A work order is the controlled maintenance document that scopes a job — tasks, parts, references and sign-offs — from squawk or scheduled trigger through to release to service. It is the audit trail connecting a reported defect to the CRS that closed it.
A work order is the controlled document that scopes and records a specific maintenance job from initiation to release: the tasks to be performed, the approved data referenced, parts and materials consumed (with traceability), labour, findings, and the certifying signatures — culminating in the CRS that returns the aircraft to service.
Work orders are opened from three triggers: a reported defect (squawk), a scheduled requirement coming due (from the maintenance programme), or a modification/SB decision. Together they form the aircraft's maintenance narrative — the audit trail proving that what the records say was done, was done, by whom, with what parts, against which data.
Why it matters for flight schools
The work order is where maintenance quality becomes provable. Auditors trace sample paths through the system: due item → work order → parts certs → CRS → tech log; any broken link is a finding. Commercially, work-order data is the school's only honest view of maintenance economics — cost per aircraft, recurring defect patterns, provider turnaround times. Schools running maintenance through email and PDFs have this data; they just can't use it.
How FlightLogger handles it
FL Maintenance generates work orders directly from squawks and due-list items, carries parts traceability and sign-offs inside the order, and closes the loop to the CRS — one connected record per job, queryable across the fleet.
Frequently asked questions
What must a work order contain?
The defined scope of work, reference to approved maintenance data, parts and materials with traceability documentation, who performed and inspected each task, findings and rectifications, and the release certification. Detail requirements scale with the regulatory framework.
How long must work order records be kept?
Detailed maintenance records are typically retained until superseded and at least 36 months after release under EASA rules, with longer retention for overhaul and life-limited part records. Many operators keep everything for the life of the aircraft.