Modification Status Tracking
Section 12: Continued Airworthiness & Maintenance
Definition
The process of recording and monitoring the current modification status of each aircraft and its individual components, including which service bulletins have been incorporated, which ADs have been complied with, and the current part number, serial number, and software version of each installed item. Modification status tracking ensures that each aircraft's physical configuration is accurately known and documented at all times.
Where This Shows Up
Modification status tracking is a subset of configuration control and is critical for fleet management. Operators maintain modification status records for each aircraft (by aircraft serial number / registration) and for each tracked component (by part number and serial number). These records are used to determine the applicability of new ADs and SBs, to ensure that replacement components are of the correct configuration, and to support aircraft sale/lease transactions where the buyer or lessee must verify the aircraft's configuration status. For avionics, modification status tracking must capture both hardware part number changes and software/loadable software part number changes, as these affect certification compliance.
Primary Sources
FAA requirements for maintenance records, including recording of major alterations and current inspection status.
EASA requirements for the continuing airworthiness record system, including modification and AD compliance status.
Related Terms
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