This page provides information on the requirements for the issue and extension of an Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) on Part M aircraft following its expiry. The information is for Licensed Air Carriers with a Part-CAMO approval which have the privilege to carry out Airworthiness Reviews (CAMO.A.125(e)).
ARC are issued and extended in accordance with UK Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014.
In order to allow the physical review to take place during a maintenance check, the issue of the ARC may be anticipated by up to a maximum period of 90 days without loss of validity.
In accordance with Part-M, MA.901(c), for aircraft that are in a ‘Controlled Environment’, the validity of an ARC may be extended a maximum two consecutive times, for a period of one year each time, by the Part-CAMO organisation managing the airworthiness of the aircraft.
For Licensed Air Carriers, a ‘Controlled Environment’ as detailed in Part M, MA.901(b), is when:
- The aircraft has been continuously managed for the previous 12 months by the same CAMO.
- The aircraft has been maintained for the previous 12 months by approved Part 145 maintenance organisations.
If the aircraft doesn’t meet both conditions noted above, the aircraft is not in a Controlled Environment.
The 12-month period referred to above is the standard validity of the ARC. If the anticipation period is used, the ARC can have a validity of up to 90 days longer than 12 months. For the purposes of the Controlled Environment, it means the same CAMO has continuously managed the airworthiness of the aircraft since the last ARC was issued.
In all cases, an ARC cannot be recommended, issued or extended if there is evidence or reason to believe that the aircraft is not airworthy.
Aircraft in a Controlled Environment with an expired ARC (CAA Form 15a or 15b)
Extending the Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC)
For aircraft that are in a Controlled Environment, extension of the ARC may be anticipated by up to a maximum period of 30 days, without loss of validity. This is to ensure the availability of the aircraft in order to place the original ARC on board. For the purposes of the Controlled Environment, it means the same CAMO has continuously managed the airworthiness of the aircraft since the last ARC issue or extension.
Extension Conditions
Condition 1
If the anticipation period is used, the ARC can have a validity of up to 30 days longer than 12 months.
Condition 2
If the ARC is extended more than 30 days before the expiry date, the new expiry date will be 12 months from the date of extension.
Condition 3
If the ARC has already expired, the validity can only be extended up to 12 months from the date of the last expiry and not 12 months from the date of extension. In this case the validity of the ARC will be less than 12 months.
1st Extension
If the ARC has not been previously extended, subject to confirming the aircraft has remained in a Controlled Environment, the CAMO managing the airworthiness of the aircraft can extend the ARC for a further period. This is subject to the extension conditions on this page.
2nd Extension
If the 1st extension was carried out under your CAMO approval, subject to confirming the aircraft has remained in a Controlled Environment, the ARC can be extended for a further period. This is subject to the extension conditions on this page.
If the 1st extension was carried out under the approval of another CAMO or CAO, the ARC cannot be extended as the aircraft doesn’t meet the requirements of a Controlled Environment, as such, a new ARC will need to be issued following a satisfactory Airworthiness Review. Please refer to the ‘Aircraft not in a Controlled Environment with an expired ARC’ section on this page.
Following expiry of the ARC after the 2nd extension, a new ARC will need to be issued. Please refer to the ‘New ARC issue’ section on this page.
If you have been given the appropriate log on by the CAA, the ARC can be extended using the ARC Online system.
Following extension of the ARC, a signed copy will need to be sent to apply@caa.co.uk within 10 days of its extension.
The CAA will update G-INFO accordingly.
New ARC issue
Following expiry of the ARC after the 2nd extension, subject to confirming the aircraft has remained in a Controlled Environment, appropriately authorised Airworthiness Review Staff from the CAMO can carry out an Airworthiness Review in accordance with Part M, MA.901, and if satisfactory, issue a new ARC CAA Form 15b.
If the aircraft has not remained in a Controlled Environment, please refer to the ‘Aircraft not in a Controlled Environment with an expired ARC’ section on this page.
The ARC can be issued using the CAA Form 15b or if you have been given the appropriate log on by the CAA, by using the ARC Online system.
A copy of the signed ARC will need to be sent to apply@caa.co.uk within 10 days of its issue.
The CAA will update G-INFO accordingly.
Aircraft not in a Controlled Environment with an expired ARC (CAA Form 15a or 15b)
If the aircraft is not in a Controlled Environment, the validity of the Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) cannot be extended. The appropriately authorised Airworthiness Review Staff from the CAMO will need to carry out a satisfactory Airworthiness Review in accordance with Part-M, MA.901, and make a recommendation for the issue of an ARC to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The CAA will review the recommendation and when satisfied that everything has been carried out appropriately, an ARC CAA Form 15a will be issued and G-INFO will be updated accordingly.
Further guidance
The information below offers further guidance:
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