When can pilots perform maintenance tasks?

This topic comes up more often than you'd think — and over the years, I’ve encountered some surprising scenarios.

Early in my career, I worked for commercial air carriers with their own maintenance organizations. The idea of pilots performing maintenance? Unthinkable. We had our own engineers, supported by a solid network of outstations and maintenance contracts. Why would a pilot ever need to turn a wrench?

But when I launched my own company and started working with private operators — including helicopter ops from yachts — I quickly realized that mindset needed to shift.

There were two key factors I hadn’t truly considered until then:
Private Operations and Helicopter Shipboard Operations.

Helicopters are fantastic machines — complex, versatile, and often equipped with modular kits like floats or cargo baskets that can be added or removed depending on mission needs. Often, working in remote environments, on-site engineers aren’t always an option; though I firmly believe they should be. In those cases, pilots are often the ones installing or removing equipment to facilitate role changes..

More recently, I encountered a business jet operation where the approved maintenance program required a tire pressure check before the first flight of each day. The aircraft was frequently away from base, and the maintenance manager asked us to evaluate whether the crew could perform the check.

Interestingly, the Flight Crew Operating Manual for that aircraft type included the following guidance:

1. The manual recommended for the tire pressure to be performed at least every first flight of the day unless exception was secured from the overseeing authority allowing a greater interval between checks.
2. In the absence of qualified maintenance personnel, flight crew could perform the tire pressure check given:

• Crew has been trained to do the tire pressure per operators approved training.
• Based on the authority and operator’s requirements, the training and intervals must be documented by the operators.
• The trained crew is only authorized to perform tire pressure check if it is specified in the operator’s operating procedures.
• Crew has necessary equipment and tools to do so.

This isn’t unusual — but it requires careful consideration. Here are some of my key takeaways:

🔧What to Consider When Pilots Perform Maintenance Tasks:

Check the manuals. Review the Flight Ops Manual, ICAs, and MPD. Does the Type Certificate Holder allow specific tasks to be performed by personnel other than AMEs?

Check your regulations. Some authorities permit “elementary work” by pilots (e.g., Standard 625 Appendix A in the Canadian Aviation Regulations). These permissions are usually found in the maintenance section or related circulars.

Do a risk assessment. Determine if it’s operationally feasible and what risks need to be mitigated. Your CAA will likely ask for this as part of any approval.

Engage the Authority. If required by regulation, apply for specific approvals.

Ensure training is in place. Both Initial and Recurrent Training are essential — not just for approval, but to make sure the crew knows how to perform the task safely and spot potential defects. Training must be documented and included in the Ops Manual and tracked for expiration along with any CAA Approval.

Control your tools. The pilot must have the correct tools. If calibration is required, those intervals need to be tracked, ideally through a dedicated maintenance task in your tracking system; by the personnel responsible for the continued airworthiness of the aircraft. 

Understand the responsibility. When a pilot performs a maintenance task, they assume a degree of liability. Know the limits of the task, the associated risks, and when to escalate issues to maintenance professionals. When in doubt: call the Main Base.

Safety always comes first — yours, your passengers', and the people on the ground.

Annalisa

Aircraft Management Specialist, Co-Author of "Introduction to Aircraft Management"