Glossario aeronautico
Operator Contracts
Operator Contrast is the real right of use of an aircraft or the right to use it.
When an aircraft is purchased, the owner is also the operator "automatically" as the owner of the asset, however, if the owner leases it, the operator becomes the lessee and all rights and duties are passed on to the new owner.
Compared to a simple lease (or sublease), there is also the transfer of all civil, criminal and moral responsibilities on the use of the vehicle.
The lease (or sublease) contract must be registered with the Revenue Agency and the exercise must then be transcribed on the aircraft registration certificate and also registered in the National Aeronautical Register at ENAC for the purpose of declarative advertising towards third parties who could claim rights (mortgages for example) on that asset.
With an operating contract, the owner therefore strips the property completely, keeping only the obviously administrative rights (collection of the operating or financial lease).
This point is very important because the owner can no longer use the asset at will but always under the responsibility of the operator (his legal representative and the persons in charge of each sector) who are accountable to the authorities.
The owner can request to inspect the property every time he requests it and can cancel the operator contract if it is not used properly. Even large airlines hardly own the aircraft in their fleet but rely on aircraft leasing which will then grant them the operation.
Aircraft
From the navigation code Aircraft include:
aircraft + helicopters + drones + gliders + airships
NICE TO KNOW
A helicopter is not an aircraft as our journalists often say. Helicopter, plane, drone, glider and airship are aircraft. An aircraft refers only to the category of aircraft!
Double check
Some maintenance must always be done by two mechanics: one who does the job and one who checks.
These are controls that mostly take place on processes that operate on delicate parts such as, for example, flight controls.
Serial number
After identifying the p / n (part number), I will need to identify the serial number of that specific piece.
The carburetor of the Cessna 172 engine has a part-number that tells me what kind of part I need to fit and a serial number that tells me that I have just fitted that part.
By crossing part number and serial number, maximum traceability is guaranteed.
Safety - Economic - Comfort
Safety - Economic -Comfort, in order, means that: everything that is decided in aviation is primarily related to aviation safety.
The second aspect taken into consideration in a company is the sustainability of operations and then comes the comfort of the passengers.
What is not there, does not break
"What doesn't exist, doesn't break" is a basic concept of aviation.
The simpler the systems, the harder it is for them to break. It seems a contradiction with respect to redundancy, but it must be read from the perspective of effectiveness. The redundancy is used to replace something that can be broken referring to parts vital for flight; however, if a part is not viable, its failure could create other problems.
It is therefore preferable not to put it there.
Airworthiness Directives - airworthiness requirements
The "airworthiness requirements" are issued by the aeronautical authority and may be requirements due to a provision by the manufacturer following an accident or other safety-related reasons.
They indicate the type of model and sometimes also the construction date ranges and the mandatory maintenance or inspections to be carried out (hourly or calendar): for example, following reports to the manufacturer of events occurring around the world, the could decide to do some checks on a specific part-number of a piece:
- immediately (world fleet blocked until this inspection is proven),
- within the next 10 flight hours,
- by the end of the year (for less serious problems that the manufacturer wants to monitor)
If these activities are not carried out, I lose airworthiness and can no longer fly.
Hourly and calendar deadlines
Maintenance is divided into these two large families that are often combined with each other: hourly deadlines and calendar deadlines.
Here is a very simple example: the Robinson 22 helicopter has a life limit of 2200 flight hours or 12 years. This means that I will take it to do the general overhaul after 3 years if it has flown 733 hours a year and after 12 years if it has flown 100 hours a year (even if the remaining time will be 1000 hours).
Maintenance must be carried out according to which of the two “combined” deadlines (hourly or calendar) arrives first.
Shall vs Should
Knowing the difference is essential: in aviation legislation (mostly written in English), if it is written should it means that there remains a certain discretion but if it is written shall then it is mandatory, unobjectionable and imperative!
Security
Security is the area that deals with guaranteeing security against illegal acts: attacks, hijackings, etc.
It pays attention to the human and non-mechanical component.
Safety
It concerns the whole area that deals with the aviation safety of vehicles (technical and operational).
Fail safe
In aviation it means that if it breaks, it automatically puts itself in a safe position.
Redundant
In the world of aviation it means that: if it breaks there is another one.
Ultralight
Be it aircraft, helicopter, glider or airship, it does not comply with ENAC rules but rather with Aeroclub Italia.
An ultralight is an aircraft below a certain weight (see EASA regulations) which is NOT classified as an "aircraft" according to the production, operational or navigation certifications. They therefore do not have to comply with aeronautical standards.
NICE TO KNOW
The Cessna 172, the Piper PA18 and the Robinson 22 are NOT ultralight even if they are small compared to airliners, but they are certified vehicles ... aircraft in all respects.
Part number
The Part number is a specific number that identifies exactly each aeronautical piece, from the wings of a 737 to the key ring of a Robinson.
Each aircraft model has a part-catalog where each piece is associated with its p / n.
The parts catalog follows the maintenance manual and is used for any type of intervention: if I have to make a replacement and I have to change even a single screw, I will have to go and see its number and take that screw with that screw from the warehouse or order it from the supplier. p / n to be sure that it has that length, is made of the same material, has the same pitch, the same type of head, etc ... if for a screw there are so many variables, imagine how many pieces with how many variables in an airliner there may be.
Airworthiness
It means that an aircraft can "be flown" (ie it can fly), that maintenance has been done, that all certifications are in place and that all deadlines, including bureaucratic ones, are met.
