Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to prevent (a) insolvent and (b) financially restricted organisations in the Aircraft Engineering Industry continuing to issue Certificates of Release to Service outside of effective regulatory compliance.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for the oversight of Approved Maintenance Organisations which are governed by the Part 145 regulatory framework. Part 145 approval is granted to organisations that demonstrate compliance with requirements including personnel qualifications, facilities, equipment, maintenance procedures, and quality control systems. If a Part 145 approved maintenance organisation enters insolvency or a period of financial difficulties, the CAA may decide to increase the frequency and level of oversight, including unannounced audits, to ensure that it remains complaint with the requirements of Part 145. If the CAA are notified of a senior management change or change in the financial situation of an approved maintenance organisation, the CAA asks the approved maintenance organisation to demonstrate that there is sufficient funding for the intended maintenance activities carried out under its approval. In cases where it is established that an organisation is no longer able to fulfil the requirement of the regulations, its Part-145 maintenance approval will be suspended.