Certify66
← Back to Aviation Legislation
Section 10.6

Continuing Airworthiness, CAR-M (GCAA)

CAR-M and the CAMO, the approved Aircraft Maintenance Programme, airworthiness directives and service bulletins, defect deferral, records and life-limited parts, and the Airworthiness Review Certificate.

Notes

CAR-M continuing airworthiness, summary notes

Free
Main ideas
  • Continuing airworthiness is the set of processes ensuring an aircraft remains in compliance with the applicable requirements and in a condition for safe operation throughout its life. In the UAE this is governed by CAR-M.
  • Every aircraft must have a person or organisation responsible for managing its continuing airworthiness. For commercial air transport this must be an approved Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO). The owner or operator remains ultimately responsible.
  • Core tasks: develop and control an approved Aircraft Maintenance Programme; ensure scheduled maintenance, airworthiness directives and required modifications are accomplished; manage defects and deferred defects within permitted limits; control the airworthiness records, log books and life-limited-part status; arrange maintenance with a CAR-145 organisation; and manage the airworthiness review leading to the Airworthiness Review Certificate.
  • The Aircraft Maintenance Programme is central: it defines the scheduled tasks and their intervals, derived from the manufacturer Maintenance Planning Document and the Airworthiness Limitations Section, so inspections, checks and life-limited-part replacements happen on time.
  • Airworthiness directives issued or accepted by the GCAA are mandatory and their accomplishment must be recorded with the reference, method of compliance and date. Service bulletins are advisory unless mandated by an airworthiness directive.
  • Records: the aircraft technical log, the aircraft and engine log books and the component records must be maintained and retained for the periods CAR-M specifies.
Key formulas
Responsibility
Owner/operator responsible · CAMO manages · CAR-145 performs
Scheduled maintenance
MPD + airworthiness limitations > approved AMP
Review outcome
Airworthiness review > Airworthiness Review Certificate
Solved examples
  1. Who is ultimately responsible for the continuing airworthiness of a UAE-registered commercial aircraft?

    The owner or operator. They may contract an approved CAMO to manage it, but the responsibility remains theirs.

  2. An applicable airworthiness directive is not accomplished within its compliance time. What is the aircraft status?

    The aircraft is not airworthy and must not fly until the directive is complied with, because compliance with applicable airworthiness directives is mandatory.

Quiz

CAR-M continuing airworthiness quiz

Pro

This quiz is part of Engineer

Upgrade to unlock every quiz, mock exam and advanced simulation across all modules. Notes and mind maps stay free.

Unlock with Engineer