pilotfa90
You still have more homework to do if you think you are locked in to one maintenance organisation!
The only aircraft (fixed wing) which need to be kept in a controlled environment (locked in as you called it) are above 2730 KG MTOM and those used for commercial air transport such as aircraft operated on an air operators certificate.
So your choice if you are not above 2730 or CAT.
1. Non-controlled evironment which means a full airworthiness review (15b) each year, as there are now pleanty of companies doing this this can be done from £300.00. but like anything I'm sure there will be cheaper!
2. The controlled environment means a full review (15b) then the tasks/ maintenance is controlled (hopefully!) for the next 12 months, due to the controlled status off the aircraft this is extended again after 12 months (15a) the same again after another twelve months. At year three a full review is carried out again, simples!
As stated on here previously, charges vary greatly and some do monthly some annual and some do both!
The views on lifed items and service bulletins also vary greatly between companies, engineers and CAA regional offices!
We all want safe reliable aircraft but none of us want to throw away perfectly good aircraft parts!