In part 43.3 of the code of federal regulations (CFR), the FAA describes preventive maintenance as simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts not involving complex assembly operations.

The question then becomes: What exact work falls under this definition and who is authorized to perform it?

It states the list of persons authorized to perform preventive maintenance as:

• A person working under the supervision of a holder of a mechanic or repairman certificate
• The holder of a repair station certificate
• The holder of a pilot certificate issued under part 61 may perform preventive maintenance on any aircraft owned or operated by that pilot not used under part 121, 129, or 135.

Most of you will fall under the 3rd option: a pilot certificate holder working on his/her own airplane.

Under Appendix A of Part 43 it lists examples of repairs considered preventive maintenance:

• Removal, installation, and repair of landing gear tires.
• Replacing elastic shock absorber cords on landing gear.
• Servicing landing gear shock struts by adding oil, air, or both.
• Servicing landing gear wheel bearings, such as cleaning and greasing.
• Replacing defective safety wiring or cotter keys.
• Lubrication not requiring disassembly other than removal of nonstructural items such as cover plates, cowlings, and fairings.
• Making simple fabric patches not requiring rib stitching or the removal of structural parts or control surfaces. In the case of balloons, the making of small fabric repairs to envelopes (as defined in, and in accordance with, the balloon manufacturers’ instructions) not requiring load tape repair or replacement.
• Replenishing hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic reservoir.
• Refinishing decorative coating of fuselage, balloon baskets, wings tail group surfaces (excluding balanced control surfaces), fairings, cowlings, landing gear, cabin, or cockpit interior when removal or disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is not required.
• Applying preservative or protective material to components where no disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is involved and where such coating is not prohibited or is not contrary to good practices.
• Repairing upholstery and decorative furnishings of the cabin, cockpit, or balloon basket interior when the repairing does not require disassembly of any primary structure or operating system or interfere with an operating system or affect the primary structure of the aircraft.
• Making small simple repairs to fairings, nonstructural cover plates, cowlings, and small patches and reinforcements not changing the contour so as to interfere with proper air flow.
• Replacing side windows where that work does not interfere with the structure or any operating system such as controls, electrical equipment, etc.
• Replacing safety belts.
• Replacing seats or seat parts with replacement parts approved for the aircraft, not involving disassembly of any primary structure or operating system.
• Trouble shooting and repairing broken circuits in landing light wiring circuits.
• Replacing bulbs, reflectors, and lenses of position and landing lights.
• Replacing wheels and skis where no weight and balance computation is involved.
• Replacing any cowling not requiring removal of the propeller or disconnection of flight controls.
• Replacing or cleaning spark plugs and setting of spark plug gap clearance.
• Replacing any hose connection except hydraulic connections.
• Replacing prefabricated fuel lines.
• Cleaning or replacing fuel and oil strainers or filter elements.
• Replacing and servicing batteries.
• Cleaning of balloon burner pilot and main nozzles in accordance with the balloon manufacturer’s instructions.
• Replacement or adjustment of nonstructural standard fasteners incidental to operations.
• The interchange of balloon baskets and burners on envelopes when the basket or burner is designated as interchangeable in the balloon type certificate data and the baskets and burners are specifically designed for quick removal and installation.
• The installations of anti-misfueling devices to reduce the diameter of fuel tank filler openings provided the specific device has been made a part of the aircraft type certificiate data by the aircraft manufacturer, the aircraft manufacturer has provided FAA-approved instructions for installation of the specific device, and installation does not involve the disassembly of the existing tank filler opening.
• Removing, checking, and replacing magnetic chip detectors.
• The inspection and maintenance tasks prescribed and specifically identified as preventive maintenance in a primary category aircraft type certificate or supplemental type certificate holder’s approved special inspection and preventive maintenance program when accomplished on a primary category aircraft provided:

• • (i) They are performed by the holder of at least a private pilot certificate issued under part 61 who is the registered owner (including co-owners) of the affected aircraft and who holds a certificate of competency for the affected aircraft (1) issued by a school approved under § 147.21(e) of this chapter; (2) issued by the holder of the production certificate for that primary category aircraft that has a special training program approved under § 21.24 of this subchapter; or (3) issued by another entity that has a course approved by the Administrator; and
  • (ii) The inspections and maintenance tasks are performed in accordance with instructions contained by the special inspection and preventive maintenance program approved as part of the aircraft’s type design or supplemental type design.
• Removing and replacing self-contained, front instrument panel-mounted navigation and communication devices that employ tray-mounted connectors that connect the unit when the unit is installed into the instrument panel, (excluding automatic flight control systems, transponders, and microwave frequency distance measuring equipment (DME)). The approved unit must be designed to be readily and repeatedly removed and replaced, and pertinent instructions must be provided. Prior to the unit’s intended use, and operational check must be performed in accordance with the applicable sections of part 91 of this chapter.

If you are an aircraft owner and would like an FAA certified A&P to teach you how to perform preventive maintenance: The Full Day Maintenance Workshop is for you!

During our full day of maintenance, you will work one on one under the direct supervision of an FAA certified A&P performing many of these actions:

• You will be learn how to perform the actions.
• You will learn the do’s and don’t of maintenance:
  • Performing maintenance on your own without a trained professional can cost you thousands of dollars over the lifespan.
  • Performing preventive maintenance yourself will also save you thousands in labor costs over the life of your airplane.
  • Most importantly, you will learn what to watch out for.
  • You will learn what doesn’t look right.
  • It will build your confidence and it will save you money.

Our day starts promptly at 8AM and goes until 4PM with a working lunch. A lunch will be provided to you during the workshop. Please be sure when you register to advise us of any allergies or certain dietary restrictions. The cost of the workshop is $495. For more detailed booking information, please fill out the form below or contact us directly at .