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Legal basis for ACAM-Airworthiness review
ACAM is based on paragraph M.B.303 of Part M, Annex I of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 of 26 November 2014 on the continuing airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products, parts and appliances, and on the approval of organisations and personnel involved in these tasks.
The legal basis was last amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1536 of 16 September 2015 amending Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 as regards alignment of rules for continuing airworthiness with Regulation (EC) No 216/2008, critical maintenance tasks and aircraft continuing airworthiness monitoring.
Procedure for competent authorities:
M.B.303 Aircraft continuing airworthiness monitoring
(a) The competent authority shall develop a survey programme to monitor the airworthiness status of the fleet of aircraft on its register.
(b) The survey programme shall include sample product surveys of aircraft.
(c) The programme shall be developed taking into account the number of aircraft on the register, local knowledge and past surveillance activities.
(d) The product survey shall focus on a number of key risk airworthiness elements and identify any findings. Furthermore, the competent authority shall analyse each finding to determine its root cause.
(e) All findings shall be confirmed in writing to the person or organisation accountable according to M.A.201.
(f) The competent authority shall record all findings, closure actions and recommendations.
(g) If during aircraft surveys evidence is found showing non-compliance to a Part-M requirement, the competent authority shall take actions in accordance with M.B.903.
(h) If the root cause of the finding identifies a non-compliance with any Subpart or with another Part, the non-compliance shall be dealt with as prescribed by the relevant Part.
(i) In order to facilitate appropriate enforcement action, competent authorities shall exchange information on non-compliances identified in accordance with paragraph (h).
M.B.903 Findings
If during aircraft surveys or by other means evidence is found showing non-compliance to a Part-M requirement, the competent authority shall take the following actions:
1. for level 1 findings, the competent authority shall require appropriate corrective action to be taken before further flight and immediate action shall be taken by the competent authority to revoke or suspend the airworthiness review certificate.
2. for level 2 findings, the corrective action required by the competent authority shall be appropriate to the nature of the finding.
M.A.905 Findings
(a) A level 1 finding is any significant non-compliance with Part-M requirements which lowers the safety standard and hazards seriously the flight safety.
(b) A level 2 finding is any non-compliance with the Part-M requirements which could lower the safety standard and possibly hazard the flight safety.
(c) After receipt of notification of findings according to point M.B.903, the person or organisation accountable referred to in point M.A.201 shall define a corrective action plan and demonstrate corrective action to the satisfaction of the competent authority within a period agreed with this authority including appropriate corrective action to prevent reoccurrence of the finding and its root cause.
M.B.304 Revocation, suspension and limitation
The competent authority shall:
(a) suspend an airworthiness review certificate on reasonable grounds in the case
of potential safety threat, or;
(b) suspend, revoke or limit an airworthiness review certificate pursuant to M.B.303(g).
Obligations of the aircraft owner:
M.A.201 Responsibilities
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j) The owner/operator is responsible for granting the competent authority access to the organisation/aircraft to determine continued compliance with this Part.
M.A.305 Aircraft continuing airworthiness record system
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f) The person responsible for the management of continuing airworthiness tasks pursuant to M.A. Subpart B, shall control the records as detailed in this paragraph and present the records to the competent authority upon request.
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More information on Part M: AMC to Part-M