Typically a good maintenance Planning Engineer has a strong aviation background, such background knowledge aids and supports the Maintenance Planning role and enables a strong understanding of how to comply with the various tasks.
The primary output from Maintenance Planning is a Check Pack, work Pack or Engineering Order, the inputs into Maintenance Planning are many and varied and need to me measured and managed.
Typically the main functions of Maintenance Planning include configuration management to ensure that the integrity of the modification status of the aircraft is managed correctly.
Each aircraft fleet has a Maintenance Program which is developed by the operator from the MPD (Maintenance Planning Document). The maintenance program is the source document for generating the work package.
As well as the basic work package it is normal to manage an ongoing modification program which improves the reliability or economic viability of the aircraft. Planning often carry out audits to ensure that compliance is maintained with the requirements of AD’s and other tasks related to airworthiness compliance.
Because of the critical nature of the planning role it is typical to see very strong process driven by detailed procedures. It is important that these procedures are well understood and reflect not just best practice, but that they are also efficient.
The maintenance Planning department organizes and looks after both short term goals for example line maintenance and long term goals for example C checks. It is important that the aircraft utilization is managed in an effective way so that the maximum efficiency of the available maintenance resource is employed.
Maintenance planning typically issues to production planning the work package containing details of the required parts and materials to support the maintenance activity.
Maintenance Planning also monitor the defect status of the aircraft to ensure that the aircraft remains in compliance with the requirements of the minimum equipment list.
In the event that maintenance overruns, or an aircraft suffers an unplanned AOG Maintenance planning plays a pivotal role in ensuring the implementation of a recovery plan.
To be an effective Maintenance Planner requires good administrative skills an ability to analyse multiple data inputs and to take appropriate decisions.
A detailed understanding of ATA 100 and the system of displaying information in Aircraft Maintenance Manual AMM, Illustrated Parts Catalogue IPC wiring Diagram Manual WDM, Structure Repair Manual SRM, and Chapter 20 Standard Practices and Standard Wiring Practices.
An effective maintenance planer requires a high level of computer literacy together with good IT skills knowledge of XL and Access being particularly an advantage.
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