Maintenance Check Flight - Initial for Technicians (Helicopter)

Initial Maintenance Check Flight training for helicopter Part-145 technicians: the Part-SPO Subpart-E rules, CRM in the cockpit jump-seat, briefing/de-briefing, AMM checklist discipline, RFM emergency procedures, and the specialist techniques of track-and-balance and engine performance monitoring - 12 h taught content with a 30-item server-graded final exam at 80 %.

  • Authority: EASA
  • Duration: 12 hours
  • CPD: 12 hours
  • Price: €120
  • Language: en
  • Online, self-paced, with a verifiable certificate of completion

About this course

A Maintenance Check Flight is not a normal flight and a technician on board is not a passenger. Point (76) of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (inserted by Reg (EU) 2019/1384) defines an MCF as a flight carried out for troubleshooting, to verify the proper functioning of a system, or to check the airworthiness of an aircraft after maintenance, when the function cannot be established on the ground. Part-SPO Subpart-E (SPO.SPEC.MCF.100 - 120) sets the operational framework, while Part-145 (145.A.50(b), AMC1 145.A.50(b) paragraph 4), Part-CAMO (AMC1 CAMO.A.305(e)) and Part-M / Part-ML (GM1 M.A.301(7), GM1 ML.A.301(d)) place specific duties on the AMO and CAMO. This course gives technicians - acceptance release engineers, B1/B2 certifying staff and support staff who will sit in the cockpit during an MCF - the regulatory floor, the CRM and communication skills (AMC1 145.A.30(e) paragraph (10), GM1 145.A.30(e); SPO.SPEC.MCF.115; AMC1 CAMO.A.305(e)), the risk-assessment cycle, the briefing and de-briefing discipline, and the airframe-specific techniques (EC135 AMM 18-10 track-and-balance, AMM 77-00 engine indicating with ECMS trend reports, AMM 05-50 unscheduled maintenance checks, RFM emergency procedures) needed to participate safely and effectively. Built from the same first-principles, station-driven instructional spine as the Safety & Human Factors Initial course, it ends with a 30-item server-graded final exam at 80 % pass.

Syllabus

Module 1: M1 - Foundations of the Maintenance Check Flight

What an MCF is in EU law, why a technician is on board, and the full regulation framework joining Part-SPO, Part-145, Part-CAMO and Part-M / Part-ML.

  • Definition and scope of mcf
  • Regulation framework

Module 2: M2 - Human Factors for the MCF crew

CRM for the technician in the jump-seat, communication and handover discipline, and the R.I.S.K. cycle used to plan and brief every check flight.

  • Crm for mcf
  • Communication and handover
  • Risk assessment cycle

Module 3: M3 - Preparing the check flight

Building the flight programme under SPO.SPEC.MCF.105/110/125, running the walk-around safely, and conducting a structured pre-flight briefing.

  • Flight program development
  • Ramp safety and walkaround
  • Pre flight briefing

Module 4: M4 - Executing the check flight

Cockpit roles and decision-making, AMM-driven checklist discipline, and the RFM emergency procedures every MCF technician must recognise in flight.

  • Tasks and leadership in cockpit
  • Working with checklists
  • Emergency procedures rfm

Module 5: M5 - Specialist MCF techniques

Track-and-balance fundamentals (EC135 AMM 18-10) and engine performance monitoring (EC135 AMM 77-00 with ECMS trend) - the two technical signatures of a productive MCF.

  • Track and balance
  • Engine performance monitoring

Module 6: M6 - Closing the loop & final exam

Structured post-flight de-briefing that feeds the CAMO and the AMO back-to-service record, then the 30-item server-graded final exam.

  • Post flight debriefing
  • Final exam

Regulation references

Annex I to Reg (EU) 965/2012, point (76), SPO.SPEC.MCF.100, SPO.SPEC.MCF.105, SPO.SPEC.MCF.110, SPO.SPEC.MCF.115, SPO.SPEC.MCF.120, SPO.OP.230, 145.A.50(b), AMC1 145.A.50(b) paragraph 4, GM1 M.A.301(7), GM1 ML.A.301(d), AMC1 145.A.30(e) paragraph (10), GM1 145.A.30(e), AMC1 CAMO.A.305(e), EC135 AMM 05-50, EC135 AMM 18-10, EC135 AMM 77-00

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