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Whether you own an aircraft or turn wrenches on one, the maintenance manual is the document that keeps the work legal, safe, and repeatable. Here is what aircraft maintenance manuals contain and how they connect to FAA Part 43.
What an aircraft maintenance manual covers
A maintenance manual documents the airframe, engine, and system procedures needed to inspect, service, repair, and return an aircraft to service. It includes torque values, rigging data, inspection intervals, troubleshooting charts, and illustrated parts information. Explore sets in our maintenance manuals collection.
Where Part 43 fits in
14 CFR Part 43 governs maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration. Under §43.13, anyone performing maintenance must use the methods, techniques, and practices in the manufacturer’s current maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). In other words, the manual is not optional reference material – it is the standard the work is measured against.
Why the current revision matters
Manufacturers issue revisions, service bulletins, and updates over an aircraft’s life. Using an outdated procedure can mean using the wrong torque, the wrong part, or a superseded inspection. When you source a maintenance manual, confirm it matches your aircraft’s make, model, and the applicable revision for your serial number.
Maintenance manual vs. flight manual
These are different documents for different audiences. The flight manual (AFM) is for operating the aircraft; the maintenance manual is for keeping it airworthy. A complete set for any aircraft usually includes both, plus the parts catalog.
Sourcing the right manuals
Match the exact airframe and engine, and buy the volumes you actually need – multi-volume sets are common for complex aircraft. Browse by aircraft in the Flycampus manuals store for instant PDF delivery.
Note: Reproduction manuals are provided for reference, training, and historical purposes. They do not replace the current, manufacturer-issued documents required to legally return an aircraft to service.
