> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.planeconnection.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# How to Manage Work Orders
> Create, assign, track, and close maintenance work orders through the full lifecycle from draft to return-to-service.
By following this guide, you will create maintenance work orders, assign them to technicians,
track progress through status transitions, add line items and notes, manage costs, and close
work orders with a proper return-to-service release.
**Who should read this:** Directors of maintenance, maintenance controllers, lead mechanics,
and A\&P technicians responsible for planning, executing, and documenting aircraft maintenance.
**Required permission:** `maintenance_ops` -- read to view, update to create and modify work
orders. Return-to-service release requires IA or A\&P certificate verification.
**Regulatory basis:** 14 CFR 43.9 requires maintenance records to include a description of
work performed, the date of completion, and the signature and certificate number of the
person approving the aircraft for return to service. 14 CFR 135 Subpart J establishes
maintenance requirements for Part 135 operators.
## The Work Orders List
Navigate to **Maintenance > Work Orders** to see all work orders for your workspace. The page
displays summary statistics across the top:
| Card | What it shows |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| Total | Count of all work orders |
| Open | Work orders in draft, open, or in-progress status |
| Awaiting Parts | Work orders blocked pending parts delivery |
| Completed | Work orders finished but not yet released to service |
### Status tabs
The tab bar filters work orders by lifecycle status:
| Tab | Meaning |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| All | Every work order regardless of status |
| Draft | Created but not yet opened for work |
| Open | Approved and ready for technician assignment |
| In Progress | Work actively underway |
| Awaiting Parts | Paused until parts arrive |
| Pending Approval | Work complete, awaiting supervisory review |
| Completed | All tasks done, pending return-to-service release |
| Verified | Released to service with sign-off recorded |
| Cancelled | Work order cancelled before completion |
Each tab shows a count badge. The default sort is by creation date descending.
### Table columns
| Column | Description |
| ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| WO Number | Auto-generated identifier -- click to open the detail page |
| Title | Short description of the maintenance task |
| Aircraft | Registration of the aircraft (e.g., N12345) |
| Status | Current lifecycle status with color-coded label |
| Priority | Routine, Urgent, or AOG |
| Assigned To | Technician or crew member name |
| Est. Hours | Estimated labor hours |
| Actual Hours | Actual labor hours recorded |
| Total Cost | Combined parts, labor, and outside costs |
## Create a Work Order
### Open the new work order form
From the Work Orders list, click **New Work Order**. You can also use `Cmd+K` and select
"New Work Order."
### Select the aircraft
Choose the aircraft registration from the dropdown. This scopes the work order to a specific
airframe and links it to that aircraft's maintenance history.
### Enter work order details
Fill in the required fields:
* **Title** -- A brief, descriptive label (e.g., "Phase 2 Inspection -- N789AB")
* **Description** -- Detailed scope of work in the rich-text editor
* **Work Order Type** -- Scheduled, Unscheduled, AOG, Phase, or Heavy
* **Priority** -- Routine, Urgent, or AOG
Use specific titles that identify both the work and the aircraft. "100-Hour Inspection -- N456CD"
is more useful than "Inspection" when scanning a long work order list.
### Set scheduling dates
Enter the **Scheduled Start Date** and **Scheduled End Date** to block the aircraft on the
maintenance forecast calendar. Record **In-Date Hours** and **In-Date Cycles** to capture
the aircraft's time at induction.
### Assign a technician
Select the assigned technician from the crew member dropdown. The assignee receives
notification and the work order appears on their task list.
### Link to a discrepancy (optional)
If this work order addresses a specific discrepancy (squawk), select it from the discrepancy
dropdown. Linking establishes traceability from defect identification through corrective action
\-- a requirement under 14 CFR 43.9.
### Set vendor details (optional)
For work performed by an external MRO or repair station (14 CFR Part 145), enter:
* **Vendor** -- Name of the repair station or MRO facility
* **Vendor WO Ref** -- The vendor's own work order number for cross-reference
* **Facility Location** -- Where the work is being performed
### Create the work order
Click **Create** to save. The system generates a WO number, sets the status to **Draft**,
and opens the work order detail page.
