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66.A.5 Aircraft groups

Annex III (Part-66) · Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 · EAR revision 2 Sep 2025

IRImplementing rule

66.A.5Aircraft groups

For the purpose of ratings on aircraft maintenance licences, aircraft shall be classified into the following groups:

(1)Group 1 is composed of:

(i)aeroplanes certified for a MTOM exceeding 5 700 kg; aeroplanes certified for a maximum passenger seating configuration of more than 19; aeroplanes certified for operation with a minimum crew of at least two pilots; aeroplanes equipped with (one) turbojet engine(s) or more than one turboprop engine; aeroplanes with maximum certified operating altitude exceeding FL290 powered with a power plant other than piston; aeroplanes with a power plant not being piston, turbine or electric;

(ii)helicopters certified for a MTOM exceeding 3 175 kg; helicopters certified for a maximum passenger seating configuration of more than nine; helicopters certified for operation with a minimum crew of at least two pilots; helicopters equipped with multiple engines; helicopters equipped with a power plant not being piston, turbine or electric;

(iii)gas airships other than ELA2;

(iv)non-conventional aircraft; and

(v)aircraft equipped with fly-by-wire systems.

Notwithstanding the first paragraph, the Agency may decide to classify into a subgroup of Group 2, Group 3 or Group 4, as appropriate, an aircraft which meets the conditions set out in the first paragraph, if it considers that the lower complexity of the particular aircraft justifies so.

(2)Group 2: aircraft other than those in Group 1 belonging to the following subgroups:

(i)subgroup 2a: single turboprop engine aeroplanes;

(ii)subgroup 2b: single turbine engine helicopters;

(iii)subgroup 2c: single piston engine helicopters;

(iv)subgroup 2E: aeroplanes with electric power plant.

(3)Group 3: piston engine aeroplanes other than those in Group 1.

(4)Group 4: sailplanes, powered sailplanes, balloons and airships, other than those in Group 1.

IR · 66.A.5 — Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 · Continuing Airworthiness Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 2 Sep 2025

GMGuidance material

GM1 66.A.5Aircraft groups

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The following table summarises the applicability of categories/subcategories of Part-66 licences versus the groups/subgroups of aircraft:

Category/subcategory GroupsA, B1 and CB2B2LB3L
L1C and L1L2C and L2L3H and L3GL4H and L4GL5
1 Group 1 aircraft, except airshipsXX
1 Group 1 airships(*)XX
2 The following aircraft that are not in Group 1: 2a: Single-turboprop-engine aeroplanes 2b: Single-turbine-engine helicopters 2c: Single-piston-engine helicoptersXXX
2E: aeroplanes with electric power plant(*), XXX
3 — Piston-engine aeroplanes (other than Group 1 aeroplanes)XXX
3 — Non-pressurised ELA2 piston-engine aeroplanes (other than Group 1 aeroplanes)XXXX
3 — ELA1 piston-engine aeroplanes (other than Group 1 aeroplanes)XXXXX
4 — Sailplanes — Powered sailplanes — Balloons — Airships not in Group 1(*) (*) (*) (*)X X X XX X X XXX XXXX
Aircraft referred to in point 66.A.3(b)(Category/subcategory as identified in the aircraft OSD)

(*) A1 and A3 may be used for any aircraft other than turbine-/piston-engine aeroplanes and turbine-/piston-engine helicopters (in accordance with point 66.A.3(a)(1)(ii) and point 66.A.20 of Part-66).

GM · GM1 66.A.5 — Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 · Continuing Airworthiness Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 2 Sep 2025

All rules in SECTION A — TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 2 Sep 2025, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.

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