Division M.A.403 Aircraft defects

Any aircraft defect that hazards seriously the flight safety shall be rectified before further flight.

F1Except when the MEL is used by the pilot or the certifying staff, only the certifying staff referred to in point M.A.801(b)(1), in Subpart F of this Annex, in Annex II (Part-145), in Annex Vd (Part-CAO), or the person authorised in accordance with point M.A.801(c) can decide, using maintenance data referred to in point M.A.401, whether an aircraft defect is a serious hazard to the flight safety and when and which rectification action must be taken before further flight and which defect rectification can be deferred.

Any aircraft defect that would not hazard seriously the flight safety shall be rectified as soon as practicable, after the date the aircraft defect was first identified and within any limits specified in the maintenance data or the MEL.

F2X1Any defect not rectified before flight shall be recorded in the aircraft continuing airworthiness record system referred to in point M.A.305 or, if applicable in the aircraft technical log system referred to in point M.A.306.