AAC NO.

4 of 2000
Date: 4th September 2000

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION

AIRWORTHINESS
ADVISORY CIRCULAR
SUBJECT: MAINTENANCE OF AGING AIRCRAFT
__________________________________________________________________

PURPOSE: This Advisory Circular is intended to provide guidelines for the maintenance
of all aircraft including private aircraft which have crossed 20 years since manufacture.

BACKGROUND: There have been instances wherein aircraft were involved in incidents
due to failure of significant structural item of the aircraft. To take care of the continued
airworthiness of such structural items manufacturers have issued

a) Service Bulletins (SBs) requiring structural inspection of specific areas at certain

intervals,
b) Supplemental Structural Inspection Document (SSID)
c) Aging Aircraft Repair and Modification Programme
d) Corrosion Prevention and Control Programme (CPCP)
e) Repair Assessment Programme (RAP), etc.

In some of the cases, SBs calling for structural inspections have been declared
mandatory by DGCA based on the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Regulatory
authority of the country of Manufacture. Further, SSID, CPCP, and Aging aircraft
Repair and Modification Programme have also been made mandatory by DGCA.

Notwithstanding the above, it has been considered prudent to subject such of those
aircraft which have crossed 20 years since manufacture to frequent structural
inspections as given in the Manufacturer's Maintenance Planning Document (MPD) or
any other equivalent document.

PROCEDURES: To ensure continued structural integrity of all aircraft including private

aircraft, which have crossed 20 years, the following procedures be followed:

1
1. The C of A be renewed every six months as against normal validity of twelve
months. Aircraft need not be subjected to test flight during every renewal. However,
the test flight wherever applicable shall be carried out annually as per the
requirements given in CAR Section 2, Series 'T' Part II. The aircraft may also be
subjected to test flight any time as required in the above said CAR.

2. The items of structural inspection as given in the MPD/Manufacturer's Document

and included in the approved routine schedule higher than flight release schedule,
be subjected to frequent inspection by reducing the inspection intervals by 20%.

3. All structural inspections required to be complied as per SSID, CPCP, Aging Aircraft
Programme, DGCA mandatory modifications may continue to be carried out at the
threshold given in the relevant documents, such as, SBs/ADs, SSID, CPCP, Aging
Aircraft Programme, etc.

4. Life of major components should be closely monitored to ensure that the life
approved by DGCA is achieved. If it is observed that there is a wide variation
between the approved life and the average life achieved, in which case, the
approved life should be down graded to the average life achieved. Otherwise, the
exact reason for reduction in the approved life should be analyzed and appropriate
steps taken in the form of compliance of SBs, procurement of spares from reputed
sources, refresher training of personnel to improve the quality of workmanship etc.
so that the approved life is achieved.

5. All minor and major defects should be thoroughly analysed and exact reason as to
the cause of the defect established. Appropriate corrective action should be taken to
ensure that the defects are not repeated and the occurrence of defects minimised.
Major defects should be promptly reported to DGCA

Sd/-
(L.A.Mahalingam)
Director of Airworthiness
For Director General of Civil Aviation

Note: This Advisory Circular supercedes Advisory Circular No. 3 of 1997 in its entirety.