## Work Order Detail Page
Click any WO number in the list to open the detail page. The page is divided into:
### Header toolbar
The toolbar displays the WO number, aircraft registration, status label, and priority badge.
Action buttons change based on the current status (see Status Lifecycle below).
### Line items
The items panel lists parts and materials used on this work order. Each line item includes:
* **Part ID** -- Internal part identifier or number
* **Description** -- What the part is
* **Quantity** -- Number of units used
* **Unit Cost** -- Cost per unit
* **Total Cost** -- Calculated line total
To add a line item, click **Add Item** and fill in the part details. Items are saved immediately.
### Notes and attachments
The notes panel provides a chronological log of all activity on the work order. To add a note:
1. Enter the note text in the content field
2. Optionally attach a file (photos, inspection forms, vendor invoices)
3. Click **Add Note**
Notes are timestamped and attributed to the author. They cannot be deleted -- this preserves
the audit trail required by 14 CFR 43.9.
### Cost tracking
The cost summary panel shows:
| Field | Description |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| Estimated Hours | Planned labor hours from the work order header |
| Actual Hours | Sum of labor hours recorded |
| Parts Cost | Sum of all line item costs |
| Labor Cost | Actual hours multiplied by applicable labor rate |
| Outside Cost | Vendor or subcontracted service costs |
| Total Cost | Sum of parts, labor, and outside costs |
## Work Order Status Lifecycle
Work orders progress through a defined lifecycle. Each transition is validated and audit-logged.
| From | To | Action |
| --------------------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| Draft | Open | Approve the work order for execution |
| Open | In Progress | Technician begins work; `startedAt` is recorded |
| In Progress | Awaiting Parts | Work paused pending parts delivery |
| Awaiting Parts | In Progress | Parts received; work resumes |
| In Progress | Pending Approval | Work complete; submitted for supervisor review |
| Pending Approval | Completed | Supervisor approves the completed work |
| Completed | Verified | IA/A\&P signs return-to-service (see below) |
| Any (except Verified) | Cancelled | Work order cancelled with reason documented |
Per 14 CFR 43.9(a), each person who maintains, performs preventive maintenance, rebuilds, or
alters an aircraft shall make an entry in the maintenance record containing a description of work
performed, the date of completion, the name of the person performing the work, and the signature,
certificate number, and kind of certificate held by the person approving the work. The Verified
status transition enforces these requirements.
## Return-to-Service Release
When a work order reaches the **Completed** status, an authorized person must sign the
return-to-service release before the aircraft may be returned to operations.
### Navigate to the verify page
From the completed work order detail, click **Verify & Release**. This opens the return-to-service
form.
### Enter certificate credentials
Provide:
* **Released By** -- Name of the person approving return to service
* **Certificate Number** -- A\&P, IA, or Repairman certificate number
* **Certificate Type** -- Select AP, IA, or Repairman
* **Return-to-Service Signature** -- Digital signature hash or PIN
### Record out-date times
Enter the **Out-Date Hours** and **Out-Date Cycles** to capture the aircraft's time at release.
### Add release notes
Document any conditions, limitations, or follow-up items in the release notes field.
### Submit the release
Click **Release to Service**. The system records the release, transitions the work order to
**Verified** status, and hashes the record into the integrity chain per 14 CFR 43.9.
The return-to-service release creates an immutable record hash in the record integrity system.
Once verified, the release cannot be modified -- only supplemental notes can be added.
## Edit a Work Order
Click **Edit** from the work order detail toolbar to modify any field. Editing is available
for work orders in Draft, Open, In Progress, or Awaiting Parts status. Once a work order
reaches Completed or Verified status, it becomes read-only to preserve the maintenance record.
## Link Work Orders to Due Items
When creating or editing a work order that addresses a scheduled maintenance due item, link the
two records. This updates the due item's completion tracking and resets the next-due calculation
for recurring items.
***
Track inspections, ADs, and recurring maintenance by aircraft.
Create and resolve aircraft squawks linked to work orders.
Create reusable templates for recurring maintenance tasks.
Generate estimates and track billing for work orders.