Aviation Maintenance Management

1. Aviation Maintenance Management Quality Control Chapter 18

2. Quality Control • Introduction • Quality Control Organization • FAA and JAA Differences • QC Inspector Qualifications • Basic Inspection Policies • Inspection stamp, Continuity of Inspection, Countermand of Inspector’s decisions, Buyback policy, Inspection of one’s own work, Completion of work • Other QC Activities • Nondestructive test and inspection, Calibration of tools and test equipment, Special reports to the regulatory authority, Required inspection items • Summary

3. Introduction • Quality Control (QC) • Looks specifically at maintenance practices and the actual conduct of the maintenance work. • They are also responsible for special inspections and calibration of tools and test equipment.

4. Introduction • The inspection function of an airline consists in part: • Inspections during routine maintenance • General visual, checking and rechecking of own work, and “second pair of eyes” • Conditional Inspection • Bird strikes, hard landings, lightning strikes, flights through heavy turbulence, dragging of wing tips or engine pods • Nondestructive test and inspections (NDT/NDI)

5. Quality Control Organization • Full-time and Part-time Inspectors • “Dedicated Inspectors” • Work for QC or QA not work center • “Delegated Inspectors” • Work center specific only • Four Functions • Aircraft, shop, materiel, and testing and calibration • Hangar or on line; support and overhaul; incoming and outgoing components; NDT/NDI and test equipment and special tools (i.e. torque wrenches) – valid cal stickers – show last date cal and next due date

6. FAA & JAA Differences • Joint Aviation Authority (JAA) is not a regulatory authority • Airlines own country has final say • EU is to establish European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to regulate EU aviation • No separate QC and QA department • Certified and trained mechanic can inspect own work if NOT safety or airworthiness • Does not have free run – requirements the same just terminology and titles different

7. QC Inspector Qualifications • Valid mechanic’s license, 2 years experience • Formal training on systems and equipment to be inspected • Knowledge of airline and regulatory rules and procedures • QC inspector course • Duties and responsibilities in inspection procedures and techniques • Corrosion – detection and control • Nondestructive test and inspection if required for duties • Airlines must keep record of authorized inspectors • Status – dedicated or designated, items authorized • Records must be available to regulatory personnel

8. Basic Inspection Policies • Use of Inspector stamp • Numbered and controlled • Continuity of inspections between work shifts • Some require same inspector other allow cross crew inspectors • Countermand of inspectors decision • Only can be overridden by manager of QC, director of Maintenance Program Evaluation (pg. 180) or VP of M& E – responsibility now shifts to the airline not the inspector • Re-inspection of rejected work • Once item rejected must be re-inspected • Inspection of one’s own work • If second person required – can NOT do own work • Completion of work • Work is not done until inspected and approved

9. Other QC Activities • Non destructive test and inspection • Calibration of tools and test equipment • Special reports to the regulatory authority • Required Inspection Items

10. Quality Control • Introduction • Quality Control Organization • FAA and JAA Differences • QC Inspector Qualifications • Basic Inspection Policies • Inspection stamp, Continuity of Inspection, Countermand of Inspector’s decisions, Buyback policy, Inspection of one’s own work, Completion of work • Other QC Activities • Nondestructive test and inspection, Calibration of tools and test equipment, Special reports to the regulatory authority, Required inspection items • Summary

11. Questions?