Apply for approval as a maintenance organization and as a combined airworthiness organization

If your company wishes to operate as a maintenance organization (Part-145) or combined airworthiness organization (CAO) in the aviation sector, you require approval from the German Federal Aviation Office. Changes are also subject to approval.

Aeronautical maintenance includes all activities in which aircraft, engines or components are overhauled, repaired, modified and tested. A Combined Airworthiness Organization (CAO) is responsible for the maintenance and continuing airworthiness management of non-complex aircraft. In order to operate as a maintenance organization or CAO, your company must first obtain approval from the German Federal Aviation Authority (LBA). All changes to the approval are also subject to approval.

Maintenance organizations:

As a natural or legal person, you can apply for approval and the subsequent amendments online in the maintenance organization section:

• Approval as a maintenance organization; various classes of products are possible here
  • A - Aircraft; you can apply for base and line maintenance as well as the privilege to inspect the airworthiness according to ML.A.903 for aircraft types within the scope of approval
  • B - Engines and auxiliary power units
  • C - Components
  • D - Special services
• Amendment of the approval as a maintenance organization
  • Changes to locations, e.g. new or discontinued location, change of address
  • Changes to the scope of approval
  • Changes to management personnel
  • Changes to the airworthiness review staff (ARS)
  • Changes in the number of employees
  • Organizational changes, e.g. change of name or legal form
  • Other changes
• Approval as a repair station in accordance with a BASA / MAG agreement or change to the approval; you can apply for or change the approval for the following foreign aviation authorities:
  • USA - Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
  • Canada - Transport Canada's Civil Aviation (TCCA)
  • Brazil - Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC)

Combined Airworthiness Organization (CAO):

As a natural or legal person, you can apply for or report the approval and the subsequent changes online in the Combined Airworthiness Organization (CAO) area:

• Approval as a Combined Airworthiness Organization (CAO); here you can apply for the following rights:
  • Maintenance
  • Management of continuing airworthiness
  • Airworthiness review
  • Issue of the permit to fly
• Amendment of the approval as a combined airworthiness organization
  • Changes to locations, e.g. new or discontinued location, change of address
  • Changes to the scope of approval
  • Changes to management personnel
  • Changes to the airworthiness review staff (ARS)
  • Changes in the number of employees
  • Organizational changes, e.g. change of name or legal form
  • other changes
• Report indirect changes in the combined airworthiness organization

Recognition of maintenance certificates from other bodies:

As a natural or legal person, you can also apply online for the recognition of maintenance certificates from other bodies. You can do this as the owner of the aircraft concerned or as an authorized person or organization. "Other entities" here means a maintenance organization that has not been approved under EU or national law.

As a general rule, you may not carry out any activities without an approval.

• Application

For approval as a maintenance organization:

• for sole proprietorships: Proof of verification of the sole proprietorship, e.g. business registration or extract from the commercial register
• for legal entities and if you are not submitting the application as part of the management: power of attorney from the management
• for legal entities: proof of verification of the organization, for example an excerpt from the commercial or association register
• List of qualifications for the components, if the components are not entered in the form
• Proof of the qualifications and professional experience of the management staff
• Evidence of the qualifications and professional experience of the ARS staff
• Manual, initially as a draft if necessary

For the amendment of a maintenance organization approval:

• for legal entities and if you are not submitting the application as accountable manager or deputy accountable manager: power of attorney from the accountable manager
• if the address of the principal place of business changes: proof of verification of the new address, e.g. business registration or extract from the register of associations or commercial register
• in the event of a change to the scope of approval in Class C and if the components are not entered in the form: list of qualifications for the components
• in the event of a change in management personnel: proof of qualifications and professional experience
• in the event of a change of name for management personnel: proof of the name change, e.g. a copy of the new identity card
• in the event of a change in ARS staff: proof of qualifications and professional experience
• in the event of a change of name for ARS staff: Proof of name change, for example a copy of the new identity card
• in the event of a change to an already recognized person: proof of the change
• for organizational changes: proof of organizational changes
• for other changes: Proof of other changes
• Documents affected by the changes, e.g. manual or procedural instructions/work instructions

For approval as a repair station in accordance with a BASA / MAG agreement:

• for USA - FAA Repair Station
  • FAA Form 8400-6 (Pre-Application Statement of Intent)
  • SAS Vitals Information
• for Canada - TCCA Repair Station
  • TCCA Application Form 24-0093
  • MAG Supplement to the MOE
• for Brazil - ANAC Repair Station
  • ANAC Application Form F-900-81
  • ANAC Supplement to the MOE

Important: Applicants must organize the respective forms in advance from the Maintenance Annex Guidance (MAG) documents or the websites of the foreign aviation authorities.

