26.370 Continuing airworthiness tasks and aircraft maintenance programme

Regulation (EU) 2020/1159

(a)     Operators or owners of turbine-powered large aeroplanes certified on or after 1 January 1958 shall ensure the continuing airworthiness of ageing aeroplanes structures by preparing the aircraft maintenance programme provided for in point M.A.302 of Annex I (Part-M) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014[5] that shall include:

(i)      for aeroplanes certified to carry 30 passengers or more, or with a payload capacity greater than 3 402 kg (7 500 lbs), an approved damage-tolerance-based inspection programme;

(ii)      for aeroplanes operated in accordance with Annex IV (Part-CAT) to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 and certified to carry 30 passengers or more or with a payload capacity greater than 3 402 kg (7 500 lbs), a means for addressing the adverse effects that repairs and modifications may have on fatigue-critical structure and on inspections provided for in point (a)(i);

(iii)     for aeroplanes certified with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) greater than 34 019 kg (75 000 lbs) an approved LOV;

(iv)     a CPCP;

(b)     The following deadlines shall apply to the obligation referred to in paragraph (a):

(i)      the aircraft maintenance programme shall be revised to address the requirements of points (a)(i), (a)(ii) and (a) (iv) before 26 February 2024 or before operating the aeroplane, whichever occurs later;

(ii)      the aircraft maintenance programme shall be revised to address the requirements of point (a)(iii) before 26 August 2021, or 6 months after the publication of the LOV, or before operating the aeroplane, whichever occurs later;

(c)      For an aeroplane model first certified before 26 February 2021 and:

(i)      that does not operate anymore after 26 February 2024 points (a)(i), (a)(ii) and (a)(iv) shall not apply;

(ii)      that does not operate anymore after 26 August 2021 point (a)(iii) shall not apply;

(iii)     with a restricted TC issued before 26 February 2021 in accordance with damage tolerance requirements, provided that it is not operated beyond 75 % of its design service goal and is primarily operated in support of the approval holders manufacturing operation points (a)(i), (a)(ii) and (a)(iv) shall not apply;

(d)     For an aeroplane model with a restricted type certificate issued before 26 February 2021 and the primary purpose of which is firefighting, points (a)(i) and (a)(ii) shall not apply.