The Ultimate Guide to Business Jet Maintenance

As with any investment, you want to nurture and care for your business jet. And that means making routine maintenance a priority. 

Just as an automobile requires regular attention to keep it in tip-top shape and safe for driving on roadways, jets do too. Both the manufacturer and the FAA provide owners with a list of details concerning the care and maintenance of aircraft to ensure the utmost safety of everyone on board and on the ground. 

Whether you currently own one or are considering making an investment, here is your ultimate guide to business jet maintenance. 

Who Maintains a Business Jet? 

Just because you own a business jet does not mean you must be the one to perform the maintenance and repair of it. So then who does? Who is responsible for keeping up with the scheduled routine maintenance? 

Generally, the responsibility of caring for the business jet rests on the owner or operator. While this may be something an owner may be skilled at doing, it often comes down to hiring an experienced airplane maintenance technician. However, according to the FAA, owners who are able to handle their own preventative maintenance should be able to do so. 

Before taking flight, it is up to a pilot to perform routine checks to ensure that the maintenance of the jet is up to date. Consider this a protective layer of defense when it comes to safety. This includes: 

• Making sure that all certificates are properly displayed on the aircraft, as required
• Performing checks that will confirm the business jet is safe and ready to fly
• Having an FAA-approved flight manual onboard
• Staying up-to-date on all industry regulations concerning the aircraft – especially when it comes to operating and maintaining it

While pilots are familiar with the business jets they fly, it is always considered a good idea to have maintenance performed by a certified and qualified airplane mechanic. 

The Importance of Preventative Maintenance

Routine oil changes, tire rotations, and filter exchanges you get in your vehicle are all part of preventative maintenance. This is what keeps your auto running well – and reduces the chance of bigger issues in the future. 

The same holds true for business jets.

By performing inspections and preventative maintenance, you are able to increase the jet’s longevity while also reducing the need for in–depth repairs later. Of course, it also significantly reduces safety issues, too. 

Preventative inspections are the perfect opportunity to: 

• Check for wear and tear and, if needed, replace worn parts
• Clean and/or lubricate necessary component parts
• Replace or update various parts on a regular basis
• Run tests to ensure everything is operating as it should. 

For instance, these routine checks involve topping off oil and hydraulic fluid, testing batteries, replacing safety belts, servicing landing gear, replacing air filters, cleaning (or replacing) spark plugs, replacing bulbs, and so much more. By having proper compliance in place, you can benefit from greater reliability, better overall efficiency, and cost savings. 

In order to follow regulations, you will need to properly log all maintenance as it is completed. This should include the details of the procedure, the date it was done, the person who did it, their credentials, and a signature. 

Frequency of Business Jet Maintenance

Although there should always be checks performed by the flight crew before departure, routine maintenance is usually performed based on operating time. Depending on the type of jet and its use, there are often specific maintenance tasks that need to be addressed at various intervals, including: 

• 100 hours
• 200 hours
• 400 hours
• 600 hours
• 800 hours

The older the jet, the more in-depth the service may be. 

Annual checks will also need to be added to the calendar so that they are performed at 12-month intervals for each business jet. This is not something that can be done by the pilot, but rather by the manufacturer of the aircraft or someone holding the proper certification, such as a certified A & P mechanic who has inspection authorization or a certified repair station. 

Inspections and Overhauls

There are times when business jets are going to require a bit more than routine, preventative maintenance — including hot section inspections and full overhauls.

HSI, or hot section inspection, refers to when qualified mechanics will inspect certain major parts, especially the engine. For most jets, this falls somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 flight hours, though you will want to confirm with the specific manufacturer.

HSIs involve close inspection of anything that may be impacted by pressure or temperatures, such as turbines, sensors, combustion chambers, air compressors, and the like. Anything that is not working exactly as it should be will need to be replaced right away.

Overhauls, or full overhauls, will be required if an issue or concern is discovered during the HSI. This will lead to a very in-depth look at the parts of the jet. It requires disassembling each part so that it can be closely examined. Any questionable or defective parts will need to be replaced (or repaired) immediately. The unit will then be reassembled and tested before being able to operate normally.

With inspections and overhauls, it is common to expect your business jet to be grounded for a few days. 

Aircraft Maintenance at Sun Air Jets

When you turn over your aircraft maintenance to the professionals, you not only give yourself a break from the burden of caring for the jet but also have access to skilled airplane mechanics you can trust and feel confident with. 

At Sun Air Jets, we understand that you find joy in flying — and our exceptionally skilled aviation mechanics make sure you have the best experience each time you fly high. In fact, we make flight safety our top priority. 

Our maintenance department has achieved the four major industry safety standards and routinely participates in maintenance technician training every two years. Our technicians receive certified factory training on all brands of aircraft we operate. In other words, we are committed to safety at every turn. 

That’s the Sun Air difference. Contact us today to learn more.