Definition
The section of the Federal Aviation Regulations that governs FAA-certificated repair stations. It sets the requirements a maintenance organization must meet to be certificated, including housing and facilities, equipment, personnel qualifications, recordkeeping, quality control, and the scope of work the station is approved to perform.
Plain English
The federal rules that say what a repair shop must do and have in order to be officially approved by the FAA to fix aircraft.
Context Anchor
Seen in maintenance records, repair station certificates, repair station manuals, and discussions about whether a maintenance provider is FAA-approved for the work being done.
Derivation
CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations, the official collection of U.S. government rules. Title 14 of that code covers Aeronautics and Space, and within it each numbered 'part' addresses a specific subject. Part 145 is the part dedicated to repair stations.
Why Pilots Care
Repair stations operating under these rules are the only ones authorized to return maintained aircraft to service with an approval for return to service.
Analogy
Think of Title 14 as the federal aviation rulebook, and part 145 as the chapter for FAA-approved repair stations.
Intuition Check
“Part” does not mean a physical aircraft part here. It means a numbered section of the federal aviation regulations.
Example Sentence 1
The engine overhaul was performed by a 14 CFR part 145 repair station rated for powerplant work.
Example Sentence 2
Mechanics checked the work order against 14 CFR part 145 requirements before signing off the component.