Defers & Defects

When you select MEL Defect, a window opens with the following fields:

Required fields

• Date of Discovery (UTC): The date the defect was discovered
• Short Description: Brief summary of the defect
• Defective Component Type: Choose from Airframe, Engine, Propeller, Airframe Part, Engine Part, or Propeller Part
• Defective Component: Select the specific aircraft, engine, propeller, or part affected
• MEL Item: Choose the applicable MEL item from the aircraft's MEL (filtered by aircraft type)

Additional fields based on MEL item

After selecting an MEL item, the window adapts based on the item's repair category:

• Time of Discovery (UTC): Appears for Category A items (prescribed by MEL) that have intervals based on flight hours, cycles, or calendar time. Specify the exact time the defect was discovered.
• Tech Log Number: Optional field to record the technical log reference
• Detailed Remarks: Optional extended description of the defect

Submitting the defect

Click Submit to save the defect. The system automatically:

• Generates a unique defect code
• Calculates the due date based on the repair category
• Sets the defect status to Open
• Records your user details as the reporter

The defect now appears in the Open tab and is visible to all maintenance staff with appropriate permissions.

When you select Non-MEL Defect, the window opens with fewer fields since these defects are not linked to MEL items:

Required fields

• Date of Discovery (UTC): The date the defect was discovered
• Short Description: Brief summary of the defect
• Defective Component Type: Choose the component type
• Defective Component: Select the specific aircraft, engine, propeller, or part

Optional fields

• Tech Log Number: Technical log reference
• Detailed Remarks: Extended description

Non-MEL defects are marked as Immediate and must be rectified before the aircraft can be released for flight.

Click Submit to save. The defect appears in the Open tab with an immediate priority badge.

Click the Code button (e.g., "DEF-001") for any defect to open a read-only view window showing:

• Complete defect information
• Discovery details and reporter
• Aircraft and component information
• MEL item details (for MEL defects)
• Attached documents and photos
• Extension request history
• Linked job card and maintenance action

This window is read-only and provides full visibility into the defect's details without allowing edits.

From the Open tab, click the Edit button (pencil icon) to modify a defect. The edit window allows you to update:

• Short description and detailed remarks
• Date and time of discovery
• Tech log number
• Defective component (if not linked to a job card)
• MEL item (for MEL defects, if not linked to a job card)

Deleting defects

The edit window includes a Delete button. Deleting a defect removes it permanently from the system. Only delete defects that were created in error. If a defect is no longer applicable, it's better to complete the associated job card and close it properly for audit trail purposes.

In the Open tab, locate the defect you need to extend. In the Due column, click the due date badge to open the extension request window.

Extension request details

The extension request window requires:

• Reason for Extension: Select from predefined reasons (e.g., "Parts on order", "Scheduled maintenance slot", "Awaiting specialist technician")
• New Due Date: Proposed extended due date or interval
• Remarks: Detailed justification for the extension
• Supporting Documents: Optional attachments (photos, supplier quotes, technical references)

Click Submit Request to send the extension request for approval. The system:

• Notifies authorised maintenance managers
• Records the request with timestamp and requestor
• Updates the defect status to show a pending extension

The defect remains in the Open tab with its original due date until the extension is approved.

If you have the Review Extensions permission, you'll see a Review Ext. column in the Open tab. This column shows buttons for defects with pending extension requests.

Extension review workflow

Click the Review button to open the extension review window. You can:

• Approve: Accept the extension and update the due date
• Deny: Reject the extension and keep the original due date
• Request Changes: Ask for more information or revised dates

When approving an extension, you must:

• Review the justification and supporting documents
• Confirm the new due date is reasonable
• Add review comments explaining your decision
• Optionally attach approval documents

After your decision, the system updates the defect's due date (if approved) and notifies the requestor. All extension decisions are logged for audit purposes.

In the Closed tab, the Extensions column shows a history button for defects that had extensions. Click this button to view:

• All extension requests for the defect
• Request dates and reasons
• Approval or denial decisions
• Reviewers and review dates
• Comments and supporting documents

This provides a complete audit trail of all deferral decisions for regulatory compliance and safety management.

In the Job Card column, defects without job cards show a Create Job Card button. Click it to open the job card initialisation window.

Job card details

The window pre-fills defect information and asks for:

• Planned Start Date: When maintenance work will begin
• Assigned Technician: Staff member responsible for the work
• Estimated Duration: Expected time to complete
• Work Instructions: Detailed rectification steps

Click Create to generate the job card. The system creates a new maintenance action linked to the defect and changes the defect status to In Progress.

The Job Card column now shows buttons to view, edit, or complete the job card.

Once rectification work is finished, click the Complete button in the Job Card column. The completion window requires:

• Completion Date & Time (UTC): When the work was finished
• Work Performed: Description of rectification actions taken
• Parts Used: Components installed or replaced
• Labour Hours: Technician time spent
• Certifying Staff: Licenced engineer or authorised person
• Completion Documents: Photos, test results, or release certificates

Click Complete Maintenance to close the job card. The system:

• Marks the maintenance action as complete
• Closes the defect and moves it to the Closed tab
• Records completion details and certifying staff
• Updates aircraft maintenance logs

Completed defects can still be viewed in the Closed tab for audit and reporting purposes.

The Job Card column includes buttons to generate and view PDF documents for job cards. These PDFs provide printable maintenance documentation including:

• Defect details and discovery information
• Job card instructions and work steps
• Completion details and certifications
• Parts used and labour recorded

Click the PDF button to generate and open the document. PDFs are useful for technicians working away from computer systems or for regulatory compliance documentation.

The search box (top-left) searches across multiple fields:

• Code: Defect code (e.g., "DEF-001")
• Description: Short description text
• Aircraft: Aircraft registration
• Component: Defective part name
• Reporter: User who reported the defect
• MEL Item: MEL item name or code

Type your search term and results filter automatically. Click the info icon next to the search box for a full list of searchable fields.

Below the search box, the filter panel offers additional filtering options:

• Aircraft: Filter by specific aircraft registration(s)
• Aircraft Type: Filter by aircraft type (e.g., all King Air 200 defects)
• MEL Item Category: Filter by repair category (Cat A, B, C, D, Non-MEL)
• Status: Filter by defect status (Open, In Progress, Closed, Overdue)
• Reported By: Filter by user who reported the defect
• Date Range: Filter by discovery date or completion date

Filters work together—select multiple filter values to narrow results further. Use the Clear Filters button to reset all filters.

The filter bar saves your preferences, so your selected filters persist when you return to the page or switch tabs.

Click column headers to sort the defects table:

• Code: Alphabetical order
• Discovery (UTC): Date order
• Reported by: User name order
• Resolved (UTC): Completion date order (Closed tab only)

Click a column header once to sort ascending, twice to sort descending. The current sort column and direction are indicated by an arrow icon in the header.