Avionics News May 2015 - 32

legislative

B Y
J A S O N
D I C K S T E I N
AEA GENERAL COUNSEL

Repair station process
management
Returning the customer's aircraft after work is performed

any aviation companies have implemented systems
designed to help them accomplish tasks in a uniform way. Manufacturers have production qualityassurance systems. Repair stations are required to have a repair
station manual and a quality manual, each of which provides
procedures that the business operates in a compliant manner. But
systems like this don't have to be limited just to the basic compliance requirements. There are many reasons to impose a systems
approach to the way you manage your repair station, and there
are many functions within the repair station that can benefit from
a management system.
One of the primary benefits of a written management system
is repeatability. Doing things the same way - the right way -
every time. When stress levels are high and deadlines are imminent, it can be easy to forget something important. But if you
have a checklist, it is much easier to remember all of the steps
you intended to take.
In our last article published in the March issue of Avionics
News, we reviewed the sorts of issues that can be addressed in
standard drop-off documentation (for when the customer brings
the aircraft in for work). This month, we address ways to protect the repair station by developing and using standard return
documentation, which addresses issues that can arise upon the
return of the aircraft to the customer's possession. In addition,
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avionics news

may

2015

this article addresses some techniques for implementing these
procedures through a written quality management system.
Aircraft return
A formal check-out process gives you an opportunity to
review your paperwork with the customer, to ensure that the
customer is getting the right paperwork - and only the right
paperwork.
Your business should have a checklist of what documentation
goes to the customer, and you should check to make sure it is
the correct documentation. I have seen companies that produced
more than one version of a document because an earlier version
was flawed. If that happens to you, then you need to make sure
that the correct version is the one provided to the customer.
Another problem I often see is "lost" logbook entries.
Unfortunately, the customer does not always bring the logbook
to the repair station. Because of this, repair stations may offer the
customer a logbook entry on a sticky label. The label is intended
to be pasted into the logbook. This works fine as long as the customer doesn't lose the label or forget to put it in the logbook. But
if the customer loses the label or forgets to put it in the logbook,
then the customer may tell the Federal Aviation Administration
that your repair station failed to provide the logbook entry.
To protect against this sort of situation, the aircraft return pro-

Avionics News May 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News May 2015