCO)

d. Quality Control (QC) - Otherwise known as Quality Assurance.

Each of these control departments is usually divided into Squadron or Flights depending on the
size of the operational unit. Their functions and responsibilities within the ECO will however
remain the same irrespective of the amount of flying activity conducted in the unit. Each of the
control departments is responsible to the Engineering Control Office (ECO) who in turn is
accountable to the Logistic Group Commander. The functions of the control departments are as
discussed below:

MAINTENANCE CONTROL

Maintenance control is the staff function responsible for directing the maintenance production
activity and controlling the action required to support the mission. It manages the full cycle of
production by planning, scheduling, directing and controlling all maintenance on primary
mission, material support and transient aircraft including their related support and training
equipment. Maintenance control is to compile comprehensive report of maintenance activities
monthly, quarterly and annually or as directed by higher authority. To accomplish these tasks,
maintenance control has 3 sections: job control, plan and scheduling; and documentation. The
duties/responsibilities of maintenance control are as follows:

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 a. Determine maintenance capability in conjunction with production analysis and the
production activities.

b. Plans and schedules the use of aircraft to meet mission commitments.

c. Schedule an aircraft and related support equipment through all phases of

inspection and maintenance.

d. Provide information for use at a pre-inspection meeting when called by the

engineering control officer.

e. Provide information for use at a pre-inspection meeting when called by the

engineering control officer.

f. Maintains documents for aircraft and other designated equipment.

g. Establishes procedure for the identification of repeat, recurring, and those

duplicate type discrepancies which impair mission performance or affect safety of flight
and for the review of corrective actions for adequacy.

h. Maintains visual aids to depict maintenance situations of all aircraft and

associated ground support equipment.

i. Maintains chart to depict maintenance plan for all aircraft.

j. Ensures that all work centers observe work standards in terms of quality and
safety.

k. Provide assistance to maintenance personnel in solving problems with supply

support.

MATERIAL CONTROL

The function of material control is to provide coordination between maintenance and supply,
manage supply transactions for the maintenance complex and manage the production of assets in
the production cycle. Units operating under a forward supply system will provide material
control support by the forward supply point. Material control will ensure that adequate parts,
correct tools and equipment are available to the maintenance team in the required quantity and at
the appropriate time. The responsibility of the material control unit includes the following.

a. Advises the maintenance control supervisor of the overall supply situation as it

affects maintenance.

b. Establishes a system in conjunction with supply to effectively, programme

requirements and delivery of the necessary items (spares, tools etc) at the appropriate
time and place.

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 c. Designates a tools room so that tools are available when and where they are
needed.

d. Coordinate with the record section for forecast and project time change item
(TCI’s) requirements and time compliance technical order (TCTO) kits to ensure supply
of such items in a timely manner.

e. Ensure that spares are managed to avoid expiry of their shelf life.

f. Take note of all delayed discrepancies which require parts and monitor action on
them.

g. Record critical items and those with high failure rate and recommend remedial
action.

h. Processes items through the repair cycle for onward transmission to repair centers
through the supply units.

i Performs necessary follow-up action to resolve parts shortage.

j. Ensures that current files of pertinent supply catalogues and technical publications
are available.

k. Recommends cannibalization action when the need arises.

l. Processes requests for local purchase order on materials related to maintenance

support.

Coordination is the secret of material control. Material Control must work closely with supply to
ensure that all actions in support of maintenance are known. The material control officer will
represent maintenance in all problems arising between maintenance and supply, investigate and
act on all problems within maintenance.

QUALITY CONTROL

Quality control must emphasize the material deficiency-reporting programmes and ensure that
maintenance personnel are familiar with the programme. This system, together with the day-to-
day maintenance data reporting provides an effective method of improving the maintenance
reliability and maintenance ability on equipment.

Maintenance supervisors are responsible for the safety of flight, safety of equipment and
operation, and quality maintenance production. The combined efforts of quality control
personnel, maintenance supervisors and technicians are necessary to ensure high quality
maintenance production and equipment reliability. Quality control must therefore ensure that
technical and management production prescribed for use in the production function are observed.
The terms maintenance production refers to servicing, repairing, overhauling modifying,
calibrating, converting and Inspection aircraft. This work is divided into two categories; “on-
equipment” and “off – equipment”.

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a. On-equipment aircraft maintenance normally consists of inspecting, servicing, lubricating,
adjusting, replacing parts, assemblies and sub-assemblies.

b. Off-equipment maintenance normally consists of in-shop calibrating, repairing or

replacing damaged or unserviceable parts and providing technical assistance to the using
organisation.

