Real can of worms here. As a private owner operator of a G Reg certified aircraft, I'm just wondering how others view the various levels of maintenance instructions as mandatory or not. Take for example AD's.....
FAA AD's
EASA AD's
CAA AD's
CAA Pre 78 AD's
Then CAA Notices are they mandatory? Leads nicely onto manufacturers...
Service Bulletins
Service Letters
And then sub component publications like engine/prop/battery/vac pump manufacturers they also issue
Service Letters (Eg Rapco for pumps)
Service Bulletins (Eg Lycoming for engines)
Maintenance Manuals (Eg Gill for batteries)
It can be a little bit confusing. I know that one must comply with the items listed in LAMP, and then the time life items as per the manufacturers maintenance manual but it's hard to know where one draws the line in terms of compliance. Engineers aren't even sure themselves - I've asked. If it's written somewhere just do it is the common opinion. One simply couldn't phone the CAA and ask for fear you could be told if it's written anywhere you should comply with same. The above makes a strong case for permit or Pt 91 N reg aircraft, but if you simply had to fly the EU flag then where does one draw the line? The smart answer might be it's as per the approved maintenance program for that particular aircraft. Lots of aircraft on G info have no maintenance program approved if you check it out. It's only when you sit down to work the whole aircraft into a spreadsheet that you can really see what's what - and when you do that you even begin to have some sympathy for aircraft engineers. Never thought I'd come around to that way of thinking, but it must be like herding cats on the motorway trying to keep a fleet of customers aircraft fully complied with all of the above....
