ML.A.801 Aircraft certificate of release to service

(a)     A CRS shall be issued after the required maintenance has been carried out properly on an aircraft.

(b)     The CRS shall be issued, alternatively by:

(1)     appropriate certifying staff on behalf of the approved maintenance organisation;

(2)     independent certifying staff;

(3)     the pilot- owner in compliance with point ML.A.803.

(c)      By derogation from point (b), in the case of unforeseen circumstances, when an aircraft is grounded at a location where no appropriately approved maintenance organisation and no appropriate certifying staff are available, the owner may authorise any person, with no less than 3 years of appropriate maintenance experience and holding the proper qualifications, to maintain the aircraft according to the standards set out in Subpart D of this Annex and release the aircraft. The owner shall in that case:

(1)     obtain and keep in the aircraft records, details of all the work carried out and of the qualifications held by the person issuing the certification;

(2)     ensure that any such maintenance is rechecked and released in accordance with point (b) of point ML.A.801 at the earliest opportunity and within a period not exceeding 7 days or, in the case of aircraft operated under Annex VII to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Part-NCO) or, in the case of balloons, not operated under Subpart-ADD of Annex II (Part-BOP) to Regulation (EU) 2018/395 or, in the case of sailplanes not following Subpart DEC of Annex II (Part-SAO) to Regulation (EU) 2018/1976, within a period not exceeding 30 days;

(3)     notify the contracted CAMO or CAO, or the competent authority in the absence of such a contract, within 7 days of the issuance of such authorisation.

(d)     In the case of a release to service in accordance with points (b)(1) or (b)(2), the certifying staff may be assisted in performing the maintenance tasks by one or more persons subject to his direct and continuous control;

(e)     A CRS shall contain at least:

(1)     basic details of the maintenance carried out;

(2)     the date on which the maintenance was completed;

(3)     the identity of the organisation or person issuing the release to service, including, alternatively:

(i)      the approval reference of the maintenance organisation and certifying staff issuing the CRS;

(ii)     in the case of point (b)(2), the identity and, if applicable, the licence number of the independent certifying staff issuing the CRS;

(4)     the limitations to airworthiness or operations, if any.

(f)      By derogation from point (a) and notwithstanding point (g), when the required maintenance cannot be completed, a CRS may be issued within the approved aircraft limitations. In that case, the CRS shall indicate that the maintenance could not be completed, as well as indicate any applicable airworthiness or operations limitations, as part of the information required in point (e)(4) .

(g)     A CRS shall not be issued in the case of any known non-compliance with the requirements of this Annex which endangers flight safety.