Line maintenance in the United States sits at the intersection of two regulatory frameworks: the airline's Part 121 air carrier certificate and the maintenance provider's Part 145 repair station certificate. Both must be operating within their respective authorities for a maintenance action to be legal.
Part 145 Repair Stations
A Part 145 certificate authorizes a repair station to perform maintenance on specific articles within specific ratings. Ratings cover airframes, powerplants, accessories, and specialized services.
Operator Specifications
Each airline's Operations Specifications define what maintenance can be performed by which providers, at which stations, on which aircraft. A station that is not listed for a given operator cannot legally perform that operator's maintenance, regardless of capability.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a Part 145 repair station?
- A Part 145 repair station is an FAA-certificated facility authorized to perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations on aircraft and aircraft components within specified ratings.
- Does the FAA approve line maintenance providers per airline?
- Yes. An airline's Operations Specifications must explicitly include the maintenance provider and station for that provider to perform line maintenance on the airline's aircraft.