SPO.SPEC.MCF.100 Levels of maintenance check flight
Regulation (EU) 2019/1387
Before conducting a maintenance check flight, the operator shall determine the applicable level of the maintenance check flight as follows:
(a) “Level A” maintenance check flight for a flight where the use of abnormal or emergency procedures, as defined in the aircraft flight manual, is expected, or where a flight is required to prove the functioning of a backup system or other safety devices;
(b) a “Level B” maintenance check flight for any maintenance check flights other than a “Level A” maintenance check flight.
SPO.SPEC.MCF.105 Flight programme for a 'Level A' maintenance check flight
Regulation (EU) 2019/1384
Before conducting a Level A maintenance check flight with a complex motor-powered aircraft, the operator shall develop and document a flight programme.
GM1 SPO.SPEC.MCF.105 Flight programme
ED Decision 2019/019/R
DOCUMENTATION WHEN DEVELOPING A FLIGHT PROGRAMME
When developing a flight programme, the operator should consider the applicable documentation available from the type certificate holder or other valid documentation such as the Flight Safety Foundation Functional Check Flight Compendium.
SPO.SPEC.MCF.110 Maintenance check flight manual for a 'Level A' maintenance check flight
Regulation (EU) 2019/1384
The operator conducting a “Level A” maintenance check flight shall:
(a) describe those operations and associated procedures in the operations manual referred to in point ORO.MLR.100 of Annex III or in a dedicated maintenance check flight manual;
(b) update the manual when necessary;
(c) inform all affected personnel of the manual and of its changes that are relevant to their duties;
(d) provide the competent authority with the manual and its updates.
AMC1 SPO.SPEC.MCF.110 Maintenance check flight manual
ED Decision 2019/019/R
CONTENTS OF THE MAINTENANCE CHECK FLIGHT MANUAL
The items to be covered in the manual for a ‘Level A’ maintenance check flight (MCF) with complex motor-powered aircraft should be as follows:
(a) General considerations:
(1) conditions requiring a MCF (e.g. heavy maintenance);
(2) appropriate maintenance release before the MCF;
(3) flight authorisation by the operator;
(4) process to develop a flight programme and procedures;
(5) relevant procedures to document MCFs in the aircraft records; and
(6) policy for the determination of a ‘Level A’ or ‘Level B’ MCF.
(b) Aircraft status:
(1) requirements for the status of the aircraft prior to departure (e.g. MEL, CDL and multiple defects) for the purpose of conducting an MCF;
(2) fuel loading, if applicable;
(3) mass and balance, if applicable; and
(4) specific test and safety equipment.
(c) Crew selection and other persons on board:
(1) qualifications;
(2) experience and recency;
(3) training; and
(4) persons on board.
(d) Briefings:
(1) briefing participants;
(2) specific pre-flight briefing topics:
(i) aircraft status,
(ii) summary of maintenance,
(iii) flight programme, specific procedures and limitations,
(iv) crew members’ responsibilities and coordination, and
(v) documents on board;
(3) information to ATC; and
(4) post-flight briefing.
(e) Contents of the flight programme and procedures: the flight programme should be thoroughly developed by the operator using applicable current data. It should contain the checks to be performed in-flight and may include ‘read and do’ checklists where practicable. The following items should be included in the overall procedure:
(1) in-flight briefings;
(2) limits (not to be exceeded);
(3) specific entry conditions;
(4) task-sharing and call-outs;
(5) potential risks and contingency plans;
(6) information to additional crew; and
(7) adequate available airspace and coordination with ATC.
(f) External conditions:
(1) weather and light conditions;
(2) terrain;
(3) ATC, airspace; and
(4) airport (runway, equipment)/operating site.
(g) Documentation:
(1) specific documentation on board;
(2) in-flight recordings;
(3) results of the MCF and related data; and
(4) accurate recording of the required maintenance actions after the flight.
SPO.SPEC.MCF.115 Flight crew requirements for a 'Level A' maintenance check flight
Regulation (EU) 2019/1384
(a) The operator shall select adequate flight crew members considering the aircraft complexity and the level of the maintenance check flight. When selecting flight crew members for a “Level A” maintenance check flight with a complex motor-powered aircraft, the operator shall ensure all of the following:
(1) that the pilot-in-command has followed a training course in accordance with point SPO.SPEC.MCF.120; if the training has been conducted in a simulator, the pilot shall conduct at least one “Level A” maintenance check flight as a pilot monitoring or as an observer before flying as a pilot-in-command on a “Level A” maintenance check flight;
(2) that the pilot-in-command has completed on aircraft of the same aircraft category as the aircraft to be flown a minimum of 1 000 flight hours, of which at least 400 hours as a pilot-in-command in a complex motor-powered aircraft and at least 50 hours on the particular aircraft type.