For the change of approval as a repair station according to a BASA / MAG agreement:

• for USA - FAA Repair Station
  • FAA Form 8310-3 (Application for Repair Station Certificate and/or Rating)
  • for extension: Statement of continued need
  • for extension/modification:
    • Amended FAA Supplement
    • Upload changed addresses of fixed operating sites, if applicable
    • Upload amended addresses of line maintenance facilities, if applicable
    • Amended copy of EASA Form 3, if applicable
    • Any other documents required for the change (e.g. list of line maintenance locations (D107)
• for Canada - TCCA Repair Station
  • TCCA Application Form 24-0093
  • for change: TCCA Supplement to the MOE
• for Brazil - ANAC Repair Station
  • ANAC Application Form F-900-81
  • for extension: Statement of continued need
  • for amendment: ANAC Supplement to the MOE

For the recognition of maintenance certificates from other bodies:

• for legal entities and if you are not applying as an accountable manager or representative: Power of attorney from the accountable manager
• if you are submitting the application as an authorized person or organization: proof of authorization to represent, in the form of a power of attorney
• Proof of approval from the operating company

For approval as CAO:

• for sole proprietorship: Proof of verification of the sole proprietorship, e.g. business registration or extract from the commercial register
• for legal entities and if you are not submitting the application as part of the management: power of attorney from the management
• for legal entities: proof of verification of the organization, for example an excerpt from the commercial or association register
• Proof of the qualifications and professional experience of the management staff
• Proof of the qualifications and professional experience of the ARS staff
• Manual, if necessary as a draft

For the change of authorization as CAO:

• for legal entities and if you are not submitting the application as accountable manager or deputy: power of attorney from the accountable manager
• if the address of the main place of business changes: proof of verification of the new address, e.g. business registration or extract from the register of associations or commercial register
• in the event of a change of management personnel: proof of qualifications and professional experience
• in the event of a change of name of management staff: proof of the change of name, e.g. a copy of the new identity card
• in the event of a change in ARS personnel: proof of qualifications and professional experience
• in the event of a change to an already recognized person: proof of the change
• for organizational changes: proof of organizational changes
• for other changes: Proof of other changes
• Documents affected by the changes, e.g. manual, procedural instructions/work instructions

For the notification of an indirect change in the combined airworthiness organization:

• for legal entities and if you are not submitting the application as accountable manager or deputy: power of attorney from the accountable manager
• Amended manual, if applicable as an excerpt

For approval as a maintenance organization, you must meet the technical requirements in particular:

• 145.A.25 Requirements for the operating site
• 145.A.30 Requirements for the personnel
• 145.A.35 Certifying staff and support staff
• 145.A.37 Airworthiness review staff
• 145.A.40 Equipment and tools
• 145.A.42 Components
• 145.A.45 Maintenance records
• 145.A.47 Production planning
• 145.A.48 Performance of maintenance
• 145.A.50 Maintenance certification
• 145.A.55 Record keeping
• 145.A.60 Reporting of events
• 145.A.65 Maintenance procedures
• 145.A.70 Maintenance organization exposition (MOE)
• 145.A.75 Rights of the organization
• 145.A.85 Changes to the organization
• 145.A.90 Continued validity
• 145.A.95 Complaints
• 145.A.120 Verification procedure
• 145.A.140 Access
• 145.A.155 Immediate response to a safety issue
• 145.A.200 Management system
• 145.A.202 Internal security reporting system
• 145.A.205 Contracting and subcontracting

For approval as a CAO, you must meet the requirements of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1383, in particular

• CAO.A.010 Scope
• CAO.A.025 Combined airworthiness manual
• CAO.A.030 Facilities
• CAO.A.035 Requirements for personnel
• CAO.A.040 Authorized personnel
• CAO.A.045 Airworthiness review staff
• CAO.A.050 Components, equipment and tools
• CAO.A.055 Maintenance records and work orders
• CAO.A.060 Maintenance standards
• CAO.A.065 Certificate of release to service for aircraft
• CAO.A.070 Certificate of release to service for components
• CAO.A.075 Continuing airworthiness management
• CAO.A.080 Continuing airworthiness management documentation
• CAO.A.085 Continuing airworthiness review
• CAO.A.090 Record keeping
• CAO.A.095 Organization privileges
• CAO.A.100 Quality system and internal auditing
• CAO.A.105 Changes to the organization
• CAO.A.110 Continued validity
• CAO.A.115 Complaints

• Objection
• You will find further information on how to lodge an objection in the notification of your application.

You can apply for the approval of the maintenance organization or CAO, the amendment of the approval, the approval as a repair station, the amendment of the approval as a repair station and the recognition of evidence from other bodies online or by post. You can also report an indirect change to a CAO permit online or by post.

Online application:

• Call up the federal portal verwaltung.bund.de and complete the online application. The online application guides you step by step through the required information and necessary documents.
• You can upload your documents directly.
• Submit the application online.
• If anything is unclear or information is missing, the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) will contact you.
• The LBA will check whether the requirements have been met and will send you
  • a notification,
  • a notification of costs,
  • a certificate of approval for the initial approval,
  • if necessary, a new approval certificate in the event of changes.
• You pay the fees.

Application by post:

• Call up the federal portal verwaltung.bund.de and complete the online application. The online application will guide you step by step through the information and documents required.
• Print out the application and send it to the LBA by post together with the required documents.
• If anything is unclear or information is missing, the LBA will contact you.
• The LBA will check whether the requirements have been met and will send you
  • a decision,
  • a notification of costs,
  • a certificate of approval for the initial approval,
  • if necessary, a new approval certificate in the event of changes.
• You pay the fees.

The Aviation Administration Cost Ordinance (LuftkostV) provides information on the exact amounts. You will receive a notification with a QR code for payment.: Fee from 80,00 EUR to 14.000,00 EUR (Information on cost composition can be found here)

There are no indications or special features.