Airworthiness Records (Part II): Aircraft Maintenance Program Status

The Aircraft Maintenance Program (AMP) status defines whether scheduled maintenance requirements are properly planned, performed, and controlled within a continuing airworthiness record system. It is a key reference during audits, airworthiness reviews, and aircraft transitions.

Aircraft Maintenance Program (AMP) tasks originate from multiple sources, including those derived from the Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR), Airworthiness Limitations (ALS), Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMR), and other applicable requirements.

Competent authorities and lessors often require specific segregation of mandatory continuing airworthiness information, such as airworthiness limitations (ALS) and Certification Maintenance Requirements (CMR). These may be recorded as separate statuses within the organisation’s records to ensure clear identification, traceability, and compliance.

Applicability and Scope

The AMP status provides a structured view of the current accomplishment and planning condition of all scheduled maintenance tasks defined in the approved AMP.

It is based on the last and next accomplishment data for each task, determined by the applicable control parameter.

Tasks may be controlled at different levels, including:

• Aircraft

• Engines

• Propellers

• Components, where applicable

The conditions under which maintenance tasks require aircraft-level or component-level control depend on the applicable requirements, the nature of the task, and operator convenience.

Where tasks are controlled at engine, propeller, or component level, the corresponding identification and associated utilisation parameters must be included to ensure proper traceability.

Recording AMP Status

Each entry links the maintenance task to its accomplishment and confirms its current status. This typically includes:

• Task identifier

• Description, including system and task type

• Applicability (aircraft, engine, propeller, or component, as appropriate, including S/N)

• Reference to approved source (e.g. MRBR, ALS, CMR, SB)

• Last done:

  • Date of the Certificate of Release to Service (CRS)

  • Reference to the associated work package, work order, or technical log entry

  • Aircraft or component time at last accomplishment (hours, cycles, or other relevant parameter)

• Next due:

  • Date and/or applicable parameter (hours, cycles, landings, calendar time, or other)

  • Repetitive interval or threshold

• Reference to accomplishment instructions (e.g. Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) manual, etc)

Where the task is controlled by flight hours, flight cycles, landings, calendar time, or any other parameter, the total in-service life accumulated in the relevant parameter(s) must also be included to support the calculation and validation of the next due.

AMP status is typically maintained separately from other continuing airworthiness status records, such as repetitive Airworthiness Directives (ADs), modifications, and repairs, while remaining part of the overall AMP control framework. This reflects the different control mechanisms of these requirements.

Special Considerations

Task Identification

Task identification must be precise enough to avoid ambiguity. ICA-based maintenance tasks are normally defined through structured references provided in the applicable Instructions for Continuing Airworthiness, such as the Maintenance Planning Document (MPD).

For operator-defined tasks, it is convenient to establish a standardized internal numbering convention to ensure clear identification and control.

Multi-Parameter Control

Maintenance tasks may be controlled by more than one parameter (e.g. flight hours, flight cycles, and calendar time).

In such cases, the status must reflect all applicable parameters, ensuring that the most restrictive limit can be identified and controlled.

Component-Level Control

Where maintenance tasks are controlled at engine, propeller, or component level, the correct identification of the affected item is essential.

This applies in particular to life-limited parts and time-controlled components, where the accumulated in-service time must be recorded to support the correct determination of remaining life, last accomplishment, and next due, as applicable.

In-depth considerations for life-limited parts and time-controlled components will be covered in a dedicated article in this series.

However, components may also be subject to maintenance tasks controlled at component level without qualifying as life-limited parts or time-controlled components (e.g. airworthiness limitations associated with Removable Structural Components (RSC) when the item may be transferred between aircraft). In such cases, their identification and associated utilisation data must be recorded to demonstrate compliance with the AMP.

Sampling Programs

The AMP may include a sampling program for certain structural tasks, allowing these tasks to be performed on a selected portion of the fleet instead of all aircraft.

Where sampling has been applied, the sampling status must be clearly identified to ensure correct interpretation of maintenance applicability across the fleet.

Permitted Variations and Excpetional Short-Term Extensions

In some cases, maintenance tasks may be subject to approved permitted variations or short-term extensions, as defined by the operator’s approved procedures and within the limits of the applicable regulations.

These deviations must be strictly controlled, time-limited, and supported by an approved technical justification where required. The AMP status should clearly identify when a task has been deferred under such provisions, including the revised due limit, approval reference, and expiry of the extension.

Conclusion

The status of the Aircraft Maintenance Program demonstrates that all scheduled maintenance tasks are identified, tracked, and controlled, with clear evidence of accomplishment and planning status.

By linking each task to its applicable parameters, supporting records, and defined intervals, the AMP status provides a clear and current view of compliance with the approved maintenance program.

Learn more about Aircraft Maintenance Programs best practices →

Airworthiness Records Series — Next: Part III – Modification Status (coming soon)