Will talk about Maintenance Check Flights, which are like test flights but happen after big maintenance jobs. I would like to address a topic that, although not pure flight testing, is closely related. I'm talking about class A maintenance check flights (MCF), which require crews to adopt the same mindset during flight tests for threat and error management to adhere to the same safety standards. This topic has been underestimated by the operators, even though manufacturers have addressed it in the past.

In recent years, this topic has arisen for many airlines as they seek to return NEO aircraft with PW1100 engines to service from storage, given the known problem with them. My presentation takes a step forward by integrating the TEM model into the process for managing threats and errors within a competence framework for airlines without a CBTA/EBT training system.

Some aircraft were lost during MCF in the past for various reasons, mainly due to inadequate crew training for the task. Regulators around the world, especially in the Latam region, need to adopt best practices for MCF, and EASA is a very good example to follow.

I've been involved in maintenance check flights, ferry flights, and acceptance flights for many years. I'm an A320FAM TRI/TRE airline pilot with extensive experience, having flown in regions around the world, including the Middle East, China, Europe, North and South America, and Oceania. Currently, I'm flying JetSMART airlines, which is part of the Indigo Partners group (Wizz Air, Volaris, Frontier, etc.). My technical background not only comes from my experience in the industry flying B737, A340-300, A318, A319, A320, A321 (NEO and CEO), Technical Pilot and Training manager, but also from technical courses such as FW performance, flying qualities, stability and control taken at ITPS Canada (Introduction to Flight Testing) that allowed me to face complex maintenance check flights safely applying flight testing concepts as a risk mitigation factor.