If you are evaluating training management software for your Part 147 organisation, you have probably already discovered the problem: most TMS and LMS products on the market were not built with aviation maintenance training in mind. They are designed for corporate L&D teams, not MTOs managing EASA syllabus coverage, examination integrity, and Certificate of Recognition compliance.
This guide outlines the key questions to ask — and what a Part 147-specific aviation TMS needs to answer.
1. Does It Understand the Part 66 Syllabus Structure?
The single biggest gap in generic LMS software is the absence of Part 66 awareness. The Part 66 syllabus is broken into 17 modules (for fixed-wing) covering topics from Mathematics and Physics through to Turbine Engines and Avionics. Each module has sub-modules with defined knowledge levels.
Your aviation TMS needs to:
- Store and categorise questions by Part 66 module and sub-module
- Generate examinations that meet minimum coverage requirements per module
- Track which modules a student has passed, and which credits apply
If the system treats all exam questions as a single undifferentiated pool, it is not built for Part 147 compliance.
2. Can It Generate a Compliant Certificate of Recognition?
The Certificate of Recognition (CoR) is the most important document your MTO produces. It is the student's evidence of training when applying for a Part 66 licence, and its content is specified by the regulation.
Errors on a CoR — wrong module references, missing dates, incorrect pass criteria — can invalidate the document and delay a student's licence application. A purpose-built system should generate CoRs automatically from verified examination and attendance data, leaving no room for manual error.
3. Does It Track Attendance Per Session?
Generic HR and LMS tools often track course completion, but not session-level attendance. Part 147 programmes typically have minimum attendance requirements per course, and these must be demonstrated for each student before they are permitted to sit examinations.
Look for a system that records attendance at the individual session level, flags shortfalls automatically, and prevents students from progressing to examination if requirements are not met.
4. Is the Examination Module Secure and Auditable?
Part 147 examination integrity is a key audit focus. Your system should:
- Randomise question selection from the approved question bank
- Prevent students from accessing questions before the examination
- Record examination results with timestamps and proctor confirmation
- Store results in a format that can be retrieved and presented during NAA audits
5. Is It Cloud-Hosted and Multi-Site Capable?
If your MTO operates across multiple locations, or if you have students, instructors, and administrators in different countries, a cloud-hosted system is essential. Local installations create version control problems, backup risks, and access restrictions.
A well-architected cloud system also handles multi-role access cleanly: students see their own records and exam schedule, instructors see their course rosters and attendance, administrators manage the full operation, and quality managers have read access to the audit trail.
6. Can It Scale With You?
An MTO that starts with 30 students per year and grows to 300 needs a system that scales without requiring a new implementation. Ask vendors:
- Is pricing per-user or per-organisation?
- Are there limits on the number of courses, question banks, or examinations?
- Can you add new programmes (e.g. type training) without a custom development engagement?
7. What Does Support Look Like?
Aviation training does not follow a 9-to-5 schedule. Examinations happen on specific dates, and if something goes wrong on exam day, you need a response — not a ticket logged for the next business day. Ask vendors about their support model, response times, and whether they have experience specifically with Part 147 organisations.
The Evaluation Checklist
When evaluating any aviation TMS, confirm it can handle all of the following:
Part 147 TMS Evaluation Checklist
If a system cannot check all of these boxes, it is not purpose-built for Part 147 and will require manual workarounds that create compliance risk.