FAR 91.1427 — CAMP Manual Requirements
FAR 91.1427 explains what a fractional ownership program manager must include in the CAMP operating manual: inspections, procedures, and recordkeeping.
In Plain English
FAR 91.1427 tells fractional ownership program managers who maintain aircraft under a Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP) exactly what must appear in their operating manual. This ensures maintenance is documented, standardized, and traceable across the fleet.
The manual must include:
- The organizational chart (per § 91.1423) and a list of outside persons performing inspections, maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations.
- The maintenance programs required by § 91.1425, covering airframes, engines, propellers, rotors, appliances, emergency equipment, and parts.
- Methods for routine and nonroutine maintenance and a designation of required inspection items (RIIs) — those whose failure could endanger safe flight.
- Procedures for performing required inspections, buy-back reinspections, and calibration of precision tools.
- Instructions preventing the person who performed the work from also performing the required inspection of that work.
- Rules preventing inspector decisions from being countermanded except by proper supervisory authority.
- Procedures to handle work interruptions before return to service.
The manual must also retain a description of work performed, who did it, and who approved it — in a format retrievable in English and acceptable to the Administrator. This matters because it keeps fractional fleets safe, auditable, and consistent.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.1427§ 91.1427 CAMP: Manual requirements.
(a) Each program manager who maintains program aircraft under a CAMP must put in the operating manual the chart or description of the program manager's organization required by § 91.1423 and a list of persons with whom it has arranged for the performance of any of its required inspections, and other maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations, including a general description of that work.
(b) Each program manager must put in the operating manual the programs required by § 91.1425 that must be followed in performing maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations of that program manager's aircraft, including airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, rotors, appliances, emergency equipment, and parts, and must include at least the following:
(1) The method of performing routine and nonroutine maintenance (other than required inspections), preventive maintenance, or alterations.
(2) A designation of the items of maintenance and alteration that must be inspected (required inspections) including at least those that could result in a failure, malfunction, or defect endangering the safe operation of the aircraft, if not performed properly or if improper parts or materials are used.
(3) The method of performing required inspections and a designation by occupational title of personnel authorized to perform each required inspection.
(4) Procedures for the reinspection of work performed under previous required inspection findings (buy-back procedures).
(5) Procedures, standards, and limits necessary for required inspections and acceptance or rejection of the items required to be inspected and for periodic inspection and calibration of precision tools, measuring devices, and test equipment.
(6) Procedures to ensure that all required inspections are performed.
(7) Instructions to prevent any person who performs any item of work from performing any required inspection of that work.
(8) Instructions and procedures to prevent any decision of an inspector regarding any required inspection from being countermanded by persons other than supervisory personnel of the inspection unit, or a person at the level of administrative control that has overall responsibility for the management of both the required inspection functions and the other maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations functions.
(9) Procedures to ensure that maintenance (including required inspections), preventive maintenance, or alterations that are not completed because of work interruptions are properly completed before the aircraft is released to service.
(c) Each program manager must put in the manual a suitable system (which may include an electronic or coded system) that provides for the retention of the following information—
(1) A description (or reference to data acceptable to the Administrator) of the work performed;
(2) The name of the person performing the work if the work is performed by a person outside the organization of the program manager; and
(3) The name or other positive identification of the individual approving the work.
(d) For the purposes of this part, the program manager must prepare that part of its manual containing maintenance information and instructions, in whole or in part, in a format acceptable to the Administrator, that is retrievable in the English language.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Under a CAMP, who is prohibited from performing the required inspection of a maintenance task?
Per FAR 91.1427(b)(7), the manual must contain instructions preventing any person who performed an item of work from performing the required inspection of that same work.
Q2What recordkeeping information must the CAMP operating manual retain for completed maintenance?
FAR 91.1427(c) requires the manual provide a system retaining a description of the work performed, the name of any outside person who performed it, and the name or positive identification of the individual approving the work.
Q3Can an inspector's decision on a required inspection be overridden by a maintenance supervisor?
No. FAR 91.1427(b)(8) requires procedures preventing an inspector's required-inspection decision from being countermanded except by supervisory personnel of the inspection unit or someone with overall responsibility for both inspection and maintenance functions.
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Related Sections in Part 91