Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

The Maintenance and

Engineering Organization

Chapter 7
 The Maintenance and Engineering
Organization
 Introduction
 Organizational Structure

Span of Control, Grouping of Similar Functions,
Separation of Production and Oversight Functions
 The Maintenance and Engineering
Organizational Chart
 Organization Structure and the TPPM
(Technical Policies and Procedures Manual)
 Variations from the Typical Organization
 Summary
 Introduction
 Key point: The organizational structure must allow
the company to meet its goals and objectives and
each unit within the company must be endowed
with sufficient personnel and authority to carry out
those objectives and meet those goals
Organizational Structure

 Three main concepts:


Span of Control

Grouping of Similar Functions

Separation of Maintenance Activities
from Oversight
Span of Control

 Amount of personnel or activities one can

effectively supervise of control
 By limiting the number of people that a
manager has to supervise, the work is
divided and the organization is run more
efficiently
 Levels of Management determine # of
personnel

Higher usually lower personnel

Lower line maintenance - more
Grouping of Similar Functions

 Grouping under One director, manager, or

supervisor for like tasks:
 Refer to Fig. 7-1 pg. 86
Separation of Production & Oversight Functions

 FAA rules require oversight/self-

monitoring functions of own rules and
those of a regulatory authority

 QA, QC, reliability and safety programs

 Must be separate to avoid conflict of

interest
Maintenance & Engineering Organizational Chart

 The M&E department is responsible for

conducting all scheduled/unscheduled
maintenance, modifications within the
limits of the maintenance schedule and
still meet the flight schedule.
 OPS is responsible for the flight planning,
to include flight crews, crew training etc.
 Both the VP of M&E and OPS will have
equal weight…one can NOT exist without
the other
Maintenance Organization
 Five Major Functions:

Technical Services
 Engineering, planning, training, technical publications, and
computing

Aircraft Maintenance
 Flight line, hangar, outstations, and maintenance control

Overhaul Shops
 Off-aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul

Materiel Services
 Ordering and maintaining supplies, handling warranties,
and moving repairable and consumable parts through the
system

Maintenance Program Evaluation
 Monitoring activity for the organization, its workers and its
suppliers
Technical Services
 Engineering

Development of the initial maintenance program
 Tasks, intervals, schedules, etc.

Evaluation of service bulletins/letters for possible
inclusion into the airline's equipment or practices

Oversight of those SB/SL deemed beneficial

Oversight of airworthiness directives required by
regulatory authorities

Evaluation of problems identified by the reliability
program and any problems from maintenance
checks

Establish the policies and procedures for the M&E
organization

Involved in planning of facilities to ensure it meets
M&E requirements
Technical Services
 Production Planning and Control

Responsible for maintenance scheduling and
planning
 Manpower, parts, facilities, tools and special
assistance for maintenance or modifications

Functions include:
 Short, medium and long term M&E planning
 Establish standards for manhours, materiel,
facilities, tools and equipment
 Work scheduling
 Control of hangars
 On-aircraft maintenance
 Monitor progress of in-work maintenance
Technical Services
 Training

Curriculum, course development, administration, and
training records for all personnel

Able to establish new and special training based on needs of
the aircraft
 New equipment, modifications, test procedures etc..
 Technical Publications

Maintains Master Library with list of all documents, too
include number of copies and format – paper, microfilm, or
electronic media

Responsible of tracking and issuing all revisions to
respective work centers

Must do periodic checks to ensure condition and current
 Computing Services

Selection of software & hardware – with usage information
and requirement input from the individual

Training of M&E personnel on usage

Continuing support
Aircraft Maintenance
 Three functions:

Flight line maintenance, hangar maintenance and
Maintenance Control Center
 Flight Line Maintenance

Turnaround maintenance and servicing, daily checks,
short interval checks and minor modifications
 Hangar Maintenance

Repairs, modifications, engine changes, painting,
corrosion control

Support shops – welding, seat and interior fabric,
composites and GSE
 Maintenance Control Center

Tracks all flights in and out, and maintenance needs
Overhaul Shops
 Engine Shop

Repair on types of engines and APUs
 Avionics Shop

Radios, navigation, radar, communication,
electrical
 Mechanical Component Shop

Actuators, hydraulic systems, flight control
surfaces, fuel systems, oxygen, pneumatics, etc.
 Structures

Sheet metal and other structural elements
Materiel (Supply)
 Responsible for:

Purchasing

Stocking and distribution

Inventory control

Shipping and receiving
 To include M&E and administration and
management
Maintenance Program Evaluation

 Quality Assurance

Ensures adherence to company policies and
procedures as well as FAA requirements and
those of suppliers

Conducts periodic audits to ensure
compliance
 Quality Control

Routine inspections of maintenance and repair
work

Certify maintenance and inspection personnel

Manage the (Required Inspection Items) RIIs
program

Calibration of tools and equipment

Oversees the NDT/NDI /program procedures
Maintenance Program Evaluation
 Reliability

Ensures that any problem areas are addressed

Data collection and analysis and publication of
monthly reliability report
 Safety

Develops, implements and administers the safety
and health related activities for M&E

Handles all reports and claims
Summary of Management Levels

 Responsible for all outlined

 Administrative and personnel duties
 Budgeting and planning (long and short
term)
 Necessary interaction

Meetings, letters, seminars, conferences etc…
 Management has determined structure based
on requirements to meet goals and
objectives of organization
Small Airlines
 All activities are addressed regardless of
size although some may be combined

i.e. quality control functions to qualified
maintenance personnel

Technical publications, training, and production
planning and control may be under engineering

Line and hangar maintenance may be separate
departments but utilize same personnel based on
quals, certifications and skills
 May not have own hangar maintenance –
may have to subcontract
 Summary
 Introduction
 Organizational Structure

Span of Control, Grouping of Similar Functions,
Separation of Production and Oversight Functions
 The Maintenance and Engineering
Organizational Chart
 Organization Structure and the TPPM
(Technical Policies and Procedures Manual)
 Variations from the Typical Organization
Questions?