MANAGEMENT CONTROL

Management Control is the section of the ECO responsible for collecting, storing and furnishing
information necessary for planning. It consists of training (On-the job training to improve
maintenance proficiency and/or supervisory ability), analysis, records and reports. Management
Control will also maintain historical records and files, prepares and submits reports and analyses
maintenance data as may be directed by the Logistics Group Commander. Other responsibilities
of management Control include the following:

a. Establish and control a reporting and administrative system for all maintenance reports
and correspondence.

b. Ensure proper distribution of correspondence, reports and publications.

c. Ensure proper documentation and updating of the historical records of all aircraft and
related ground support equipment.

d. Report changes in aircraft status to maintenance control for planning and scheduling
purposes.

e. Point out all abnormalities observed in the documentation of aircraft and related
equipment discrepancies for necessary correction.

f. Maintain and up-date as necessary, all technical publications.

g. Inform maintenance control of SBs received, the urgency of compliance and coordination
to ensure incorporation.

h. Inform maintenance control and material control in advance that TCI (Time Change
Items) are available prior to the forecast change date.

i. Initiate and compile publications of the unit maintenance plan (weekly, monthly or
quarterly) as directed.

j. Compile and forward monthly equipment summary report

TYPES OF INSPECTION

The aircraft inspection system of the NAF is the keystone of the maintenance function.
Inspection in the literal sense means only ‘’ to examine.’’ But in the NAF, ‘’inspection’’ also
implies ‘’ maintenance’’ itself. In other words, not only is an aircraft examined for sources of

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possible malfunctioning, but also discrepancies that are detected are immediately repaired or
corrected. Hence, the mere mention of the work ‘’inspection’’ implies’’ maintenance.

There are four types of inspections for aircraft and equipment that are being practiced in the NAF.
These are:

a. Preflight inspection.

b. Thru flight Inspection

c. Postflight Inspection

d. Periodic Inspection

Preflight Inspection. The preflight inspection, as the name implies, is basically a flight
preparedness check. This inspection is required prior to the first flight of the day. It is a
thorough visual inspection and operational checks of certain systems and components to assure
that no defects exist that could cause accidents or mission aborts. Aircraft used for airline-type
operations do not normally require a preflight during routine intermediate stops. However, when
the stopover involves a specified period of many hours extending into the normal working period
of the next calendar day, a new preflight may be required. The mandatory requirements for the
preflight inspections are as follows:

a. Before the first flight of a flying period following a period of maintenance

or idleness. The inspection is valid for a 24hour period.

b. Before the next flight, whenever more than 72 hours have elapsed since
the last flight on (i) cargo aircraft used for regularly scheduled airlift operations and (ii) other
aircraft assigned to long tactical or administrative missions that require intermediate stop.

c. Before an aircraft goes on standby (an aircraft status that involves supporting
strategic, tactical, or defense mission).

Thruflight Inspection. The thru flight inspection was designed for use on cargo aircraft utilized
for regular airline-type operations. It is however, applicable to any aircraft for which an
immediate turn around or a continuation flight is scheduled. This inspection is performed prior
to take off at intermediate stops. The aircraft is visually checked to see if there are defects which
could impair flight safety. The scope of the thru flight is governed by the inspection concept
under which that particular weapon system is being operated. There is no need to make a thru
flight inspection if any of the following situations occurs:

a. A change in flight crew is made, the new crew meets the aircraft and is debriefed
by the previous crew, and the mission is resumed without any servicing or maintenance.

b. During a brief stop, the same pilot or flight crew resumes operation of the aircraft
without leaving the vicinity of the aircraft.

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 c. After a stop without leaving the aircraft vicinity, an instructor pilot resumes
flight with new student.

Basic Postflight Inspection. The basic post flight inspection is performed after the last
flight of the flying period. This inspection consists of checking the aircraft to determine if it is
suitable for another flight by performing a visual inspection of certain systems and components
to assure that no defects exist that would be detrimental to further flight. If an aircraft lands to
change pilot or other crew members, or if an aircraft makes a brief stop with the crew staying in
the immediate areas of the aircraft, the basic post flight need not be performed, since the aircraft
has not been released by Operations. The basic post flight inspection is a more thorough check
than the preflight or the thru flight inspections.

Periodic Inspection. The periodic inspection is a more extensive inspection than thru flight or
basic post light inspections. In addition to the recurring inspection items, some of which are
required at post flight inspection, the periodic inspection includes certain parts, areas, and
systems of the aircraft that require less frequent inspection (because of their function) than the
basic post flight. The periodic inspection is considered due when the specified number of flying
hours or calendar period has expired. The aircraft should not be scheduled for flight if the
mission will overextend the inspections by too great a margin.

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