Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433)

Subpart 73 — Approved Maintenance Organizations

Division I — General

Application for Approval

• 573.01 (1) An applicant for an approved maintenance organization (AMO) certificate or for an amendment of an AMO certificate that is in effect shall make an application in the form and manner specified in Standard 573 —Approved Maintenance Organizations.

• (2) An applicant referred to in subsection (1) shall submit to the Minister with the application a copy of its maintenance policy manual (MPM) required pursuant to subsection 573.10(1).

Entitlement to and Scope of Certificate

• 573.02 (1) The Minister shall issue to a maintenance organization that demonstrates that it meets the requirements of this Subpart an approved maintenance organization (AMO) certificate authorizing the maintenance of specified aeronautical products or the provision of specified maintenance services.

• (2) The AMO certificate shall specify, in accordance with the criteria specified in section 573.02 of Standard 573 — Approved Maintenance Organizations, any category in which ratings have been issued and shall list the aeronautical products that the AMO is authorized to maintain or the maintenance services that the AMO is authorized to perform.

• (3) The scope of the work that may be performed under each rating specified on the AMO certificate is determined by limitations that are set out in the certificate.

• (4) Unless an expiry date is specified in an AMO certificate issued pursuant to subsection (1), the certificate remains in effect until it is surrendered, suspended or cancelled.

Duties of Certificate Holder

• 573.03 (1) The holder of an approved maintenance organization (AMO) certificate shall

  • (a) appoint a person responsible for maintenance;

  • (b) ensure that the person responsible for maintenance meets the requirement set out in subsection 573.04(1);

  • (c) subject to subsection (4), ensure that the person responsible for maintenance

    • (i) has achieved a grade of 70% or more in an open-book examination that demonstrates knowledge of the provisions of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, and

    • (ii) meets the experience requirement set out in subsection 573.04(1) of Standard 573 — Approved Maintenance Organizations;

  • (d) [Repealed, SOR/2022-246, s. 13]

  • (e) ensure that the person responsible for maintenance performs the duties referred to in subsections 573.04(3) and 573.09(2) and (3);

  • (f) provide the person responsible for maintenance with the financial and human resources necessary to ensure that the holder of the AMO certificate meets the requirements of these Regulations;

  • (g) ensure that corrective actions are taken in respect of any findings resulting from a quality assurance program established under subsection 573.09(1) or a safety management system referred to in section 573.30; and

  • (h) conduct reviews of the safety management system to determine its effectiveness.

• (2) [Repealed, SOR/2022-246, s. 13]

• (3) [Repealed, SOR/2022-246, s. 13]

• (4) The knowledge requirement set out in subparagraph (1)(c)(i) does not apply in respect of

  • (a) a person responsible for maintenance who held that position on January 1, 1997; or

  • (b) the holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) licence.

• (5) The experience requirement set out in subsection 573.04(1) of Standard 573 — Approved Maintenance Organizations does not apply in the case of an AMO certificate in respect of which no rating in the aircraft, avionics, instrument, engine or propeller category has been issued if the accountable executive can demonstrate to the Minister by means of a risk assessment that the lesser experience is appropriate to the scope of work performed by the AMO and will not affect aviation safety or the safety of the public.

• (6) The holder of an AMO certificate shall ensure that no person is appointed to be responsible for maintenance or remains responsible for maintenance if, at the time of their appointment or during their tenure, they have a record of conviction for

  • (a) an offence under section 7.3 of the Act; or

  • (b) two or more offences under any of sections 571.10 and 571.11 not arising from a single occurrence.

• (7) The holder of a certificate referred to in subsection (1) shall ensure that the person managing the safety management system who is referred to in section 573.32 performs the duties set out in that section.

Person Responsible for Maintenance

• 573.04 (1) The person responsible for maintenance shall, within 30 days after their appointment under paragraph 573.03(1)(a), submit to the Minister a signed statement that they accept the responsibilities of their position.

• (2) [Repealed, SOR/2019-295, s. 12]

• (3) The person responsible for maintenance shall, where a finding resulting from a quality assurance program established under subsection 573.09(1) or a safety management system referred to in section 573.30 is reported to them,

  • (a) determine what, if any, corrective actions are required and carry out those actions;

  • (b) keep a record of any determination made under paragraph (a) and the reason for it;

  • (c) if management functions have been assigned to another person under subsection (4) or (5), communicate any determination regarding a corrective action to that person; and

  • (d) notify the accountable executive of any systemic deficiency and of the corrective action taken.

• (4) The person responsible for maintenance may assign the management functions for the entire quality assurance program established under subsection 573.09(1) or for the safety management system referred to in 573.30 to another person if

  • (a) that person meets the requirements set out in paragraph 573.03(1)(c) and subsection 573.03(6); and

  • (b) the assignment and its scope are described in the AMO’s MPM.

• (5) The person responsible for maintenance may assign the management functions for specific maintenance activities to another person if the assignment and its scope are described in the AMO’s MPM.

• (6) The responsibility of the person responsible for maintenance is not affected by the assignment to another person of management functions under subsection (4) or (5).

Authorization to Sign a Maintenance Release

• 573.05 (1) No approved maintenance organization (AMO) certificate holder shall authorize a person to sign a maintenance release unless the person meets the applicable requirements of section 571.11 and has successfully completed the training required by section 573.06.

• (2) No AMO certificate holder shall authorize a person to sign a maintenance release under paragraph 571.11(2)(c) unless the person has, in respect of the work being certified, demonstrated to the certificate holder levels of knowledge and experience that are appropriate and that meet the applicable criteria set out in section 573.05 of Standard 573 — Approved Maintenance Organizations.

Training Program

• 573.06 (1) An approved maintenance organization (AMO) certificate holder shall implement a training program to ensure that persons authorized to perform or supervise the performance of any function under this Subpart are trained in respect of the regulations, the standards and the AMO procedures applicable to that function.

