line maintenance (on aircraft) embry-riddle aeronautical university chapter 13

Line MaintenanceLine Maintenance(on Aircraft)(on Aircraft)


Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Chapter 13



Introduction Functions that control Maintenance Maintenance Control Center Responsibilities Line Maintenance Operation - General Aircraft Logbook Ramp & Terminal Operations

Flight Handling Other Line Maintenance Activities Line Station Activities Maintenance Crew Skill requirements Morning Meeting Summary

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

Line Maintenance refers to that done when aircraft is in service (without removing from flight schedule)

Daily, 48 hr, & transit checks Usually one crew performs all

Line Maintenance Organization MCC (Maintenance Control Center) coordinates all

Flt line activities home & away Ramp & Terminal (local home base activities) Outstations (coordinates maintenance activities at

outstations whether owned by airline or not)

Functions that Control MaintenanceFunctions that Control MaintenanceFunctions that Control MaintenanceFunctions that Control Maintenance

PP&C is the Center of Airline Maintenance Inputs

Scheduled Maintenance, Modifications/Upgrades, ADs, SBs, SL, Deferred Maintenance

Outputs Directs Maintenance to MCC, Hangar,

Overhaul/Shop Maintenance Coordinates/Communicates

EVERYONE - ALWAYS!!

Functions that Control MaintenanceFunctions that Control MaintenanceFunctions that Control MaintenanceFunctions that Control Maintenance

MCC is the Center of Line Maintenance Coordinates

Scheduled Maintenance or Unscheduled Maintenance for all aircraft in service with M&E Units & OPs

Involved/Coordinates All aircraft in the flight schedule, coordinates all

maintenance whether performed by airline or outsourced Communicates

EVERYONE - ALWAYS!! (PP&C – aircraft discrepancies, rescheduling of maintenance actions & aircraft status; OPS - delays, down times cancellations)

Heart of Line Maintenance Responsibilities:

Ensure daily checks are complete prior to first flight of the day Perform transit/turnaround maintenance on all transit aircraft Coordinate servicing of these aircraft

Food, water, waste, fuel Troubleshoot maintenance problems & schedule repairs (if

possible) in the allotted turnaround time or defer maintenance Coordinate with materiel, engineering, inspection, planning &

other M&E units for resolving maintenance problems

Maintenance Control Center Responsibilities

Responsibilities: Coordinate with flt operations for the maintenance or deferral

whenever the schedule may be affected Track all aircraft during flight to determine location,

maintenance requirements & status Coordinate maintenance at outstations w/other airlines or

outsourced parties Collect & forward logbook pages, QC write-ups, mechanical

reliability reports or other reports required by airline or FAA


Must have adequate facilities Centrally located Tracking boards or displays (by aircraft type & tail #) for

flight schedules, durations, current location of aircraft, & maintenance needs – should indicate maintenance status & due date of next scheduled maintenance checks

MCC should be on top of everything happening with all aircraft in service

MCC must have sufficient communications Phones, handhelds, fax machines, computers

Extensive technical library Most important – sufficient, qualified staff (licensed

mechanics) Essential to the airline’s reliability program

MCC responsible for identifying & reporting all delays & cancellations of aircraft – investigate & resolve problems

Repeat discrepancies ( i.e. procedure, mechanic, environmental conditions, bad parts)


Two possible maintenance scenarios Fig. 13-2 pg. 147

Note both sign-off of all discrepancies (or deferrals) & servicing of the aircraft must be completed prior to returning the aircraft to flight service

Line Maintenance Operations - General

Flight crew maintains logbook for each flight and flight leg

Contains – flight crew names, flight number, route, & flight times (arrival & departure – total flight hours & cycles)

Section for crew to annotate discrepancies during flight Section for deferred maintenance (date repair to be

accomplished per the MEL) Crew aware of current status of aircraft

Collected at end of each flight day & those at outstations will fax to MCC

Information will be entered into computer for use by M&E, QA, QC, & reliability for various actions & future reference

Logbook will be returned to aircraft - ready for next day’s flights

Aircraft Logbook

Transitioning of aircraft is a short, fast paced coordinated maintenance action

Flight handling, servicing, & maintenance chores must be accomplished

Flight handling Move aircraft, passengers, baggage, cargo off

and onto the aircraft Park aircraft, position stairs or gateway ramp,

& opening doors– Maintenance, ground handling crews, flight &

cabin crews, terminal personnel, & the FAA tower personnel

Baggage & cargo equipment & crews are next wave

Ramp & Terminal Operations

Servicing Refueling, adding potable water, & all food & beverages

for next flight as well as removing trash & waste Maintenance

Checked logbooks, discuss w/crew any problems, verify gripes, troubleshoot & repair or defer maintenance

Advance warning – maintenance can meet crew with solution

Maintenance completed or deferred will be noted in logbook

All deferred maintenance must be handled IAW the MEL and the pilot has FINAL say

If deferment is NOT allowed MCC must coordinate with Ops about delay or cancellation of the flight

Those at outstations must coordinate with MCC

Ramp & Terminal Operations

Daily & 48 hr checks outlined in the Ops Specs

Table 13-1 pg. 150 – Typical 48 hr Check Transit Checks

Table 13-2 pg 151 – Typical Transit Check Any down time between flights (wide gaps,

days to nights) Deferred maintenance, ‘A’ checks, special

inspections, simple modifications/upgrades Tasks that require panel removals, components, may

be relegated to hangar or shop maintenance

Other Line Maintenance Activities

Line station/outstation Same activities but limited personnel & skills,

availability of parts & supplies, limited facilities (stands, hangar space, GSE)

More chance for deferred maintenance Communication crucial with home MCC

To provide or arrange for parts, supplies, or maintenance personnel

Outsource or other airline service May ferry to another location for service Pilot may have authority to contract maintenance

Line Station Activities

Hangar & overhaul shops employ specialists Line Maintenance must be well verse in all

aspects of the aircraft Often different aircraft & wide range of

problems Verse in FAA rules & regulations & airline’s

policies & procedures Know what specialists apply Administrative skills for logbooks & plethora

of reports Multiple crews may be needed to accomplish

task (day & night)

Maintenance Crew Skill Requirements

One of the most important activities Addresses current maintenance status:

Day’s flight schedule Maintenance status of each aircraft in service Specific needs of maintenance (parts, supplies,

personnel, GSE etc..) Significant problems or changes which may affect

day’s flight & work schedules Hangar or facility issues Line station or outsourcing issues

Purpose: Keep all involved abreast of everything that in the

maintenance area & address any problems that may arise

Morning Meetings



Introduction Functions that control Maintenance Maintenance Control Center Responsibilities Line Maintenance Operation - General Aircraft Logbook Ramp & Terminal Operations

Flight Handling Other Line Maintenance Activities Line Station Activities Maintenance Crew Skill requirements Morning Meeting Summary

Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?

line maintenance (on aircraft) embry-riddle aeronautical university chapter 13

Documents