Canadian Aviation Regulations

571.11 (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (7), no person other than the holder of an aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) licence issued under Part IV, specifying a rating appropriate to the aeronautical product being maintained, shall sign a maintenance release as required by section 571.10.

(2) A person other than a person described in subsection (1) may sign a maintenance release if

• (a) in the case of maintenance performed outside Canada,

  • (i) the person is authorized to sign under the laws of a state that is party to an agreement or a technical arrangement with Canada and the agreement or technical arrangement provides for such certification, or

  • (ii) if no agreement or technical arrangement provides for such certification, the person holds qualifications that the Minister determines to be equivalent to those of a person described in subsection (1);

• (b) in the case of maintenance performed on an aircraft that is operated under a special certificate of airworthiness in the amateur-built classification, the person is an owner of the aircraft;

• (c) in the case of maintenance performed on a part that is intended for installation on an aircraft, the person has been authorized to sign by the holder of an approved maintenance organization (AMO) certificate issued under section 573.02; and

• (d) in the case of maintenance performed on an aircraft that is operated under a special certificate of airworthiness in the owner-maintenance classification, the person is a licensed pilot and an owner of the aircraft.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (7), no person shall sign a maintenance release in respect of maintenance performed on an aircraft operated under Part IV or VII, or on parts intended to be installed on the aircraft, unless

• (a) the person is authorized to sign in accordance with a maintenance policy manual (MPM) established by the holder of an AMO certificate issued under section 573.02 with a rating of a category appropriate to the work performed; or

• (b) if the maintenance is performed outside Canada, the person is authorized to sign in accordance with a foreign document equivalent to an MPM, established by a maintenance organization approved under the laws of a state that is party to an agreement or technical arrangement with Canada and the agreement or technical arrangement provides for such certification.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (5), no person shall sign a maintenance release in respect of maintenance performed on a transport category aeroplane or a turbine-powered helicopter, unless the person

• (a) has successfully completed a course of maintenance training that has been approved by the Minister and that is applicable to the type of aircraft, engine or system on which the maintenance is performed, in accordance with Appendix M of Chapter 571 of the Airworthiness Manual; or

• (b) held a type rating applicable to the type of aircraft, engine or system on which the maintenance is performed, issued by the Minister before August 1, 1999.

(5) The holder of an applicable AME licence may sign a maintenance release in respect of maintenance performed on a transport category aeroplane or a turbine-powered helicopter that consists of any of the types of work set out in Schedule III without having successfully completed the course required by paragraph (4)(a) and without having held the type rating required by paragraph (4)(b).

(6) If a maintenance release is signed by a person in respect of work performed by another person, the person signing the maintenance release must personally observe the work to the extent necessary to ensure that it is performed in accordance with the requirements of any applicable standards of airworthiness and, specifically, the requirements of sections 571.02 and 571.10.

(7) A person who is not the holder of an AME licence specifying a rating appropriate to the aeronautical product being maintained may sign a maintenance release if the person holds a restricted certification authority issued in accordance with subsection (8), in respect of a particular case specified on the restricted certification authority.

(8) The Minister shall issue a restricted certification authority and specify therein its validity period and the scope of the work that may be performed, if

• (a) an application is made in accordance with section 571.11 of the Airworthiness Manual;

• (b) the applicant demonstrates to the Minister that there is no holder of an AME licence specifying a rating appropriate to the aeronautical product being maintained available within a geographical area accessible within one hour by surface transportation;

• (c) the person to whom the restricted certification authority is to be issued has received the training and has the knowledge equivalent to that of a holder of an AME licence specifying a rating appropriate to the aeronautical product being maintained; and

• (d) the level of aviation safety is not affected by the issuance of the restricted certification authority.