Notwithstanding point (2) of the first paragraph, if the operator introduces a new aircraft type to its operation and has assessed the pilot's qualifications in accordance with an established assessment procedure, the operator may select a pilot having less than 50 hours experience on the particular aircraft type.
(b) Pilots holding a flight test rating in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 shall be given full credit for the training course stipulated in point (a)(1) of this point, provided that the pilots holding a flight test rating have obtained the required initial and recurrent crew resource management training in accordance with points ORO.FC.115 and ORO.FC.215 of Annex III.
(c) A pilot-in-command shall not perform a “Level A” maintenance check flight on a complex motor-powered aircraft unless the pilot-in-command has carried out a “Level A” maintenance check flight within the preceding 36 months.
(d) Recency as pilot-in-command on a “Level A” maintenance check flight is regained after performing a “Level A” maintenance check flight as an observer or a pilot monitoring, or after acting as the pilot-in-command in a “Level A” maintenance check flight in a simulator.
GM1 SPO.SPEC.MCF.115 and SPO.SPEC.MCF.120 Flight crew requirements for a “Level A” maintenance check flight & Flight crew training course for Level A maintenance check flights
ED Decision 2019/019/R
DEFINITION OF AIRCRAFT CATEGORY
In respect of the term ‘aircraft category’ used in the context of point (a) of SPO.SPEC.MCF.115 and point (c) of SPO.SPEC.MCF.120, it should be understood as ‘category of aircraft’ as defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 (the Aircrew Regulation).
SPO.SPEC.MCF.120 Flight crew training course for Level A maintenance check flights
Regulation (EU) 2019/1384
(a) The training course required for a “Level A” maintenance check flight shall be conducted in accordance with a detailed syllabus.
(b) The flight instruction for the training course shall be conducted in either of the following ways:
(1) in a simulator which, for training purposes, adequately reflects the reaction of the aircraft and its systems to the checks being conducted;
(2) during a flight in an aircraft demonstrating maintenance check flight techniques.
(c) A training course followed on one aircraft category is considered valid for all aircraft types of that category.
(d) When considering the aircraft used for the training and the aircraft to be flown during the maintenance check flight, the operator shall specify whether differences or familiarisation training is required and describe the contents of such a training.
AMC1 SPO.SPEC.MCF.120 Flight crew training course
ED Decision 2019/019/R
COURSE CONSIDERATIONS
(a) The training course stipulated in point (a) of SPO.SPEC.MCF.120 should comprise ground training followed by a demonstration in a simulator or aircraft of the techniques for the checks in flight and failure conditions. In a demonstration performed in an aircraft, the trainer should not simulate a failure condition that could induce a safety risk.
(b) The ground training should cover the specified training syllabus (see AMC2 SPO.SPEC.MCF.120).
(c) The flight demonstration should include the techniques for the most significant checks covered in the ground training. As part of this demonstration, the pilots under training should be given the opportunity to conduct checks themselves under supervision.
(d) The ground training and flight demonstration should be provided by experienced flight crew with test or MCF experience. Flight demonstrations should be instructed by any of the following persons:
(1) a type rating instructor currently authorised by the operator to conduct MCFs; or
(2) a pilot assigned by an aircraft manufacturer and experienced in conducting pre-delivery check flights; or
(3) a pilot holding a flight test rating.
(e) Upon successful completion of the training, a record should be kept and a training certificate issued to the trainee.
AMC2 SPO.SPEC.MCF.120 Flight crew training course
ED Decision 2019/019/R
COURSE SYLLABUS
In the case of aeroplanes and helicopters, the training course syllabus should include the following subjects:
(a) Legal aspects: regulations concerning MCFs.
(b) Organisation of MCFs: crew composition, persons on board, definition of tasks and responsibilities, briefing requirements for all participants, decision-making, ATC, development of a flight programme.
(c) Environmental conditions: weather and light requirements for all flight phases.
