scope:

This notice outlines a special emphasis surveillance program to evaluate Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121 air carrier outsourced maintenance management and oversight. The special emphasis surveillance program will begin during the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2004 and be completed during FY 2005. The evaluation has two objectives.

a. Principal airworthiness inspectors will verify that their assigned certificate holders have adequate provisions to manage and oversee organizations with which they have made arrangements to perform maintenance in accordance with 14 CFR part 121, section 121.363 (hereafter referred to as "outsourced maintenance").

b. Principal airworthiness inspectors will validate the overall effectiveness of their assigned certificate holders' management and oversight of outsourced maintenance through evaluation of certificate holders' records and onsite surveillance by using system safety tools.