Standardization of scheduled maintenance procedures is accomplished through the use of the following PMS publications:

1. Maintenance requirements cards (MRCSs

2. Sequence control cards/charts (SCCSs

3. Checklists

4. Periodic maintenance information cards (PMICSs

5. Standard depot-level maintenance (SDLM) specifications

Revisions to the PMS publications are published at intervals. These revisions add, delete, revise, or change requirements, and are based on factual data accumulated as a result of maintenance experience with the aircraft. Where conflict exists between the information contained in a PMS publication and another maintenance directive, the PMS publication takes precedence. The types of PMS publications and their uses are described in the following paragraphs.

Maintenance Requirements Cards (MRCs)

The prescribed maintenance requirements, as shown in the PMS publications, are presented to maintenance personnel in the form of maintenance requirements cards (MRCs). Usually, sets of cards are provided for each aircraft model being maintained under the inspection system. For each type of scheduled inspection, one set of MRCs is provided. All of the minimum requirements for the accomplishment of any particular scheduled maintenance task, or portion thereof, are contained in a set of these cards.

The maintenance requirements cards are the working documents for squadron inspections and preventive maintenance actions. These 5- by 8-inch cards contain the particular system, subsystem, area, or component using a logical sequence for accomplishment. MRCs identify the recommended rating, performance interval, and the work area involved. Assembled into sets and numbered in sequence, the cards contain pertinent information required by each maintenance person to complete each task.

Data for each task includes the following information about the task: a description; the time required to perform the task; the power, tool, equipment, and material requirements; and information on such items as pressures and torque values. Also included, when necessary, is a diagram of the area in which the work is to be accomplished.

The work plan, or order of performing the requirements, specified on the MRCs is arranged in two ways.

1. The preflight, postflight, and daily work is performed item by item in sequential order arranged on consecutively numbered cards.

2. The calendar inspection work is controlled by the order of arrangement of the items on the MRCs and, in addition, employs a sequence control chart for scheduling the MRCs. The calendar MRCs are not necessarily scheduled in numerical card number sequence.

A master file copy of current MRCs must be maintained within the maintenance department. This master file copy reflects all revisions to the published card sets, plus any locally added requirements. Local periodic maintenance requirements, not covered by the published MRC sets, can be added as outlined in chapter 3 of this TRAMAN.

When an aircraft is undergoing an inspection, one or more of the MRC(s) is/are given to the maintenance person in the specified order. Certification of completion of the work is not made on the cards; therefore, the cards are used as many times as their condition permits.

Before a set of cards is issued to the check crew supervisor, each card should be checked against the master file set to ensure that it is complete and current. (This is a function of the quality assurance/analysis division.)

The front side of each basic card (fig. 4-16) begins a new maintenance requirement. The back side of the card carries the same number as the front with an additional point number. In case the text and illustrations cannot be contained on the front and back of the basic card, an additional point-numbered card is used. For example, the front of an MRC maybe numbered 21, the back of this card 21.1, and a continuation card 21.2. Point-numbered cards are not listed on the sequence control charts.