(d) Flight preparation: aircraft status, weight and balance, flight profile, airfield limitations, list of checks.
(e) Equipment and instrumentation: on-board access to various parameters.
(f) Organisation on board: CRM, crew coordination and response to emergency situations.
(g) Ground checks and engine runs: review of checks and associated techniques.
(h) Taxi and rejected take-off: specifications and techniques.
(i) Techniques for checks of various systems:
(1) aeroplanes: flight controls, high-speed and low-speed checks, autopilot and autothrottle, depressurisation, hydraulic, electricity, air conditioning, APU, fuel, anti-icing, navigation, landing gear, engine parameters and relight, air data systems.
(2) helicopters: flight controls, engine power topping, track and balance, high-wind start, autopilot, performance measurement, hydraulic, electricity, air conditioning, APU, fuel, anti-icing, navigation, landing gear, engine checks and relight, autorotation, air data systems.
(j) Review of failure cases specific to these checks.
(k) Post-flight analysis.
SPO.SPEC.MCF.125 Crew composition and persons on board
Regulation (EU) 2019/1384
(a) The operator shall establish procedures to identify the need for additional task specialists.
(b) For a “Level A” maintenance check flight, the operator shall define in its manual the policy for other persons on board.
(c) For a “Level A” maintenance check flight, a task specialist or additional pilot is required in the flight crew compartment to assist the flight crew members, unless the aircraft configuration does not permit it or the operator can justify, considering the flight crew members workload based on the flight programme, that the flight crew members does not require additional assistance.
GM1 SPO.SPEC.MCF.125 Crew composition and persons on board
ED Decision 2019/019/R
TASK SPECIALIST’S ASSIGNED DUTIES, EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING
(a) The operator should ensure that the task specialist is trained and briefed as necessary to assist the flight crew, including performing functions such as but not limited to:
(1) assistance on ground for flight preparation;
(2) reading of a MCF checklist; and
(3) monitoring and recording of relevant aircraft or systems’ parameters.
(b) If a task specialist’s assigned duties are not directly related to the flight operation but to the MCF (e.g. reporting from the cabin on a certain vibration or noise), the required training and briefing should be adequate to this function.
(c) The task specialist should be trained as necessary in crew coordination procedures and emergency procedures and be appropriately equipped.
(d) Only personnel (crew and task specialists) essential for the completion of the flight should be on board.
SPO.SPEC.MCF.130 Simulated abnormal or emergency procedures in flight
Regulation (EU) 2019/1384
By way of derogation from point SPO.OP.185 a task specialist may be on board a “Level A” maintenance check flight if the task specialist is required to meet the intention of the flight and has been identified in the flight programme.
SPO.SPEC.MCF.135 Flight time limitations and rest requirements
Regulation (EU) 2019/1384
When assigning crew members to maintenance check flights, operators subject to Subpart FTL of Annex III (Part-ORO) shall apply the provisions of that Subpart.
SPO.SPEC.MCF.140 Systems and equipment
Regulation (EU) 2019/1384
When a maintenance check flight is intended to check the proper functioning of a system or equipment, that system or equipment shall be identified as potentially unreliable and appropriate mitigation measures shall be agreed prior to the flight in order to minimise risks to flight safety.
SPO.SPEC.MCF.145 Cockpit voice recorder, flight data recorder and data link recording requirements for AOC holders
Regulation (EU) 2019/1384
For a maintenance check flight of an aircraft otherwise used for CAT operations, the provisions for cockpit voice recorders (CVR), flight data recorders (FDR) and data link recorders (DLR) of Annex IV (Part-CAT) shall continue to apply.
[43] Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency, and repealing Council Directive 91/670/EEC, Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 and Directive 2004/36/EC. OJ L 79, 19.3.2008, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 6/2013 of 8 January 2013 (OJ L 4, 9.1.2013, p. 34).
[80] Commission Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 of 3 August 2012 laying down implementing rules for the airworthiness and environmental certification of aircraft and related products, parts and appliances, as well as for the certification of design and production organisations (OJ L 224, 21.8.2012, p. 1)
[81] http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2014-04
[90] Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency, and repealing Council Directive 91/670/EEC, Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 and Directive 2004/36/EC (OJ L 79, 19.3.2008, p. 1). Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1108/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 51).
[92] OJ L 295, 12.11.2010, p. 35.