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 Maintenance Working Group

The first AOPA Maintenance Working Group meeting was held in March 2009. The attendees comprised two senior personnel from the CAA Maintenance and Airworthiness standards group, two from the GA maintenance industry together with George Done and Martin Robinson from AOPA representing aircraft owners. Subsequently, and partly as a result of that meeting, the CAA organised three seminars on EASA Part M aimed at informing representatives from Approved Maintenance Organisations and other interested parties of the state of play and latest developments at that time.

It subsequently transpired that the transition to EASA Part M continued to raise difficulties, particularly with the maintainers, and a further meeting was organised by AOPA in October 2010 at which it was decided to hold similar meetings for the foreseeable future on a roughly quarterly basis. More recently, the CAA General Aviation Partnership, which meets three times a year, receives an update from the AOPA Maintenance Working Group as regular item on the agenda, so for coordination purposes the working group now meets about 3 weeks beforehand. Typically, between 2 and 4 CAA representatives attend the WG meetings, to join the owners and maintainers. Important practical products have included the AOPA Code of Practice for Maintenance and Repair, and magazine articles on pre-purchase inspections, the Self- Declared Maintenance Programme (SDMP) and 8.33 kHz radios.


AOPA Maintenance Working Group - Terms of Reference

AOPA Maintenance Working Group Terms of Reference

  1. To provide a forum for discussion of maintenance issues to the mutual benefit of aircraft owners and maintainers.
  2. To extend the forum to the regulators in order to allow issues to be discussed in a constructive manner and resolutions to problems sought.
  3. The WG is open to maintainers who are willing and able to contribute on a voluntary basis, but it is expected that these would be holders of EASA Part M approvals.
  4. The WG will endeavour to achieve maintenance representation across the range of activity, to include, for example, those involved in avionics and rotary wing.
  5. It is not expected that maintainers would necessarily be AOPA members.
  6. The WG will normally meet at approximately quarterly intervals, or as required.
  7. Items for the agenda will be welcome from owners (via AOPA), maintainers and regulators.
  8. Notes of meetings will be circulated to members of the AOPA Executive

Current Members

As at 10.10.18, The current members of the AOPA Maintenance Working Group are:

  • Andrew McCoig Part owner of a Rochester based Robin DR400 for the last 30 years. 
  • Malcolm Bird Part owner of Sportcruiser (currently an EASA Permit aircraft) and owner and builder of a Rotorway Exec 162F Helicopter
  • Carol Brightwell Arion Aviation Ltd, Rochester Airport, Chatham, ME5 9SF
  • Ken Craigie Chief Inspector, Light Aircraft Association. LAE and PPL holder
  • Mark Davies Swiftair Maintenance Ltd, Leicester Airport, Leicester LE2 2FG
  • George Done AOPA, recent part owner of Piper Cubs and a Cherokee 
  • John Eagles Air Stratus Ltd, Oaksey Park Airfield, Oaksey, Malmesbury, Wilts SN16 9SD. M3 & Subparts F, G. & I. Also Technical Chair of ALAE, now part of Prospect. Owner of Cherokee & Auster under restoration. Part owner of Tiger Moth rebuild.
  • Michael Fowler HQ Aviation Ltd, Denham Aerodrome, Denham UB9 5DF. Helicopter maintenance and operations.
  • Paul Hendry-Smith The Light Aircraft Company (TLAC), Little Snoring Airfield, Little Snoring, Fakenham, NR21 0JL. Subparts F, G & I. Also manufacturer of the Sherwood Ranger. Owner of a Jabiru J400, Cessna 140 and Sherwood Ranger ST.
  • Roger Kimbell Past owner of Northamptonshire School of Flying t/a J & J Aircraft Services, Sibson Aerodrome. M3 & Subparts F, G & I etc and Part 66. Owner of Robin DR 300. Now retired from active aircraft maintenance.
  • Paul Layzell Previously Accountable Manager, Touchdown Engineering Ltd, Old Buckenham Airfield, Abbey Road, Old Buckenham, Attleborough, NR17 1PU.  M3 & Part M FG & I. Owner Tiger Moth & Super Cub.
  • Neil Peacock Principal Airworthiness Surveyor, CAA.
  • Michael Powell Chief Engineer, Light Aircraft and Maintenance Services, 4 Chapel Road, Upton, Norwich, NR13 6BT.
  • Nigel Rockhill The Spitfire Co Ltd, Biggin Hill
  • Neil Shepherd GA Airworthiness Surveyor, CAA
  • James Sharman Sharman Avionics Ltd, Units 23 & 24 Bellman Gate, Sywell Aerodrome, NN6 0BL.
  • Peter Shaw Head of Engineering, West London Aero Club, White Waltham
  • Mark Shortman Head of Policy and Delivery, GAU, CAA
  • Mike Smart M. Smart Ltd, Farley Farm, Hampshire. M3 & Subparts F, G & I. Consultant engineer for all piston engine aircraft (M & N Smart)
  • Jim Tong Aircraft Owner, PPL and FI and currently owns a Piper Arrow IV. 
  • Pete Wood Vintage Fabrics Ltd, Audley End Airfield, Saffron Walden, CB11 4LH.

If you are interested in this Working Group or wish to raise a maintenance related issue, please contact George by clicking on his name below.

