Definition
EASA Part 145 (Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014, Annex II) defines the standards that maintenance organisations must meet to receive and maintain approval for performing aircraft maintenance in EASA member states. A Part 145 approved organisation may carry out maintenance on aircraft and aircraft components, including engines, propellers, and avionics, within the scope of its approval. The regulation covers every aspect of the maintenance organisation, from facilities and tooling to personnel qualifications, quality systems, and record-keeping. Part 145 approvals are categorised by rating. An A-rating covers aircraft line and base maintenance, a B-rating covers engine maintenance, a C-rating covers component maintenance other than engines, and a D-rating covers specialised services such as non-destructive testing. Each rating is further subdivided by aircraft or component type, so a Part 145 organisation's approval certificate precisely defines what work it is authorised to perform. For flight schools that operate training fleets, Part 145 compliance is relevant either directly — if the school maintains its own aircraft under a Part 145 approval — or indirectly, through the contracted maintenance organisations they use. Ensuring that all maintenance is performed by an appropriately rated Part 145 organisation is a fundamental airworthiness requirement. The regulation also mandates detailed maintenance records, work orders, and release-to-service documentation that must be retained and made available to the competent authority.
Why It Matters for Flight Schools
Flight training organisations in EASA member states must ensure their aircraft are maintained in accordance with approved programmes by Part 145 approved organisations — or by Part M subpart F organisations for certain lighter tasks. Schools that operate complex fleets or that perform their own maintenance often hold a Part 145 approval alongside their ATO approval, creating a dual regulatory compliance burden that requires robust documentation and quality management systems. The interface between the Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) and the Part 145 maintenance organisation is particularly important. The CAMO determines what maintenance is needed and when, while the Part 145 organisation performs the work. Clear communication, accurate work orders, and timely documentation between these two functions are essential to keeping aircraft airworthy and available for training.
How Aviatize Handles This
Aviatize's Maintenance Control and Maintenance Execution modules support the documentation and workflow requirements that Part 145 organisations and the flight schools they serve depend on. The platform tracks maintenance tasks, work orders, component life limits, and airworthiness directives, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks between the planning (CAMO) and execution (Part 145) functions. For flight schools that contract maintenance to external Part 145 organisations, Aviatize provides a clear digital record of all maintenance requests, completed work packages, and release-to-service certificates. This audit trail simplifies compliance during authority inspections and ensures that every aircraft in the training fleet has a complete, accessible maintenance history.