• (2) The program required by subsection (1) shall include initial training, updating and any other training necessary, within the meaning assigned to those terms in section 573.06 of Standard 573 — Approved Maintenance Organizations, to ensure continued qualification that is appropriate to the function to be performed or supervised.

Personnel Records

• 573.07 (1) An approved maintenance organization (AMO) certificate holder shall establish, maintain and retain for at least two years after an entry is made, for each affected person, a record of

  • (a) all personal qualifications in respect of appointments made pursuant to section 573.03 and in respect of assignments of functions made pursuant to section 573.04;

  • (b) all of the authorizations to sign a maintenance release pursuant to section 573.05; and

  • (c) all of the training conducted pursuant to section 573.06.

• (2) An AMO certificate holder shall provide a copy of a record required by this section to the person to whom the record refers on the completion of each training activity or the granting of an authorization referred to in paragraph (1)(b).

Facilities, Equipment, Standards and Procedures

• 573.08 (1) An approved maintenance organization (AMO) certificate holder shall provide the facilities and equipment specified in Standard 573 —Approved Maintenance Organizations that are necessary for the work to be performed.

• (2) Except in cases provided for in a maintenance policy manual (MPM), work performed by an AMO certificate holder shall be performed in the facilities required by subsection (1), unless unforeseen circumstances do not permit the work to be performed in those facilities and the safety of the aircraft is not affected by the fact that the work is performed elsewhere.

• (3) Where an AMO uses standards equivalent to those of the manufacturer of an aeronautical product for the performance of work pursuant to paragraph 571.02(1)(b), those standards shall be identified in accordance with section 573.10.

• (4) Where a task undertaken by an AMO is divided into sub-tasks, the person appointed pursuant to section 573.03 shall establish a system of task control to ensure that all of the sub-tasks are completed prior to the signing of a maintenance release in respect of the completion of that task.

Quality Assurance Program

• 573.09 (1) The holder of an approved maintenance organization (AMO) certificate shall establish and maintain a quality assurance program consisting of provisions for sampling maintenance processes to evaluate the AMO’s ability to perform its maintenance in a safe manner.

• (2) The person responsible for maintenance shall ensure that records relating to the findings resulting from the quality assurance program are distributed to the appropriate manager for corrective action and follow-up in accordance with the policies and procedures specified in the maintenance policy manual (MPM).

• (3) The person responsible for maintenance shall establish an audit system in respect of the quality assurance program that consists of the following:

  • (a) an initial audit within 12 months after the date on which the AMO certificate is issued;

  • (b) subsequent audits conducted at intervals set out in the MPM;

  • (c) checklists of all activities controlled by the MPM;

  • (d) a record of each occurrence of compliance or non-compliance with the MPM found during an audit referred to in paragraph (a) or (b);

  • (e) procedures for ensuring that each finding of an audit is communicated to them and, if management functions have been assigned to another person under subsection 573.04(4) or (5), to that person;

  • (f) follow-up procedures for ensuring that corrective actions are effective; and

  • (g) a system for recording the findings of initial and periodic audits, corrective actions and follow-ups.

• (4) The records required under paragraph (3)(g) shall be retained for the greater of

  • (a) two audit cycles; and

  • (b) two years.

• (5) The duties related to the quality assurance program that involve specific tasks or activities within an AMO’s activities shall be fulfilled by persons who are not responsible for carrying out those tasks or activities.

Maintenance Policy Manual

• 573.10 (1) An approved maintenance organization (AMO) certificate holder shall establish, maintain and authorize the use of a maintenance policy manual (MPM) that contains information to ensure the efficiency of the AMO’s maintenance policies, dealing with the subjects set out in Standard 573 —Approved Maintenance Organizations.

• (2) The Minister may authorize the incorporation by reference in an MPM of detailed procedures manuals and lists prepared by the AMO certificate holder, dealing with the subjects set out in Standard 573 —Approved Maintenance Organizations, where

  • (a) the policy affecting those detailed procedures and the composition of the lists is set out in the MPM;

  • (b) each incorporation is clearly indicated in the MPM; and

  • (c) the AMO certificate holder ensures that the incorporated procedures manuals and lists meet the requirements of this section.

• (3) Where detailed procedures manuals or lists are being incorporated by reference in an MPM, the person appointed pursuant to section 573.03 or another person to whom that management function is assigned pursuant to section 573.04 shall certify in writing that the incorporated documents and every amendment thereto meet the requirements of the policy established in the MPM with respect to those documents.

• (4) An AMO certificate holder need not conform to the policy and procedures contained in its MPM, where the Minister has authorized the non-conformity in writing, after it has been demonstrated that such non-conformity would not affect the safety of the aeronautical product to be maintained or the maintenance service to be offered.

• (5) An AMO certificate holder shall submit each page of its MPM to the Minister for approval, either individually or in accordance with a procedure that ensures compliance with the requirements of Standard 573 —Approved Maintenance Organizations.

• (6) An AMO certificate holder shall amend its MPM when instructed to do so by the Minister, where the MPM does not

  • (a) meet the requirements of this Subpart; or

  • (b) contain policies or procedures that are sufficiently detailed to demonstrate that the AMO’s quality assurance program meets the requirements of these Regulations.

• (7) An AMO certificate holder shall take steps to ensure that a current copy of its MPM, or the portions thereof that are relevant to the task to be performed, is made available to each person who performs or certifies that task.

• (8) An AMO certificate holder shall amend each copy of its MPM within 30 days after receiving an approval issued pursuant to subsection (5).

• (9) The Minister shall, if the standards set out in Standard 573 —Approved Maintenance Organizations are met, approve an MPM and any amendments to that manual.