The current ICAO provisions on aircraft maintenance records and continuing airworthiness records describe the use of both paper and electronic formats. Currently, aircraft maintenance records are mostly stored in a paper format. However, air operators, aircraft manufacturers and maintenance organizations are continuously migrating towards the use of electronic aircraft maintenance records (EAMR) and continuing airworthiness records and digitally supported aircraft maintenance information. This also includes electronic maintenance records and continuing airworthiness records for aircraft, engines, propellers and associated parts. Some States have already published advisory material on the use of EAMR and continuing airworthiness information, are already allowing air operators, aircraft manufacturers and maintenance organizations to make use of EAMR, and digitally supported aircraft maintenance information.
The implementation of EAMR and continuing airworthiness records poses challenges such as electronic signature, security and integrity of records, and transferability from one record system to another. Clear provisions on EAMR and continuing airworthiness records would provide acceptable methods for the development of States' requirements and facilitate the implementation and acceptance of EAMR and continuing airworthiness records.
The Airworthiness Panel (AIRP) was tasked by the Air Navigation Commission (ANC) to consider developing provisions for electronic aircraft maintenance records and continuing airworthiness records in Annex 6, Annex 8 and guidance material for the acceptance of EAMR in the Airworthiness Manual – Doc 9760. The amendments to Annex 6 and Annex 8 have been adopted in March 2018 and became applicable in November 2018.
The guidance material on EAMR and continuing airworthiness records have been included in the unedited 4th edition of the Airworthiness Manual – Doc 9760 approved in July 2020.