George Done

Code of Practice

One of the most regular requests AOPA UK gets from members is to resolve disputes between aircraft owners and maintainers. The AOPA Maintainers Working Group have produced a Code of Practice for Maintenance and Repair that they themselves will follow, and which can be signed up to by light aircraft maintainers.

Many disputes arise from unrealistic expectations on the part of owners. A common understanding prior to the commencement of work is desirable.

If an aircraft maintainer is not signed up to the AOPA Code of Practice ask why not! Be wary of any organisation that refuses to give any such, or similar, commitment to you as a Customer.

An aircraft owner who is a customer of a light aircraft maintenance organisation that subscribes to the AOPA Code of Practice for Maintenance and Repair is provided the following commitment:

AOPA Code of Practice for Maintenance and Repair

  • We will endeavour to contact you at least two weeks in advance of any scheduled maintenance due to fix a mutually acceptable time and date to receive your aircraft at our facility.
  • A full explanation of any mandatory requirements ADs, SBs, etc. that you need to have carried out when your aircraft is with us, in addition to the routine scheduled work, will be given in detail.
  • Any additional work requested by you will be agreed at the time of booking.
  • Estimates and quotations can be provided upon request and before any work is carried out if required.
  • Accepted methods of payment will be confirmed prior to any work commencing. (For lengthy or expensive projects stage payments may be agreed)
  • We will agree with you the parts to be used. Should you wish to source and pay for parts directly this can be discussed and we may be able to agree, subject to the inclusion of a suitable administration fee to cover the approval of any necessary paperwork that you need to provide.
  • All parts supplied by us remain our property until we are in receipt of cleared funds.
  • Replaced parts will be made available to you for examination upon request. (Unless required for part exchange by our supplier.)
  • The quality of any subcontract work e.g.. avionics, weighing, welding etc. remains our responsibility unless purchased directly by yourself.
  • Any additional work found to be needed, during the maintenance procedure, will be advised to you in writing or by email, and will be required to be prior authorised by you, unless otherwise agreed.
  • All elements of the work carried out will be explained in full upon collection/delivery.
  • Final invoicing will clearly show labour, parts, additional charges and VAT. Once our explanation of the work is complete payment is due upon collection/delivery, which should be within seven days. Thereafter, a daily storage charge may be raised.
  • Aircraft must have valid insurance whilst within our custody
  • We ensure that all our staff are competent to carry out the work within their responsibilities.
  • A competent member of staff will appropriately supervise trainees.
  • Appropriate equipment is used to carry out the work we undertake.
  • All work is carried out in strict accordance of the National Airworthiness Authority regulations appropriate to your aircraft.
  • In the event of a complaint our Chief Engineer or Accountable Manager should be informed immediately.

The Maintenance Organisations below have signed up to the AOPA Maintenance Code of Practice.

Sign up to the AOPA Code of Practice

Please complete this form to request sign up your Aircraft Maintenance or Repair business to the AOPA Code of Practice for Maintenance and Repair.

On submission of this form it will be stored in our database and your request will be emailed to the Chairman of the AOPA Maintainers Working Group for consideration. You will also receive a copy of your submitted form at the email address provided.

You will be advised if your request has been accepted.

Once accepted you may promote your sign-up to your customers or in your advertising.

AOPA may list your business on the AOPA UK website and in relevant publications.

If your request is accepted you will have signed up to the following Code of Practice:

  • We will endeavour to contact you at least two weeks in advance of any scheduled maintenance due to fix a mutually acceptable time and date to receive your aircraft at our facility. 
  • A full explanation of any mandatory requirements ADs, SBs, etc. that you need to have carried out when your aircraft is with us, in addition to the routine scheduled work, will be given in detail.
  • Any additional work requested by you will be agreed at the time of booking.
  • Estimates and quotations can be provided upon request and before any work is carried out if required.
  • Accepted methods of payment will be confirmed prior to any work commencing. (For lengthy or expensive projects stage payments may be agreed)
  • We will agree with you the parts to be used. Should you wish to source and pay for parts directly this can be discussed and we may be able to agree, subject to the inclusion of a suitable administration fee to cover the approval of any necessary paperwork that you need to provide.
  • All parts supplied by us remain our property until we are in receipt of cleared funds.
  • Replaced parts will be made available to you for examination upon request. (Unless required for part exchange by our supplier.)
  • The quality of any subcontract work e.g.. avionics, weighing, welding etc. remains our responsibility unless purchased directly by yourself.
  • Any additional work found to be needed, during the maintenance procedure, will be advised to you in writing or by email, and will be required to be prior authorised by you, unless otherwise agreed. 
  • All elements of the work carried out will be explained in full upon collection/delivery.
  • Final invoicing will clearly show labour, parts, additional charges and VAT. Once our explanation of the work is complete payment is due upon collection/delivery, which should be within seven days. Thereafter, a daily storage charge may be raised.
  • Aircraft must have valid insurance whilst within our custody
  • We ensure that all our staff are competent to carry out the work within their responsibilities.
  • A competent member of staff will appropriately supervise trainees.
  • Appropriate equipment is used to carry out the work we undertake.
  • All work is carried out in strict accordance of the National Airworthiness Authority regulations appropriate to your aircraft.
  • In the event of a complaint our Chief Engineer or Accountable Manager should be informed immediately.
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