Where do I gain the required basic maintenance experience? Is it mandatory to gain the required maintenance experience in an EASA approved Part-145 organisation?
Answer
According to point 66.A.30(e), experience in aircraft maintenance gained in organisations not approved in accordance with Part-145 or Part-CAO – for example in the following environments: FAR-145, armed forces, coast guard, police, nationally approved organisations, organisations approved by non-EASA Member States, or in aircraft manufacturing, etc. - may be recognised to achieve the experience required in 66.A.30(a), when such maintenance is equivalent to that required by Part-66 as established by the competent authority.
However, at least part of the basic experience shall be gained in an EASA-approved Part-145 or Part-CAO organisation (or under the supervision of independent certifying staff): the AMC to point 66.A.30(e) states that as a minimum, experience in aircraft maintenance organisation(s) that is (are) approved in accordance with Part-145 or Part-CAO should be:
(1) for categories A and L: 6 months;
(2) for categories B1, B2, B2L, B3 and C: 12 months.
Consequently, please contact the competent authority where you intend to apply for a licence, in order to check whether the basic experience you have is equivalent to that required by Part-66, with detailed information on the type of aircraft, its operation and the nature of the work and respect, as a minimum, the periods set in this AMC for the experience gained in Part-145 and/or Part-CAO organisations.