Preventive vs Corrective Maintenance: Key Differences in Aircraft Maintenance

Preventive vs Corrective Maintenance: Key Differences Explained

Aircraft maintenance is broadly classified into preventive and corrective maintenance. Both are crucial for ensuring airworthiness, safety, and operational reliability.

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Comparison Table: Preventive vs Corrective Maintenance

Aspect	Preventive Maintenance	Corrective Maintenance
Purpose	Prevent failures before they occur	Repair or replace failed components
Timing	Performed at scheduled intervals (time, flight hours, or cycles)	Performed after a fault or malfunction is detected
Approach	Proactive / planned	Reactive / unplanned
Examples	Replacing filters, lubricating moving parts, scheduled inspections	Fixing a faulty hydraulic pump, replacing failed avionics or sensors
Objective	Maintain continuous airworthiness and reliability	Restore airworthiness after failure
Impact on Operations	Minimal disruption if scheduled properly	Can cause flight delays or aircraft downtime

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Summary

In aviation, preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance complement each other. While preventive maintenance reduces the likelihood of failures, corrective maintenance ensures faults are fixed promptly when they occur. Together, they ensure aircraft remain safe, reliable, and compliant with regulatory standards.

Preventive maintenance prevents failures, while corrective maintenance repairs faults after they occur

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References

• FAA – Aviation Maintenance Handbook
• EASA Part-M & Part-145 Regulations
• Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMM)
• ICAO Annex 6 – Operation of Aircraft

Published by AHA Apex Wing – Aviation Knowledge Hub