FAR DECODED — TITLE 14 CFR

CAMP: Responsibility for Airworthiness

Regulation Text

(a) For aircraft maintained in accordance with a Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program, each program manager is primarily responsible for the following:

(1) Maintaining the airworthiness of the program aircraft, including airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, rotors, appliances, and parts.

(2) Maintaining its aircraft in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

(3) Repairing defects that occur between regularly scheduled maintenance required under part 43 of this chapter.

(b) Each program manager who maintains program aircraft under a CAMP must—

(1) Employ a Director of Maintenance or equivalent position. The Director of Maintenance must be a certificated mechanic with airframe and powerplant ratings who has responsibility for the maintenance program on all program aircraft maintained under a continuous airworthiness maintenance program. This person cannot also act as Chief Inspector.

(2) Employ a Chief Inspector or equivalent position. The Chief Inspector must be a certificated mechanic with airframe and powerplant ratings who has overall responsibility for inspection aspects of the CAMP. This person cannot also act as Director of Maintenance.

(3) Have the personnel to perform the maintenance of program aircraft, including airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, rotors, appliances, emergency equipment and parts, under its manual and this chapter; or make arrangements with another person for the performance of maintenance. However, the program manager must ensure that any maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alteration that is performed by another person is performed under the program manager's operating manual and this chapter.

The short answer

(14 CFR § 91.1413) makes each program manager using a CAMP primarily responsible for maintaining program aircraft airworthiness and repairing defects between scheduled maintenance, and requires employing a Director of Maintenance and a separate Chief Inspector—each a certificated A&P mechanic, and the two roles cannot be the same person.

Research Notes

Common Questions

Can the Director of Maintenance also be the Chief Inspector?

No. The rule requires both positions, each held by a certificated mechanic with airframe and powerplant ratings, and expressly bars one person from holding both.

The Director of Maintenance must be a certificated mechanic with airframe and powerplant ratings… This person cannot also act as Chief Inspector. (14 CFR § 91.1413(b)(1))

Who is responsible for airworthiness under a CAMP?

The program manager is primarily responsible for maintaining airworthiness of airframes, engines, propellers, rotors, appliances, and parts, and for repairing defects between regularly scheduled maintenance required under part 43.

Can another person perform the maintenance?

Yes. The program manager may make arrangements with another person, but must ensure any maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alteration performed by another person is done under the program manager's operating manual and this chapter.

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