Office of The Director General of Civil Aviation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION

TECHNICAL CENTRE, OPP SAFDURJUNG AIRPORT, NEW DELHI
CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS

SECTION 2 - AIRWORTHINESS
SERIES 'D' PART VI
27th APRIL, 1992 EFFECTIVE: FORTHWITH
Subject : Fixing of Routine Maintenance periods and of component's T.B.Os

`Initials' as well as `Revision'.
1. APPLICABILITY:
1.1 This part of CAR Series `D' specifies the procedure for -
i) Fixing initial periods of preventive "Maintenance Schedules" and overhaul of

components of aircraft (TBOs); and
ii) Revision of such periods.
2. DEFINITION:
2.1 Maintenance :
The action or a set of actions including inspection, servicing and determination of

condition required to achieve a desired out-come which restores an aircraft part,
equipment in serviceable condition.
2.2 Hard Time :
This is a failure preventive process in which deterioration of an item is limited to an level by

the maintenance actions which are carried out at periods related to time in service (e.g. calendar
time, number of cycles, number of landings). The prescribed actions normally include
servicing and such other actions as overhaul, partial overhaul, replacement in
accordance with instructions in the relevant manuals, so that the item concerned (e.g.
system, component, portions of structure) is either replaced or restored to such a condition that it
can be released for a further specified period.
2.3 On Condition :
This is also a failure preventive process but one in which the item is inspected or tested, at
specific periods, to an appropriate standard in order to determine whether it can continue in
service (such an inspection or test may reveal a need for servicing actions). The fundamental
purpose of On-Condition is to remove an item before its failure in service. It is not a
philosophy of 'fit' until failure or 'fit and forget it'.
th
Revision 1, 15 Oct., 2001 1
CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS SECTION 2-AIRWORTHINESS
SERIES 'D PART VI 27th APRIL, 1992
2.4 Condition Monitoring :
This is a failure preventive process having neither Hard Time nor On-Condition
elements but one in which information on items gained from operational experience is
collected, analysed and interpreted on a continuing basis as a means of implementing
corrective procedure.
2.5 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE means the work performed at pre-determined intervals

to maintain an aircraft, aircraft components or aircraft systems in an airworthy condition.
3. FIXATION OF INITIAL PERIOD:
3.1 The basic principle to be followed in fixing initial periods is that the inspection checks or
maintenance or overhaul be performed at periods well within the proven "service-life".
3.2 In determining what the proven "service-life" of an aircraft or any of its components might
be, the following factors will be kept in view :-
1) Areas of operation (whether it is dusty/moist laden/corrosive etc.,).
2) Engine operating powers, procedures etc. (whether frequent full throttle/T.O.

power utilised for effecting take-offs from short fields).
3) Stage lengths (No. of landings effecting on flight sectors, i.e, short-haul or long-haul
operations).
4) Other operators service experience of similar equipment.
5) Applicant's own service experience on similar type of equipment.
6) manufacturer's recommendations.
7) known operational history of the component.
8) Modification status of the component (incorporation of latest service /modifications

issued by manufacturers would mean higher reliability and would normally deserve
fixation of higher life.
Note : The operator can change from one maintenance process to another e.g. from Hard
Time Maintenance to On-Condition Maintenance or On Condition to Condition
Monitoring or vice versa provided they have a sound maintenance programme. Such a
programme will have to be approved by Regional Airworthiness Office and
documented in the Quality Control Manual cum Maintenance System Manual.
th
Revision 1, 15 Oct., 2001 2
3.3 Applications for fixation of initial periods shall be made

by operators with substantiating data to Regional/Sub-
regional Airworthiness Offices. Such periods shall be
approved by DGCA headquarters on receipt of comments from
Regional/Sub-regional Airworthiness officers in case of
aircraft operated by Indian Airlines, Air India, Vayudoot
and Pawan Hans Ltd. and for all other operators the Regional
Airworthiness Office shall approve the periods.
3.4 Once the proposal is approved, then the maintenance periods

(including TBOs) must be reflected in Maintenance System
manual.
3.5 Wherever warranted "Hard Time Periods" (TBOs) and

maintenance schedule periods must be expressed in terms of
calendar periods too, besides in terms of operational
hours/number of landings/number of cycles especially in
cases of aircraft having low utilisation.
3.6 On Condition" maintenance concepts in respect of certain

components may be accepted provided the applicant spells out
adequate Insitu/Bench tests, in routine preventive
maintenance schedules or separately, to determine continued
serviceability of the components.
3.7 Condition Monitoring components have neither Hard Time nor

