United Kingdom

1
66.022 Aircraft Maintenance Licence for Light
Aircraft

• Juan Anton
• Frederic Knecht

2
Current requirements

• According to Part-66, the current licensing
  system includes the following categories of
  licences for aircraft
• A1, A2, A3, A4
• B1.1, B1.2, B1.3, B1.4
• B2
• C
• National system for sailplanes and balloons
• The qualification requirements for Licences B1.2
  Piston engine aeroplanes and B1.4 Piston
  engine helicopters are the same for all sizes
  and complexity of aircraft.

3
Feedback received by EASA

• Industry and NAAs have requested the creation of
  an aircraft maintenance licence specific for
  light aircraft, with reduced qualification
  requirements that are better adapted to the
  reduced complexity of these aircrafts.
• In their view, the current system has the
  following shortcomings
• Currently, there are not enough Part-66 licence
  holders to cover the needs that all the General
  Aviation industry will face when Part-M
  regulations come into force for aircraft not used
  in Commercial Air Transport.
• The current qualification requirements are too
  stringent for the reduced complexity of light
  aircraft, imposing also a non-reasonable
  economical impact.
• Current B1.2 and B1.4 licence holders may prefer
  to develop their career on larger piston engine
  aircraft rather than in light aircraft.

4
Task 66.022

• A working group was created, with members from
  Industry, NAAs and EASA.
• 4 meetings (2 full days each) already held during
  May and June 2007
• Work still undergoing, with the following
  envisaged calendar
• NPA ready for external consultation by October
  2007.
• End of NPA comment period by January 2008.
• CRD ready for external consultation by March
  2008.
• End of CRD comment period by May 2008.
• Opinion issued by June 2008.

5
Key aspects of the aircraft maintenance licence
for light aircraft (currently under discussion)

• New categories of aircraft maintenance licences
• B3 applicable to non-pressurised piston engine
  aeroplanes, sailplanes and motor-powered
  sailplanes with MTOM less than 2000 Kg (not
  applicable to balloons or helicopters)
• ELA.1 applicable to European Light Aircraft
  ELA-1 (as defined in the near future by MDM.032,
  but excluding rotorcraft. This classification is
  still under discussion). This licence will be
  further divided in
• ELA.1-Basic licence limited to maintenance not
  including annual inspections and major repairs
  and modifications.
• ELA.1-Full includes the privileges of
  ELA-Basic plus annual inspections and major
  repairs and modifications.

6
Key aspects of the aircraft maintenance licence
for light aircraft (currently under discussion)

• The B3 licence may be used in Commercial and
  Non-Commercial Air Transport. However, the
  definition of European Light Aircraft limits the
  use of the ELA.1 licence to Non-Commercial Air
  Transport.
• The privileges associated with the B3 and
  ELA.1 licences are limited to structure,
  powerplant and mechanical and electrical systems.
  They will also include work on avionic systems
  requiring simple tests.
• It is not the intention of the working group to
  create a specific licence similar to a B2 for
  light aircraft.
• For aircraft other than aeroplanes and
  helicopters it is the intention to maintain the
  possibility of using the corresponding Member
  State regulation for certifying staff (as stated
  in 66.A.100) in addition to the B3 and ELA.1
  licences (when applicable).

7
Key aspects of the aircraft maintenance licence
for light aircraft (currently under discussion)

• As a summary, possible licences to be used are
  (in addition to A, B2 and C when applicable)
• Piston engine helicopters B1.4
• Piston engine aeroplanes above 2000 Kg MTOM and
  all pressurised piston engine aeroplanes B1.2
• Non-pressurised piston engine aeroplanes between
  1000 Kg and 2000 Kg MTOM B1.2 or B3
• Non-pressurised piston engine aeroplanes below
  1000 Kg MTOM B1.2 or B3 or ELA.1
• Sailplanes and motor powered sailplanes below 850
  Kg MTOM B3 or ELA.1 or National Licence
• Balloons falling outside the ELA.1 definition
  National Licence
• Balloons falling inside the ELA.1 definition
  ELA.1 or National Licence
• These categories may change depending on the
  definition of ELA.1 finally agreed by MDM.032.

8
Training and experience requirements (currently
under discussion)

• B3 licence
• Basic Knowledge Examination per revised Appendix
  I to Part-66 (duration of approved Part-147
  course approx. 900h)
• Practical Experience between 1 and 3 years (the
  same as for B1.2). Ref. 66.A.30(a)1
• NOTE Examination per Appendix I may be replaced
  by examination on human factors and aviation
  law if shown 10 years maintenance experience (at
  least 80 of the tasks of Appendix II to AMC).

9
Training and experience requirements (currently
under discussion)

• ELA-Basic licence
• Basic Knowledge 80 h training covering
• human factors and aviation law, and
• specific training on one of the following
• aircraft (either wood or metal or composite), or
• powerplant, or
• Balloon
• No practical experience required.

10
Training and experience requirements (currently
under discussion)

• ELA-Full licence
• Basic Knowledge 100 h additional technical
  training (in order to have one aircraft structure
  and engine combination)
• Practical experience 2 years experience as
  ELA-Basic certifying staff.