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Gulf authorities regulate continuing airworthiness through frameworks modelled on EASA Part M and Part CAMO, with GCAA CAR-M being the most mature Gulf equivalent. Organisations managing aircraft across European and Gulf registries must understand the specific approval requirements and oversight differences in each jurisdiction.
GCAA CAR-M and its relationship to EASA
GCAA CAR-M establishes requirements for continuing airworthiness management in the UAE that are structurally similar to EASA Part M and Part CAMO. The regulation covers maintenance programme development, airworthiness review processes, and the approval of continuing airworthiness management organisations. GCAA has adopted many EASA concepts but adapted them to reflect the UAE operational context.
Unlike the EASA transition from Part M Subpart G to Part CAMO (which created a standalone regulation for CAMO organisations), GCAA has maintained a more unified structure. Organisations should check the current GCAA requirements rather than assuming the EASA Part M to Part CAMO transition has been mirrored exactly.
Airworthiness review and oversight
The airworthiness review process in the Gulf follows the same principle as EASA — a systematic assessment of the aircraft's continuing airworthiness status. GCAA-approved organisations can issue recommendations for Certificates of Airworthiness renewal, subject to GCAA oversight. The scope of what can be delegated to approved organisations versus what requires direct authority involvement may differ from EASA practice.
Saudi GACA and Qatar QCAA have their own continuing airworthiness frameworks, each based on ICAO Annex 8 standards with varying degrees of EASA alignment. Organisations managing fleets across multiple Gulf states must hold separate approvals and understand each authority's specific requirements.
Maintenance programme approval in the Gulf
Maintenance programme development and approval in the Gulf follows broadly similar principles to EASA — the programme must be based on the type certificate holder's recommendations, supplemented by operational experience and reliability data. GCAA may impose additional requirements for aircraft operating in high-temperature, high-humidity, or sandy environments that accelerate certain degradation mechanisms.
Organisations transitioning aircraft between European and Gulf registries should be prepared for a full maintenance programme review by the receiving authority, even if the programme was previously approved by EASA or another Gulf authority.
How this applies in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar
GCAA CAR-M governs continuing airworthiness management for UAE-registered aircraft. The framework is functionally equivalent to EASA Part M and Part CAMO but is administered independently by GCAA. GACA in Saudi Arabia applies GACAR Part 39 and Part 43 for continuing airworthiness. QCAA in Qatar follows ICAO-aligned national regulations. Each authority requires separate organisational approval.
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