IATA Aircraft Lease Guidance

Annex VIII: Airworthiness Directives Guidelines
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Maintenance organization or repair station number of the facility accomplishing the work
Certificate of release to service
When considering the applicability of an AD two scenarios may exist;
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If the AD is not applicable, a so called compliance document must be created highlighting the reasons
why the particular AD is not applicable. Supporting documents to back up the non-applicability should be
added to the compliance document and to the AD binder.
If the AD is applicable, then the AD must be executed. Depending on the time limitations defined in the
AD, the corresponding tasks must be planned and executed accordingly. The aforementioned
compliance documents can also be created for applicable ADs. However, the main proof which has to be
added to the AD binder is the signed task cards, and the AD binder should be updated accordingly. See
the data list above.
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The Lessee can also request permission from the authority to execute an AMOC. The documentation
and approval of the AMOC are part of the particular AD and should be added to the AD binder.
3.2 Pitfalls
This part will discuss the main misconceptions and pitfalls surrounding the application, processing and
documentation of ADs during the lease cycle. Especially at end of lease, failure to meet the AD redelivery
conditions of the following issues can lead to delays. This will cause the Lessee to incur a considerable
increase in leasing and delay costs.
The first pitfall occurs at delivery of the aircraft. The operator commonly accepts the aircraft without analyzing
these files in detail, or at all, as checking the complete AD delivery binder is a time-consuming process.
Failure to thoroughly analyze the files can and often will create issues at redelivery of the aircraft, and will
cause delays in redelivering the aircraft.
Secondly, it is often unclear for an operator what it should supply at the ending of a lease term. A common
misconception is that the AD summary sheet alone is sufficient. The Lessor will request the complete
overview and the proof that all ADs during lease have been acted on accordingly. As demonstrated above,
the complete AD compliance binder must be supplied as well. Therefore, the Lessee must gain a detailed
understanding of the redelivery conditions regarding AD compliance. For AD compliance, the Lessee is
generally required to provide the Lessor with a complete AD binder, AD summary sheet, and the processes at
end of lease. An active approach to AD compliance and documentation during the lease term will help the
Lessee achieve its goal of a smooth redelivery.
The third pitfall is related to operations and transferability in combination with AMOC approval for executing
an AD. The operator is responsible for applying for an AMOC and complying with all rules and regulations (if
applicable: the rules stated by various jurisdictions). This issue can create delays in redelivering the aircraft as
an AMOC in one jurisdiction does not automatically mean that it is applicable in the jurisdiction of the
aircraft’s origin. A procedure may have to be initiated to adapt the executed AMOC, which can lead to
acceptance of the alternative. If the alternative measure is not accepted, the AD must be executed according
to the set rules as described in the AD published by the corresponding jurisdiction, or a new AMOC must be
requested.
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