The aircraft owner is responsible for the management of the aircraft’s continuing airworthiness. The owner may conclude a contract to transfer this responsibility to a combined airworthiness management organisation (Part-CAO). A CAO approval can be issued to cover both maintenance and airworthiness management, or the approval can be issued to cover only maintenance practices or airworthiness management. Part-CAO does not include an SMS requirement. Traficom issues the approvals of Finnish CAO organisations and oversees their operation.
The CAO approval entitles the organisation to maintain and manage the airworthiness of those aircraft that are not classified as complex motor-powered aircraft and that are not used for commercial air transport requiring an Air Operator Certificate (AOC). In operations subject to an AOC in commercial air transport, the party responsible for airworthiness must always be an approved Part-CAMO organisation.
Continuing airworthiness management means drawing up and keeping a maintenance programme for the aircraft, seeing to it that maintenance in accordance with the maintenance programme is carried out on time by an approved maintenance mechanic (certifying staff), and keeping and retaining the technical records of the aircraft.
A combined airworthiness management organisation may also receive the right to carry out aircraft airworthiness reviews.
Applying for Part-CAO approval
You can apply for a combined airworthiness management organisation approval from Traficom if the organisation’s head office is in Finland.
For the processing of the matter, Traficom will nominate an inspector responsible for your organisation, who will be your contact person in matters related to the approval.
If necessary, you can already contact Traficom before the official application.
Statutory basis
The requirements for the management of continuing airworthiness of aircraft are defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 and its Annex Vd (Part-CAO).
Statutes
•Commission Regulation (External link) (EU) No 1321/2014 (External link)
See also
•Model for a page in the technical log (External link)