Contract maintenance

This regulation governs how Part 121 air carriers contract out aircraft maintenance work. When an airline uses outside maintenance providers (anyone not directly employed by the airline), the airline must remain "directly in charge" of all "covered work"—which includes essential maintenance affecting safety, regularly scheduled maintenance, and required inspections.

The airline must ensure contracted work follows its own maintenance manual and program. It must develop written policies and procedures for all contracted maintenance and include oversight procedures in its continuing analysis and surveillance system. These policies must be FAA-approved and included in the maintenance manual.

Practically, this means airlines can't simply hand off maintenance responsibility. They must actively supervise contractors, maintain quality control, and keep the FAA informed. Airlines must provide their local Flight Standards office a monthly-updated list of all maintenance providers, including physical addresses and the types of work performed at each location. This ensures accountability and allows FAA oversight of the entire maintenance operation.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*