Manual requirements

This regulation specifies what Part 135 operators must include in their maintenance manual. The manual must contain:

Organizational information: A chart showing the company's maintenance organization structure and a list of outside contractors performing inspections or maintenance work.

Maintenance programs: Detailed procedures for how maintenance and inspections are performed, including methods for routine and non-routine work, which items require inspection, who can perform inspections, and standards for accepting or rejecting work. Critically, it requires separation of duties—the person performing work cannot inspect their own work, and inspectors' decisions cannot be overridden except by inspection supervisors.

Record-keeping system: A method to track what work was done, who did it, and who approved it.

Format: The manual must be in English and in a format (printed or electronic) that's retrievable and acceptable to the FAA.

This ensures standardized, accountable maintenance practices across the 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.*