UA.V.F.K5: Persons that may perform maintenance on an sUAS.

ACS Area V — Operations Task F: Maintenance and Inspection Procedures References: A-7

Key Concepts

Who may perform sUAS maintenance under Part 107

• Part 107 does not require a certificated mechanic for small UASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it.. Maintenance can be performed by the operator, the manufacturer, personnel the manufacturer recommends, or other maintenance personnel familiar with the specific small UASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. and its components. When the manufacturer is not used or is unavailable, the operator should consider the expertise of maintenance personnel knowledgeable about that make/model and its systems.^[2]
• If the operator or maintenance personnel cannot return the sUASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. or a component to safe operational specifications, the prudent course is to replace the aircraft or component with one in a condition for safe operation. All required maintenance should be completed before each flight, preferably per the manufacturer’s instructions or, if absent, known industry best practices.^[2]
• Operators should follow any manufacturer-provided scheduled maintenance program. If none exists, the operator should establish a scheduled maintenance program tailored to the aircraft to achieve the longest and safest service life.^[3]

Remote PIC and Owner Responsibilities: Inspection and Airworthiness

• Section 107.15 places responsibility on the remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. to perform checks prior to each flight to determine the small UASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. is in a condition for safe operation. Chapter 7 explains how to inspect and maintain a small UASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. to meet this requirement.^[3]
• Before each flight, the remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. must conduct a preflight familiarization, inspection, and other actions per § 107.49. This includes assessing the operating environment and inspecting the aircraft to ensure it is in a condition for safe operation.^[4] The preflight inspection should follow the manufacturer’s inspection procedures when available, or an owner/operator-developed procedure.^[2]
• Owners or operators may create a tailored inspection program and can draw from industry programs to develop it.^[2] Appendix C provides best-practice cues for identifying conditions that may render an aircraft unsafe (e.g., structural cracking, delamination, leakage), prompting deeper inspection and, if needed, repair or replacement before flight.^[6]

Special case: Category 4 operations over people—who can do the work and how

• For Category 4 operations, the aircraft must hold an airworthiness certificate under part 21 and be operated per all operating limitations in the approved Flight Manual or as otherwise specified by the Administrator; those limitations must not prohibit operations over people.^[1] The remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. must use an eligible aircraft and comply with all such limitations.^[1]
• Category 4 aircraft must have maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations performed using the methods, techniques, and practices in the manufacturer’s current maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICAInstructions for Continued AirworthinessCloseManufacturer instructions for maintaining an aircraft or component in airworthy condition.), or other methods acceptable to the Administrator. They must also be inspected in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions (or other instructions acceptable to the Administrator) and use parts of such quality that the aircraft remains in a condition for safe operation.^[5]
• Practically, this means the owner/operator must ensure whoever performs Category 4 maintenance follows the manufacturer’s maintenance/ICAInstructions for Continued AirworthinessCloseManufacturer instructions for maintaining an aircraft or component in airworthy condition. (or other Administrator-acceptable methods). Category 4 also carries record retention responsibilities referenced in Chapter 8; owners and operators must be prepared to document maintenance and inspections to preserve continued airworthiness.^[3][5]

Exam-focused takeaways

• Under Part 107, maintenance can be performed by the operator, manufacturer, manufacturer-recommended personnel, or other personnel familiar with the specific sUASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it.; completion of all required maintenance before each flight is expected.^[2]
• The remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. is responsible for verifying airworthiness before each flight under § 107.15 and § 107.49 and should use manufacturer or developed procedures for inspection.^[3][2][4]
• Category 4 operations impose stricter process requirements: use of an aircraft with a part 21 airworthiness certificate, adherence to all operating limitations, and maintenance/inspections performed per the manufacturer’s maintenance manual/ICAInstructions for Continued AirworthinessCloseManufacturer instructions for maintaining an aircraft or component in airworthy condition. or other Administrator-acceptable methods, with quality parts.^[1][5]