.avif)
Every minute your aircraft spends grounded costs you money and disrupts operations.
Preventive maintenance in aviation is the key to keeping your fleet airworthy and avoiding those costly surprises that lead to unscheduled downtime. This can quickly spiral into flight cancellations, crew scheduling issues, and passenger compensation claims.
The ability to identify and address small issues before they become major problems directly impacts operational safety and your bottom line.
Understanding the regulations, tasks, and strategies for effective preventive maintenance aviation practices gives you a competitive edge in an industry where reliability is everything, and where the difference between 98% and 99% dispatch reliability can determine market leadership.
Preventive maintenance in aviation refers to simple, routine tasks performed to preserve aircraft airworthiness before problems develop. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines it in federal aviation regulations (Part 43) as "simple or minor preservation operations and the replacement of small standard parts not involving complex assembly operations." This definition distinguishes preventive maintenance from major repairs or alterations requiring certified mechanics.
Understanding what preventive maintenance means in aviation is essential for aircraft owners and operators who want to maintain their aircraft efficiently. The concept focuses on proactive care rather than reactive repairs, helping to prevent unexpected failures during operation.
The FAA provides a specific list of preventive maintenance tasks in 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix A, Paragraph (c). These tasks are simple, non-complex operations that do not involve the disassembly of primary structures or complex systems.
Common examples of FAA-approved preventive maintenance include:
These preventive maintenance, FAA-approved tasks help maintain aircraft in airworthy condition between major inspections. They represent the routine care that keeps aircraft operating safely and efficiently.
Compliance Tip
Always reference the exact preventive maintenance FAR/AIM guidance before performing any task. The complete list in Part 43 Appendix A contains 31 specific items that qualify as preventive maintenance.
The regulations specify who can perform preventive maintenance on aircraft.
FAR 43.3 outlines that certificated pilots may perform preventive maintenance on aircraft they own or operate, provided the aircraft is not used for commercial operations. Student pilots, however, cannot perform preventive maintenance even on their training aircraft.
Requirements for pilot-performed preventive maintenance include:
SOMA Software's maintenance tracking system helps organizations monitor who is authorized to perform specific maintenance tasks, ensuring compliance across operations of any size.
Preventive maintenance compliance directly impacts both flight safety and operational efficiency. By addressing small issues before they escalate, you can minimize the risk of in-flight failures and unscheduled maintenance events.
Safety benefits:
Operational benefits:
SOMA Software helps aviation teams implement effective preventative maintenance aviation programs by centralizing maintenance tracking and automating compliance monitoring.
Unscheduled downtime doesn't just disrupt operations—it can drain your bottom line fast.
When an aircraft is grounded unexpectedly, the costs escalate by the minute. Boeing estimates that an Aircraft on Ground (AOG) event can cost between $10,000 and $20,000 per hour for typical delays, and in some cases, as much as $150,000 per hour, depending on the aircraft type and route. These figures reflect more than repair bills; they include lost revenue, cascading flight delays, rebooking costs, and damage to passenger trust.
Preventive maintenance plays a critical role in avoiding these scenarios. By addressing issues before they result in an AOG situation, operators can prevent major financial losses and keep their fleet on schedule. The true value of preventive maintenance isn't just in what it fixes, but in what it helps you avoid.
Avoid AOG Costs Before They Start
SOMA Software gives you the tools to stay ahead of costly downtime with proactive maintenance scheduling, real-time tracking, and automated compliance alerts. Prevent the next AOG—and the five-figure-per-hour hit that comes with it. Request a quote today
Proactive maintenance is one of the most effective ways to reduce downtime, extend asset life, and ensure regulatory compliance. The following strategies can help aviation operators implement preventive maintenance programs that are both efficient and scalable.
Establish consistent maintenance intervals based on manufacturer recommendations and operational experience. Consider both calendar time and flight hours when scheduling preventive maintenance tasks.
For harsh operating environments, adjust intervals accordingly to account for accelerated wear and corrosion. Document your maintenance schedule clearly and ensure all personnel understand the timing requirements. Given that 45,000 flights are handled by the FAA each day, reliable scheduling is vital for avoiding disruptions across the board.
SOMA Software's Aircraft Maintenance Management solution automates scheduling and provides alerts for upcoming preventive maintenance tasks.
Ensure anyone performing preventive maintenance understands both the technical requirements and the regulatory limitations. Only assign tasks to personnel with appropriate certification and training.
Maintain current training records and verify qualifications before assigning preventive maintenance responsibilities. This approach reduces errors and ensures compliance with FAA requirements. Because accuracy is critical in aviation maintenance, thorough training is essential to ensure technicians perform inspections and repairs to the highest standards.
Digital maintenance tracking systems provide significant advantages over paper logbooks. They offer better visibility, easier searching, and automated alerts for upcoming requirements.
With SOMA Software, you can centralize all maintenance records, making compliance verification straightforward during inspections or audits. This integrated approach helps prevent documentation gaps that could affect airworthiness.
