Elements and Performance Criteria
- Review maintenance records and test flight schedule
- Maintenance records are reviewed to determine scope of maintenance test flight activities
- Maintenance authority briefings are participated in to establish maintenance actions required, components to be test flown and outstanding aircraft unserviceabilities to be reviewed
- Test flight schedule requirements are reviewed to determine appropriate maintenance component assessment plan
- Plan and brief maintenance test flight sequences
- Meteorological conditions are reviewed for suitability to conduct maintenance test flight activities
- Flight planning information and flight notifications are advised to appropriate air traffic or support personnel
- Aircraft performance is calculated to establish safe and effective flight test operating range of conditions
- Planned maintenance test flight sequence is checked against authorised flight test schedules to ensure only necessary components are assessed to determine serviceability
- Maintenance test flight sequence is organised based on risk management and time effectiveness principles
- Maintenance test flight plan is briefed to all relevant personnel
- Conduct pre-flight inspection
- Pre-flight operational inspections are conducted to ensure affected aircraft components are prepared for flight test review and assessment
- Flight control, engine and system checks that can be functionally performed prior to engine start are checked and/or tested
- Aircraft components assessed as unserviceable during pre-flight inspections are recorded and decision is made to proceed with all, or part of, flight test activity
- Conduct engine start and ground checks
- Engine start sequence is conducted while noting applicable aircraft system cautions, warnings and indication responses in accordance with flight test schedule
- Aircraft components assessed as unserviceable during engine start sequences are recorded and decision is made to proceed with all, or part of, flight test activity
- Applicable flight control and system checks are performed prior to or immediately on commencement of aircraft taxi
- Perform maintenance test flight sequences
- Aircraft is flown within areas appropriate for conducting maintenance test flight sequences
- Maintenance test flight sequences are performed in a manner that minimises risk to crew or potential damage to aircraft and associated systems
- Amendments to flight test schedule are made as required that do not compromise the safety of flight and maximise the effective use of available time
- Aircraft components assessed as unserviceable during maintenance test flight sequences are recorded and decision is made to proceed with all, or part of, flight test activity
- Aircraft flight controls, engines or system components are reviewed and assessed against flight test schedule requirements and decisions are made on individual or system component serviceability
- Aircraft is recovered to appropriate landing areas for post-flight inspections
- Post flight engine, flight control and system checks are carried out in accordance with flight test schedule
- Aircraft components assessed as unserviceable during post-flight inspections are recorded and included in post-flight reports and maintenance documentation
- Interpret test flight data
- Complete post test flight administration
- Aircraft is released back into maintenance authority control
- Aircraft components assessed as unserviceable during pre-flight activities, test flight activities and post-flight inspections are recorded in maintenance documentation
- Flight test results are communicated to appropriate maintenance authority representative and/or relevant personnel