Operators sometimes see the “Discretionary Maintenance” section as something they can routinely skip over.  However, West Star Aviation Specialists urge you to take another look at these sections, particularly depending on where you are based and operate most. 

Specifically, please do not ignore Chapter 5-19-00 DISCRETIONARY MAINTENANCE which outlines the 15-45-90 Day Aircraft washes depending on aircraft exposure to coastal areas.

Recently, the West Star Aviation Citation Team at their ALN location encountered a situation that was directly related to the above-mentioned chapter.  The team is currently wrapping up repairs on a Citation 525 Series aircraft that was operated extensively in the tropical Caribbean region. This aircraft required 13 areas in which repairs for corrosion, including structural modifications were required,  along with 10 additional corrosion areas that required repairs by blending.

Additionally, the Cessna Team found that the stainless hydraulic lines needed to be replaced, as outlined in SB525A-29-07 which is quite a labor-intensive task.

The preliminary cost of these repairs reached upwards of $180,000.

At the conclusion, it was determined that most of this damage could have been prevented by simply washing the aircraft at the proper intervals as outlined in Chapter 5-19-00.

Another “Discretionary Maintenance” item not to be overlooked in this same Chapter is Microbiological Fuel Sample Testing based on the type of fuel/additive used.

This testing can help identify contaminants that can lead to corrosion developing inside the fuel cell or, in an advanced state, could impact powerplant performance. West Star Aviation recommends regularly adding these two tasks at intervals that apply to your next maintenance event.