FAR 91.1439 — CAMP Maintenance Records
FAR 91.1439 explains CAMP maintenance recordkeeping for fractional ownership program aircraft: required records, retention periods, and inspection access.
In Plain English
FAR 91.1439 sets the maintenance recordkeeping rules for program managers operating fractional ownership aircraft under a Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP). The records must be kept using the system described in the operator's manual (required by § 91.1427) and prove that each aircraft is airworthy before release to service.
The program manager must keep:
- All records showing the airworthiness release requirements of § 91.1443 are met.
- Total time in service of the airframe, engine, propeller, and rotor.
- Current status of life-limited parts.
- Time since last overhaul for items overhauled on a time basis.
- Current inspection status, including time since last required inspections.
- Current status of Airworthiness Directives (ADs), with compliance method, date, and next due time for recurring ADs.
- A list of current major alterations and repairs.
Retention rules:
- Airworthiness-release records: kept until the work is repeated, superseded, or for 1 year.
- Last complete overhaul records: kept until superseded by equivalent work.
- Status records (total time, life limits, ADs, etc.) transfer with the aircraft when sold.
All records must be available to the FAA Administrator or NTSB on request. This is why a clean, traceable maintenance history matters operationally — without it, the aircraft cannot legally be released for flight.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.1439§ 91.1439 CAMP: Maintenance recording requirements.
(a) Each program manager who maintains program aircraft under a CAMP must keep (using the system specified in the manual required in § 91.1427) the following records for the periods specified in paragraph (b) of this section:
(1) All the records necessary to show that all requirements for the issuance of an airworthiness release under § 91.1443 have been met.
(2) Records containing the following information:
(i) The total time in service of the airframe, engine, propeller, and rotor.
(ii) The current status of life-limited parts of each airframe, engine, propeller, rotor, and appliance.
(iii) The time since last overhaul of each item installed on the aircraft that are required to be overhauled on a specified time basis.
(iv) The identification of the current inspection status of the aircraft, including the time since the last inspections required by the inspection program under which the aircraft and its appliances are maintained.
(v) The current status of applicable airworthiness directives, including the date and methods of compliance, and, if the airworthiness directive involves recurring action, the time and date when the next action is required.
(vi) A list of current major alterations and repairs to each airframe, engine, propeller, rotor, and appliance.
(b) Each program manager must retain the records required to be kept by this section for the following periods:
(1) Except for the records of the last complete overhaul of each airframe, engine, propeller, rotor, and appliance the records specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be retained until the work is repeated or superseded by other work or for one year after the work is performed.
(2) The records of the last complete overhaul of each airframe, engine, propeller, rotor, and appliance must be retained until the work is superseded by work of equivalent scope and detail.
(3) The records specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section must be retained as specified unless transferred with the aircraft at the time the aircraft is sold.
(c) The program manager must make all maintenance records required to be kept by this section available for inspection by the Administrator or any representative of the National Transportation Safety Board.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Under a CAMP, what maintenance records must a fractional program manager keep on each aircraft?
Per FAR 91.1439, the program manager must keep records showing airworthiness-release compliance under § 91.1443, plus total time in service, life-limited part status, time since overhaul, current inspection status, AD compliance status, and a list of major alterations and repairs.
Q2How long must airworthiness-release and overhaul records be retained under FAR 91.1439?
FAR 91.1439(b) requires airworthiness-release records to be kept until the work is repeated, superseded, or for one year, while last complete overhaul records must be retained until superseded by work of equivalent scope and detail.
Q3Who is entitled to inspect CAMP maintenance records, and what happens to status records when the aircraft is sold?
FAR 91.1439(c) requires records to be made available to the FAA Administrator or any NTSB representative, and § 91.1439(b)(3) provides that the status records in paragraph (a)(2) transfer with the aircraft at the time of sale.
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Related Sections in Part 91