Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com considers the role of Different Check Flights to Support Continuing Airworthiness.
Introduction – Guidance for EASA Permit to Fly Procedures
Reference Documents (EC) No 2018/1139, (EC) No 748/2012, (EC) No 1321/2014, as amended
- A Permit to Fly is generally issued when a certificate of airworthiness is temporarily invalid, for example as the result of damage, or when a certificate of airworthiness cannot be issued for instance when the aircraft does not comply with the essential requirements for airworthiness or when compliance with those requirements has not yet been shown, but the aircraft is nevertheless capable of performing a safe flight, as outlined in Part 21.A.701(a).
- An EASA Permit to Fly shall be issued where it can be shown that the aircraft is capable of safe flight under defined conditions and for specific purposes, as outlined in Part 21 Subpart P.
Note: Flight checks required by the manufacturer’s maintenance data following normal maintenance actions in compliance with the continuing airworthiness requirements referred to in 21.A.181(a)1 do not require an EASA Permit to Fly.
Introduction Maintenance Check Flight (MCF)
An MCF will often be required as part of a maintenance procedure to diagnose a fault or to ensure a fault has been rectified. This airborne test may be “prescribed” by a maintenance procedure, or it could be “elective” where an organisation deems it good engineering practice.
For some maintenance tasks, the manufacturer prescribes in the aircraft’s Maintenance Manual the need for Check Flights to be carried out.
For other tasks involving, for example, work carried out on a system or component the correct functioning of which is affected by flight dynamics, air loads, airflows, or low temperatures and pressures, the certifying engineer will need to determine if a maintenance Check Flight is required to verify its operation. This decision will be influenced by the maintenance organisation’s quality system, which is required by Part M to ensure that all maintenance is properly performed.
Introduction Airworthiness Check Flights (ACF)
ACFs are flights that may be conducted before or after a period of maintenance or at any convenient stage in an aircraft’s Airworthiness Certificate revalidation cycle.
- These flights are flown to an appropriate Check Flight Schedule and, should be flown by a suitably briefed pilot.
The scope of the Airworthiness Check Flight
- Aircraft Performance: The aircraft’s performance must meet the scheduled performance contained within the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) or Operations Manual (OM).
- The performance should not have significantly degraded since the last Check Flight and any measured degradation should be accounted for. For example, one-engine-inoperative climb performance should meet scheduled figures; stall speeds should match AFM figures; helicopter auto revs should be within limits etc.
- Handling Qualities: The aircraft should handle/fly as intended. Stall characteristics should be benign or normal for the type. The aircraft should fly in balance and within designed trim conditions. In the case of rotorcraft, the low-speed handling should be benign in addition to that of forward flight, etc.
- Systems: All aircraft systems should be serviceable and fit for purpose or, if permissible, clearly labelled as inoperative.
- Systems used in the resolution of emergencies should also be operated, e.g. emergency lowering of the undercarriage. Autopilots and Flight Control Systems, particularly on helicopters, should be comprehensively tested to ensure they perform as intended with degraded modes assessed where possible.
Next Steps
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Sofema Aviation Services is pleased to provide the following course that is available as Classroom or Webinar training: Managing EASA Maintenance Check Flight (MCF) and Permit to Fly (PtF) Requirements – 1 Day
Please see www.sassofia.com or email team@sassofia.com
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Aicraft Maintenance, Aircraft Maintenance Manual, Airworthiness Check Flights (ACF), EASA, EASA Part M, Maintenance Check Flight (MCF), Operations Manual Part A, Permit to Fly, SAS blogs
