Maintenance Check Flight (MCF) Training Program
Course purpose: To prepare helicopter pilots to plan, brief, conduct, stop, and debrief Maintenance Check Flights or Test Flights using a structured Threat, Error and Undesired Helicopter State framework. The course focuses on the high-risk interface between maintenance, airworthiness decision-making, pilot handling, engineering troubleshooting, abnormal vibration, flight-control faults, rotor/drive-train failures, and post-maintenance verification.
A Maintenance Check Flight is a flight conducted for troubleshooting or to check the functioning of systems, parts, or appliances after maintenance when that function cannot be fully established on the ground. EASA/MCF guidance distinguishes higher-risk Level A MCFs, where abnormal or emergency procedures may be expected or backup/safety systems are being proven, from Level B MCFs, which are other maintenance check flights.
Engineers
Pilots
Safety Officers
Supervisors
Course Objectives
By the end of the program, the pilot will be able to:
- Explain why helicopter MCF/test flights carry elevated risk after maintenance, troubleshooting, or unresolved defects.
- Distinguish between routine flight, positioning flight, post-maintenance functional check, ground run, hover check, Level A MCF and Level B MCF.
- Identify maintenance-related Threats, pilot/organisational Errors, and Undesired Helicopter States before and during the flight.
- Apply conservative no-go criteria when vibration, control anomalies, unresolved defects, or ambiguous maintenance communication exist.
- Build a safe test profile using a written test card, suitable airspace, weather margins, emergency landing options, and minimum crew.
- Conduct a structured technical handover with engineers and maintenance control.
- Stop or modify a check flight when the aircraft does not behave as expected.
- Record findings accurately and support CAPA / FOOP / LOSA / HOSA learning after the event.
Target Audience
| Primary audience | Supporting audience |
|---|---|
| Helicopter pilots nominated for maintenance check/test flights | Chief pilots / Head of Flying Operations |
| Offshore, HEMS, SAR, utility, training and private helicopter pilots | Maintenance controllers / CAMO personnel |
| Company check pilots and training captains | Licensed aircraft maintenance engineers |
| Pilots involved in ground runs, hover checks, repositioning after maintenance, or fault-confirmation flights | Safety managers and FOOP/LOSA/HOSA observers |