Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Line Maintenance
(on Aircraft)
Chapter 13
Line Maintenance
(on Aircraft)
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Introduction
Functions that control Maintenance
Maintenance Control Center Responsibilities
Line Maintenance Operation - General
Aircraft Logbook
Ramp & Terminal Operations
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Flight Handling
Other Line Maintenance Activities
Line Station Activities
Maintenance Crew Skill requirements
Morning Meeting
Summary
Introduction
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Line Maintenance refers to that done when
aircraft is in service (without removing
from flight schedule)
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Daily, 48 hr, & transit checks
Usually one crew performs all
Line Maintenance Organization
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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 Maintenance
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PP&C is the Center of Airline Maintenance
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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 Maintenance
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MCC is the Center of Line Maintenance
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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)
Maintenance Control Center Responsibilities
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Heart of Line Maintenance
Responsibilities:
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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
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Responsibilities:
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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
Maintenance Control Center Responsibilities
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Must have adequate facilities
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MCC should be on top of everything happening with
all aircraft in service
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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 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
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MCC responsible for identifying & reporting all delays &
cancellations of aircraft – investigate & resolve problems
Repeat discrepancies ( i.e. procedure, mechanic,
environmental conditions, bad parts)
Line Maintenance Operations - General
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Two possible maintenance scenarios
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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
Aircraft Logbook
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Flight crew maintains logbook for each flight and
flight leg
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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
Ramp & Terminal Operations
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Transitioning of aircraft is a short, fast
paced coordinated maintenance action
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Flight handling, servicing, & maintenance
chores must be accomplished
Flight handling
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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
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Baggage & cargo equipment & crews are
next wave
Ramp & Terminal Operations
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Servicing
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Refueling, adding potable water, & all food & beverages
for next flight as well as removing trash & waste
Maintenance
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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
Other Line Maintenance Activities
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Daily & 48 hr checks outlined in the Ops
Specs
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Transit Checks
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Table 13-1 pg. 150 – Typical 48 hr Check
Table 13-2 pg 151 – Typical Transit Check
Any down time between flights (wide gaps,
days to nights)
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Deferred maintenance, ‘A’ checks, special
inspections, simple modifications/upgrades
Tasks that require panel removals, components, may
be relegated to hangar or shop maintenance
Line Station Activities
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Line station/outstation
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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
Maintenance Crew Skill Requirements
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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)
Morning Meetings
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One of the most important activities
Addresses current maintenance status:
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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:
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Keep all involved abreast of everything that in the
maintenance area & address any problems that may
arise
Line Maintenance
(on Aircraft)






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?