The main expense item of an air operator is maintenance. Every aircraft must undergo regular inspections, certifications and maintenance. The rules adopted in international aviation clearly regulate the procedure for conducting technical inspections.
None of the aircraft will leave the runway if the owner / operator doesn’t have necessary documents and certificates of maintenance.
Processes that affect an aircraft include wear and tear (such as metal fatigue and corrosion) and natural failures (such as tire bursts, excessive structural stress, etc). In order to avoid problems and disruptions the team of Horizon Aviation International has organized an effective partnership program of inspection and maintenance for aircraft owners.
Types of regular technical inspections of an aircraft are pre-flight, daily and weekly.
- Transit Check is carried out before each departure, which consists of a visual inspection of the aircraft, testing of engines and vital systems of the aircraft.
- Daily Check is performed every day regardless of whether the plane took off or didn’t. It consists of checking the aircraft for visible defects. In this form of technical inspection, specialists check the general condition of the aircraft, vital components of the aircraft and the operation of emergency circuits.
- Weekly Check represents check of technical oils, fluids, system performance, on-board devices and chassis condition, as well as testing of avionics and airborne signal lights.
- Category “A” inspection (A-check) is mid-level service, providing once every 500-800 hours. It consists of searching for deformed elements, corrosion of the fuselage shell and parts and missing parts of the hull, on-board air conditioning, checking lighting equipment, aircraft hydraulics, braking systems and flap control systems.
- Category “B” inspection (B-check) is mid-level service, providing once every six months. The duration of the check is about 3 days.
- Category "C" inspection (C-check) is deep level service, passing once every 2 years. Duration: 1-2 weeks.
- Category "D" inspection (D-check) is deep level service, carried out every 5-7 years. The duration depends on the scope of work. This is the most detailed inspection of an aircraft, which consists of checking all control systems, replacing parts, refitting and upgrading aircraft equipment.
The main purposes of performing maintenance include:
- Liner safety - the key is the airworthiness of the aircraft;
- Keeping the private jet in good working condition. This aspect has great importance for the carrier and implies that the aircraft can operate according to the approved schedule;
- Maximizing the increase in the value of assets (support framework, engines and components) which have a great importance to the owner or lessor.
Maintenance will include preventive and corrective work, including preventive measures to ensure that natural failures do not occur.
In general, for preventive maintenance to be worthwhile, two conditions should be met:
- After maintenance action, the item must be restored to its original reliability;
- The cost of maintenance work should be less than the cost of failure of the equipment to prevent.
Aircraft maintenance is intended to keep the private jet in a condition in which a certificate of approval will be issued or renewed.
Passenger safety should be a top priority for every air carrier in the market.
Saving on maintenance costs or breaking the inspection schedule can lead to irreparable consequences.
