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By following this guide, you will create discrepancy records for aircraft defects, classify them by severity and ATA chapter, track them through the resolution lifecycle, link them to work orders, and feed grounding events into the safety module for trend analysis.
Who should read this: Directors of maintenance, lead mechanics, pilots who report squawks, and maintenance controllers responsible for tracking defect resolution.Required permission: maintenance_ops — read to view, update to create and modify discrepancy records.Regulatory basis: 14 CFR 43.9 requires entries in the aircraft maintenance record for each discrepancy found and corrective action taken. 14 CFR 135.427 requires Part 135 operators to report mechanical difficulties and maintain discrepancy tracking as part of the continuing airworthiness maintenance program.

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The Discrepancies List

Navigate to Maintenance > Discrepancies to see all discrepancy records. The list displays:
ColumnDescription
Squawk #Auto-generated identifier (e.g., SQ-001) — click to open
TitleShort summary of the defect
AircraftRegistration of the affected aircraft
ATA ChapterATA 100 chapter code and name
SeverityMinor, Major, Critical, or Grounding
StatusCurrent lifecycle status
TypeSquawk, Snag, Defect, or Write-up
ReportedDate the discrepancy was first reported

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Status filters

StatusMeaning
OpenNewly reported, not yet addressed
DeferredDeferred under MEL/CDL provisions (see MEL Deferrals guide)
In ProgressCorrective action underway
Pending PartsResolution blocked on parts availability
ResolvedCorrective action completed
ClosedVerified resolved and signed off

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Create a Discrepancy

1
Open the new discrepancy form
2
From the Discrepancies page, click New Discrepancy.
3
Select the aircraft
4
Choose the aircraft registration from the dropdown.
5
Enter identification details
6
  • Title — Short, factual squawk summary (e.g., “Left cabin door seal leaking”)
  • Description — Detailed description of the condition, including where it was observed and any operational impact
  • Discrepancy Type — Squawk, Snag, Defect, or Write-up
    • 7
    Classify the discrepancy
    8
  • ATA Chapter — Select the ATA 100 chapter code (e.g., “52” for Doors). The chapter name auto-populates.
  • Category — Airframe, Engine, Avionics, Interior, Exterior, etc.
  • Severity — Select the severity level:
    • 9
    SeverityDefinitionMinorCosmetic or non-operational issue; no effect on airworthinessMajorOperational limitation but aircraft remains airworthyCriticalSignificant safety concern; immediate attention requiredGroundingAircraft is unairworthy; must not fly until resolved
    10
    Setting severity to Grounding marks the aircraft as grounded in the system. The aircraft will appear as unavailable for flight scheduling until the discrepancy is resolved and the ground hold is released. Per 14 CFR 91.7, no person may operate an aircraft unless it is in an airworthy condition.
    11
    Record reporting details
    12
  • Reported By — Name of the person who identified the defect (typically the pilot)
  • Reported At — Date and time of discovery
  • Reported On Flight — If discovered during a flight, link the trip ID
    • 13
    Create the discrepancy
    14
    Click Create to save. The system generates a squawk number, sets the status to Open, and opens the discrepancy detail page.

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    Discrepancy Detail Page

    Click any squawk number to open the detail page. The page shows:
    • Header — Squawk number, aircraft, severity badge, status label, and ATA chapter
    • Description — Full rich-text description of the defect
    • Reporting details — Who reported it, when, and on which flight
    • MEL/CDL deferral info — If deferred, shows the MEL reference, category, and expiration
    • Resolution — Corrective action documentation with parts replaced and labor hours
    • Linked work order — If a work order was created, a direct link to it
    • Operational limitations — Any limitations applied while deferred

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    Resolve a Discrepancy

    1
    Open the resolution form
    2
    From the discrepancy detail page, click Resolve.
    3
    Document the corrective action
    4
  • Resolution — Rich-text description of what was done to correct the defect
  • Resolution Summary — Plain-text summary for quick reference
  • Parts Replaced — List any parts removed and installed
  • Labor Hours — Total labor hours for the corrective action
    • 6
    If the resolution was performed under a work order, select it from the dropdown. This creates bidirectional traceability between the discrepancy and the work order record.
    7
    Submit the resolution
    8
    Click Resolve. The system records the resolver’s identity, timestamps the resolution, and transitions the status to Resolved.

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    Defer a Discrepancy Under MEL

    For defects eligible for deferral under 14 CFR 91.213 (inoperative instruments and equipment), use the deferral workflow instead of immediate resolution. See the MEL Deferrals guide for the full deferral procedure. When a discrepancy is deferred:
    • The status changes to Deferred
    • MEL reference, category, certificate number, and expiration date are recorded on the discrepancy
    • Operational limitations and required placards are documented
    • The deferral appears on the MEL Deferrals tracking page

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    Feed Discrepancies to Safety

    Grounding-level discrepancies and recurring defect patterns should be reported through the Safety Management System. From the discrepancy detail page, click Report to Safety to create a linked safety report. This enables trend analysis across the fleet and feeds into the reliability program per 14 CFR 135.421(e).

    MEL Deferrals

    Defer discrepancies under MEL provisions with category tracking.

    Manage Work Orders

    Create work orders to address discrepancies.

    Reliability Analysis

    Analyze discrepancy trends by ATA chapter.

    Compliance Dashboard

    Monitor fleet-wide discrepancy and compliance status.
    Last modified on April 5, 2026