Overview of Line Maintenance

What is Line Maintenance?

Line Maintenance refers to essential maintenance tasks performed on aircraft to ensure their airworthiness and safe operation. Line Maintenance is typically performed between flights or at other locations away from an approved repair facility.

Line Maintenance may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Servicing: Servicing can be scheduled or not scheduled and includes procedures such as fluid replenishment, lubricating components, cleaning, and inspecting the aircraft, equipment or components.

• Tests and Checks: Conducting operational and functional tests and checks to verify the serviceability and proper operation and function of various systems and components, such as environmental control, communications, electrical power, fire protection, fuel, hydraulic power, indicating/recording systems, lighting, rotor flight controls, and navigation.

• Fault Isolation: Utilizing fault isolation procedures to identify and isolate faults or discrepancies that may affect the aircraft's performance or safety.

• Removal/Installation: Performing removal and installation of equipment, components, and items that do not require specialized tools or support equipment beyond general tools and workaids. This may include the replacement of certain parts or components that can be easily accessed and replaced on the flight line.

• Standard Repairs: Conducting minor repairs that do not involve extensive disassembly and can be accomplished by simple means and standard repair techniques. These repairs are typically limited to restoring the aircraft to a serviceable condition.

• Compliance with Airworthiness Directives (ADs) and Alert Service Bulletins (ASBs): Ensuring compliance with mandatory ADs and recommended ASBs issued by the aircraft manufacturer or aviation authorities to address safety-related issues or improve aircraft performance.

For temporary or occasional cases, certain Base Maintenance tasks may be performed provided all requirements are fulfilled as defined by the competent authority.

Overall, Line Maintenance plays a critical role in ensuring the continued airworthiness and safety of the aircraft, allowing them to operate reliably and efficiently between scheduled maintenance checks. Aircraft maintenance personnel are responsible for performing and inspecting line maintenance work and certifying line maintenance associated with their license and authorizations.