26.370 Continuing airworthiness tasks and aircraft maintenance programme

SI No. 1203/2021

(a)  Operators or owners of turbine-powered large aeroplanes certified on or after 1 January 1958 shall ensure the continuing airworthiness of ageing aeroplanes structures by preparing the aircraft maintenance programme provided for in point M.A.302 of Annex I (Part-M) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014. Subject to the following provisions, this programme shall include:

(i)  for aeroplanes certified to carry 30 passengers or more, or with a payload capacity greater than 3 402 kg (7 500 lbs), an approved damage-tolerance-based inspection programme;

(ii)  for aeroplanes operated in accordance with Annex IV (Part-CAT) to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 and certified to carry 30 passengers or more or with a payload capacity greater than 3 402 kg (7 500 lbs), a means for addressing the adverse effects that repairs and modifications may have on fatigue-critical structure and on inspections provided for in point (a)(i);

(iii)  for aeroplanes certified with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) greater than 34 019 kg (75 000 lbs) an approved LOV;

(iv)  a CPCP.

(b)  The following deadlines shall apply to the obligation referred to in point (a):

(i)  the aircraft maintenance programme shall be revised to address the requirements of points (a)(i), (a)(ii) and (a)(iv) before 26 February 2025 or before operating the aeroplane, whichever occurs later;

(ii)  the aircraft maintenance programme shall be revised to address the requirements of point (a)(iii) before 26 August 2022 or 6 months after the publication of the LOV, or before operating the aeroplane, whichever occurs later.

(c)  For an aeroplane model first certified before 26 February 2022 that no longer operates after 26 February 2025 points (a)(i), (a)(ii) and (a)(iv) shall not apply.

(d)  For an aeroplane model first certified before 26 February 2022 that no longer operates after 26 August 2022 point (a)(iii) shall not apply.

(e)  For an aeroplane model first certified before 26 February 2022 with a restricted TC issued before 26 February 2022 in accordance with damage tolerance requirements, provided that it is not operated beyond 75 % of its design service goal and is primarily operated in support of the approval holder’s manufacturing operation, points (a)(i), (a)(ii) and (a)(iv) shall not apply.

(f)  For an aeroplane model with a restricted type certificate issued before 26 February 2022 and the primary purpose of which is fire fighting, points (a)(i) and (a)(ii) shall not apply.