On Condition Control standards and are operated to failure.
No maintenance task is required to evaluate life expectancy
or reliability degradation to replace the item before it
fails. Replacement of Condition Monitored items is an
unscheduled maintenance action.
4. REVISION OF INITIAL PERIODS (Planned life development) :
4.1 On the consideration of operating economy, operators desire

to vary the "service-lives" of routine maintenance schedules
or of components (Hard Time Periods/TBOs). Mostly on
achieving satisfactory service performance the "revision"
sought are upwards but there are occasions when
unsatisfactory performance must automatically prompt
operators to reduce the "service lives". Whereas upward
revision (from "initial life" or from "revised life" )
requires prior approval of DGCA but reducing the life may be
effected by an operator on its own under intimation to
Regional/Sub-regional Airworthiness Offices. Subsequent
upward revision of "reduced-lives" must also be done with
prior concurrence of Regional Airworthiness Office.
4.2 A continued satisfactory performance of aircraft and

aircraft components as stated below :
i) Two consecutive major maintenance schedules (on the

same aircraft or on different aircraft of the same
type) reveal satisfactory condition of aircraft
structure and its system and/or
3
ii) The component premature removal rate is within 0.3/1000
hours continuously for 6 months. entitles an operator
to submit proposals for upward revision of "maintenance
periods"/TBOs.
4.3 An operator may submit a programme of life development,

comprising of various stages at which the programme would be
sampled, to Regional/Sub-regional Airworthiness Office.
Considering the operational experience in general and
commenting on seriousness of defects encountered, premature
removal rates experienced, and the remedial measures
initiated by the operator, Regional Airworthiness Office may
forward such a programme to DGCA with their recommendations,
for acceptance. Sub-regional Airworthiness Offices shall
also send such programmes directly to DGCA with a copy to
Regional Airworthiness Office.
4.4 Once a programme is approved, then Regional Airworthiness

Office (not a sub-Regional Office, who will have to approach
Regional Airworthiness Office for the purpose) may approve,
(subject to satisfactory condition of "samples" and adequate
remedial action having been taken in respect of deficiencies
observed, with no life limiting features having been seen
and manufacturers' recommendations having been taken note
of) new "service lives" at various stages (within the
approved programme) on its own, under intimation to
headquarters.
4.5 An operator may operate remaining programmed aircraft/

aircraft components to the next stage of the approved life
development programme after submitting the satisfactory
"samples" at the previous stage, with the concurrence of
Regional Airworthiness Office.
5. ADVANCE intimation shall be given to the Regional/Sub-

regional Airworthiness Offices of the inspection of the
"sample" and they may associate with the "inspection" at
various stages of life development programme.
6. Regional/Sub-regional Airworthiness Offices may require an

operator to submit "samples" to bench checking and in case
of engines even to flight tests (like climb performance
check) for determining the extent of deterioration, before
approving revised life at any stage.
Sd/-
(S. L. Srivastava)
Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation

Office of The Director General of Civil Aviation

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION

CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS

Subject : Fixing of Routine Maintenance periods and of component's T.B.Os

i) Fixing initial periods of preventive "Maintenance Schedules" and overhaul of

ii) Revision of such periods.

The action or a set of actions including inspection, servicing and determination of

2.2 Hard Time :

This is a failure preventive process in which deterioration of an item is limited to an level by

2.5 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE means the work performed at pre-determined intervals

3. FIXATION OF INITIAL PERIOD:

1) Areas of operation (whether it is dusty/moist laden/corrosive etc.,).

2) Engine operating powers, procedures etc. (whether frequent full throttle/T.O.

4) Other operators service experience of similar equipment.

5) Applicant's own service experience on similar type of equipment.

7) known operational history of the component.

8) Modification status of the component (incorporation of latest service /modifications

3.3 Applications for fixation of initial periods shall be made

3.4 Once the proposal is approved, then the maintenance periods

3.5 Wherever warranted "Hard Time Periods" (TBOs) and

3.6 On Condition" maintenance concepts in respect of certain

3.7 Condition Monitoring components have neither Hard Time nor

4. REVISION OF INITIAL PERIODS (Planned life development) :

4.1 On the consideration of operating economy, operators desire

4.2 A continued satisfactory performance of aircraft and

i) Two consecutive major maintenance schedules (on the

4.3 An operator may submit a programme of life development,

4.4 Once a programme is approved, then Regional Airworthiness

4.5 An operator may operate remaining programmed aircraft/

5. ADVANCE intimation shall be given to the Regional/Sub-

6. Regional/Sub-regional Airworthiness Offices may require an

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