Pilot Owner Maintenance
What is pilot-owner maintenance?
Pilot Owner Maintenance is a process detailed within Part ML (the maintenance rules applicable to Part 21 sailplanes) within which pilot owners are entitled to carry out and release (i.e. certify) limited maintenance tasks on their aircraft. The maintenance rules (Part ML), assume that a qualified pilot has sufficient technical knowledge to perform and certify certain maintenance tasks and in doing so, further develops their competency in maintenance. Providing that a pilot-owner understands what they are permitted to do and is aware of their own technical ability, any qualified pilot can carry out limited maintenance.
Pilot Owner maintenance seminars
From time to time, BGA facilitated pilot owner maintenance seminars are available. Check availability and book here.
If in doubt, please refer to an appropriately experienced BGA inspector before attempting pilot owner maintenance.
Maintenance guidance
The aircraft maintenance manual is a good source of information. Type Certificate Holders (for example Schempp-Hirth, Schleicher, and DG etc) also provide information – go direct to their websites.
The BGA members website includes a lot of guidance and links to guidance. One example are the Airworthiness Maintenance Procedures (AMP). Aimed at inspectors, but also applicable in many cases to pilot owners, the AMP covers a range of maintenance-related topics. You can view the AMP information here.
Pilot Owner Maintenance FAQs
Do I need an SPL to carry out pilot owner maintenance? Yes, for Part 21 sailplanes including TMGs. Non-part 21 gliders would need a Bronze or above qualification.
How does pilot owner maintenance work on gliders owned by the club? If a qualified pilot is a voting member of the gliding club that owns and operates the glider, provided the club authorises it, that pilot can carry out and certify pilot-owner maintenance on club gliders.
Can I work on my club’s aircraft to help? Pilot owner maintenance is described above. How other ‘helping with maintenance’ is authorised is up to each club, and BGA guidance is available in Airworthiness and Maintenance Procedures. If an Inspector is supervising and releasing the work, then any club member can help out. Most clubs have policies on who can work on club aircraft. Talk to your club Technical Officer.
Do I need an SPL to help with maintenance on club gliders? Not unless you are carrying out and certifying pilot owner maintenance. If you are working under the supervision of an Inspector & the Inspector is signing the certificate of release to service (CRS), no pilot qualification is required.
What paperwork is required for pilot owner maintenance? For pilot-owner maintenance, a certificate of release to service is entered in the glider logbook including basic details of the maintenance carried out, the maintenance data used (e.g. the maintenance manual), the date on which the maintenance was completed, as well as the pilot-owner name, signature, and pilot licence (or equivalent) number.
Can a pilot-owner complete the formal annual maintenance? Not quite. A pilot / owner can do most of the work, for example removing seats and panels, cleaning, inspecting, lubricating, measuring and testing. They can even help by checking for any type-specific technical instructions. However, an appropriately licenced BGA inspector is responsible for certifying (signing) that the annual maintenance has been carried out.
The law
The legal requirement is detailed here in Part ML MLA.803.
The limitation detail is described here in Part ML Appendix II.
The tasks that may not be certified by a pilot owner are described here in Part ML Appendix III.
Code: SP = Sailplane SSPS = Self sustaining powered sailplane SLPS / TM = Self launching powered sailplane / TMG
You can click on each section to expand. Use the ‘go back’ arrow to return to the webpage.
Refer also to CS-STAN, which describes several change certification standards that may not require release by an inspector. If in doubt, please refer to an experienced BGA inspector.