What does preventative maintenance typically include?

Preventative maintenance typically encompasses tasks that are aimed at ensuring the continued airworthiness and safe operation of an aircraft without requiring extensive technical skills or specialized tools. Changing oil and inflating tires are prime examples of these simple yet crucial maintenance activities. They help in maintaining the efficiency of the engine and the overall health of the aircraft.

These tasks can be performed by the pilots or maintenance personnel without the need for extensive training or specialized certification, highlighting their role in regular upkeep rather than intensive repairs. On the other hand, complex structural disassembly, specialized inspections, and complete engine rebuilds usually fall under more technical and intricate maintenance procedures requiring skilled technicians and specialized equipment or tools. These activities are generally not classified as preventative maintenance but rather as more substantial repairs or overhauls.