Factors contributing to delays regarding aircraft during A-check maintenance

The aviation industry is a competitive and regulated business. It is a function of the engineering manager in aviation to ensure that the aircraft operates cost effectively. One way to manage aircraft operation cost is to speed up aircraft turnaround time during maintenance checks. According to airworthiness regulations, an aircraft has to go through A-check maintenance after a certain number of flying hours. Aircraft operators are faced with the challenge of delays during maintenance. These delays result in the loss of revenue because of penalties. To overcome this challenge, this research was conducted in an aircraft maintenance organization. The objective of the research was to identify the cause of delays during A-check maintenance. Maintenance records were analyzed and interviews were conducted with several employees of the aircraft maintenance company. The research identified the factors that contribute to delays during A-check maintenance. The identification of these factors will help the airline maintenance company to identify the gap between best practice and current practice.