During a “walkaround inspection” or an MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul)
task card inspection the damage on an aircraft will be assessed and then can end up
with one of two different requirements:
1. Damage requiring a physical repair or
2. Damage not requiring a physical repair.
Aircraft Lease Transition – Certified Status Lists
The certified status lists are very important documents as they provide information on much of the aircraft and essentially, they directly relate to its compliance and airworthiness also.
Status lists will give an oversight for the aircraft and can be used to evidence that the aircraft is compliant for both airworthiness requirements, but also lease requirements which can be more restrictive – remember that just because an aircraft is airworthy does not mean it is compliant for lease return conditions in the contract.
Maintenance Records Review – End of Lease – Maintenance Variations
An aircraft will have a maintenance plan that is specifically approved for that aircraft; certain aspects of the maintenance plan will be “customised” for its operation or environment with regards to additional maintenance tasks or the interval/threshold for a task being altered.
Aircraft Leasing & Transitions – Risk, Airline Operations Concerns and Repossession Deliverables.
Most Aircraft Lessors will have a Risk Department as part of the “deal team” that perform due diligence on the airline before the aircraft goes on lease.
The Technical team will have responsibility for performing the Mid-Lease Inspections during the lease period and remember that the MRF department will be monitoring utilisations (hours/cycles) submitted by the airline each month.
Aircraft Lease Review – Aircraft Certificates –
Very often the early part of a technical records review will focus on the high-cost items of Engines and Landing Gear followed by AD reviews, Last Done Next Due, Components, Structures, Mods and STC’s reviews but it is important to check and verify the Aircraft Certificates.