Modern preventive maintenance programs use operational data to identify potential issues before they cause failures. By tracking component performance over time, you can spot trends that indicate developing problems.
This data-driven approach transforms preventive maintenance from a calendar-based activity to a more efficient, condition-based system. SOMA Software supports this transition by providing robust data analysis tools.
A Quick Preventive Maintenance Checklist
1. Verify task is listed in Part 43 Appendix A
2. Confirm personnel have proper certification
3. Follow the manufacturer's procedures
4. Document work completely in maintenance logs
5. Return aircraft to service properly
Every instance of pilot-performed preventive maintenance must be properly documented according to FAA maintenance logbook entry requirements. This documentation is crucial for maintaining aircraft airworthiness and regulatory compliance, with FAR 43.9 specifically outlining these recordkeeping obligations.
A proper aviation maintenance logbook entry must include:
The FAA requires these records to be maintained for the life of the aircraft, with transfer of documentation mandatory when ownership changes. Improper documentation can result in regulatory violations with significant penalties per violation. This can affect the aircraft's airworthiness status and may lead to grounding the aircraft until proper records are established.
Digital record-keeping systems like SOMA can help ensure complete compliance while making these records easily accessible during ramp checks or annual inspections.
Even the most diligent maintenance teams can make avoidable errors. Recognizing these common pitfalls is key to minimizing delays, staying compliant, and keeping aircraft safely in service.
Small anomalies often point to larger issues developing beneath the surface. Unusual noises, minor leaks, or subtle performance shifts may seem insignificant but warrant immediate attention. A grinding wheel bearing, for example, could signal imminent failure, while a slow hydraulic leak might escalate quickly during flight.
To catch these issues early, document all irregularities in maintenance logs with detailed notes—date, flight conditions, symptoms, and photos if possible. Recording even minor concerns builds a data trail that can reveal patterns and guide proactive repairs, reducing the risk of in-flight emergencies or AOG events.
Maintenance recordkeeping in aviation isn't optional—it's a regulatory requirement. Missing, incomplete, or inaccurate documentation can invalidate maintenance work and lead to aircraft grounding. FAA rules mandate that most maintenance records be retained for 1–2 years, while documentation for major repairs must be kept for the life of the aircraft.
Overlooking these deadlines can trigger audits and result in fines of up to $50,000 per violation. Tools like SOMA Software help you stay ahead by tracking upcoming due dates for ADs, SBs, and inspections, complete with automated reminders and FAA-compliant digital signatures to keep your fleet aligned with all regulatory requirements.
Only FAA-approved parts and procedures should ever be used during preventive maintenance. Installing unapproved components—even if they seem identical—can compromise airworthiness, void insurance, and expose your organization to liability in the event of an incident. PMA (Parts Manufacturer Approval) or OEM parts, accompanied by the correct 8130-3 forms, are typically required.
To avoid costly mistakes, always consult manufacturer documentation and verify that parts meet approved specifications. Cross-reference part numbers with the Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC), and confirm AD compliance before installation. SOMA Software's inventory tracking features make it easy to manage part eligibility, batch histories, and shelf-life alerts—so you can avoid guesswork and maintain complete control over every component.
Preventive maintenance in aviation has evolved from paper-based systems to integrated digital platforms. Modern software solutions like SOMA Software enable more efficient tracking, better compliance, and improved reliability.
SOMA Software offers a comprehensive platform for managing all aspects of preventive maintenance. From scheduling and documentation to inventory management and compliance tracking, our system helps keep your aircraft flying safely and efficiently.
Ready to transform your preventive maintenance program? See how SOMASoftware keeps your fleet in the air. Book a demo now!
The two primary types of aviation maintenance are line maintenance and base maintenance.
Line maintenance includes routine, quick-turn tasks performed on the ramp or at the gate, like tire checks or fluid servicing.
Base maintenance is more in-depth, involving scheduled inspections, overhauls, and structural repairs performed in hangars.
Preventive maintenance can be categorized into four types:
A common example is an oil change performed at regular intervals to keep the engine running smoothly. Other examples include replacing spark plugs, servicing batteries, or checking tire pressure—simple tasks that prevent bigger issues and maintain airworthiness between inspections.
Preventive maintenance is defined in 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix A, Paragraph (c).
This section outlines tasks that are simple, non-complex, and can be legally performed by certificated pilots on non-commercial aircraft, provided proper procedures and documentation are followed.
A preventive maintenance checklist outlines recurring tasks to maintain aircraft airworthiness. It includes inspections, lubrication, fluid replacement, and part checks. These lists help ensure nothing is overlooked, promote safety, and support compliance with FAA requirements.
The 10% rule allows FAA-approved preventive maintenance tasks to be performed within 10% of their scheduled interval. For example, if a task is due every 100 flight hours, it can be completed between 90 and 110 hours, adding flexibility without affecting compliance.
