Keeping your EASA or FAA Part-147 training centre compliant can be achieved by keeping control of your classroom training, secure module testing and student records. Most maintenance training schools struggle to meet compliance requirements with multiple spreadsheets, online quizzes and file folders to manage. A training system provides a single source of truth to track your students’ progress through their courses, secure question banks, workshop logs and permanent records.
Why do unconnected tools cause issues with EASA and FAA Part-147 audits?
Aviation maintenance training is highly regulated with strict requirements defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 Annex IV (Part-147) and FAA 14 CFR Part 147. However, many Approved Maintenance Training Organisations (MTOs) are still using unconnected tools like calendars, third party testing tools and file folders on a local server. This causes problems when auditors ask for evidence of theoretical hours or practical sign-offs, you will be scrambling to pull together documents.
Unconnected tools can cause issues with training. If your LMS isn’t connected to your exam tool, students might attend training modules without completing required classroom hours. Most corporate learning systems will also clean up inactive students to reduce licensing costs. This breaks EASA regulations as you must keep a permanent record of all students.
A true Part-147 software solution provides a solid compliance solution throughout your organisation. Everything from basic B1/B2 training, type ratings, secure exams and EASA Form 148/Form 149 creation will all be connected within one live database. Quality Managers will have instant access to instructor currency, facility limits and student audit.
What to look for when looking for Part-147 training management software
Don’t choose generic training software. Ensure any prospective Part-147 (or equivalent) training software has the following features to ensure compliance:
1. Maximum number of students in classroom and practical workshops
EASA Part-147.A.100 and 147.A.200 require strict ratios to be applied for training within training facilities. Theoretical training must not exceed 28 students per class and practical workshops and on-wing tasks will have a maximum of 15 students per supervisor/assessor. The software should ensure that this is automatically applied.
2. Secure examination process with lockout for re-takes
Examinations must be carried out according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/989 as outlined in the EASA Part 147 Examinations Guide. The software must verify student identity, secure exams, and enforce mandatory waiting periods between retakes. Please see the Part-66 Module Exam Delivery Overview for a secure process.
3. Separate Quizzes from Exam Question Bank
As per Part-66 Appendix II, practice quizzes cannot be mixed with exam questions within your online lessons. If you do this your exams will become invalid. You should have a highly encrypted question bank with role based access to ensure your exams are secure.
4. Ability to Mark Practical and Type Assessments Offline with iPad
Wi-Fi within Hangar Bays and Practical areas can be unreliable. Instructors need to be able to mark practical elements such as Aircraft Structural Repairs, Avionics Fault Finding and Component Overhauls. Examiners will record practical competencies using tablets. They can record two electronic signatures to meet regulatory requirements and then sync this data once they are connected.
5. Unlimited Student Records and Pass Rate Tracking
All students training, examinations and assessments must be recorded for unlimited periods of time as per EASA 147.A.125. FAA schools must have pass rates tracked for 70% pass rate over 3 years as per 14 CFR § 147.25. This can be found in the FAA Part 147 ACS Testing Guide.
6. 24 Month Continuation Tracking for Instructors
Instructors, Knowledge Examiners and Practical Assessors must undertake updating training every 24 months. Your management system must track staff hours for continuation, technical briefings and qualification validity. All staff files must be archived for a minimum of 5 years after leaving. As per EASA 147.A.105 & 147.A.110.
How do Part-147 training platforms compare in 2026?
Maintenance training organisations will typically look for a dedicated exam tool, or existing maintenance software or an integrated solution. Here is how the best options compare.
| Platform | Courses & Practical Scheduling | Exam & Question Bank Controls | Record Retention & EASA Forms | Typical Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimpliTrain | Yes (Unified TMS + LMS + practical logs) | Integrated secure testing via SimpliAssess | Unlimited EASA 147.A.125 archiving | Flat per-admin ($60/mo/admin) |
| 147Index | Basic audit checklists & document logs | External quiz tool integration required | Standard digital document storage | Tiered software subscription |
| AMTOS | Specialized maintenance curriculum authoring | Limited multiple-choice test modules | Course completion certificates only | Custom enterprise licensing |
| Aviatize | General ATO & flight school management | Basic digital quiz attachments | General training log retention | Per-aircraft or per-user tiers |
| MINT TMS | Enterprise commercial airline modules | Full EBT and recurrent testing suites | Long-term training record storage | High custom enterprise quote |
Why can software costs per student be a trap?
Many training software packages have hidden costs and can be quite expensive to comply with regulations. In many cases, your LMS will charge an ongoing monthly fee based on the number of students you have.
This can cause major issues with EASA regulations. As 147.A.125 states that training organisations must keep student data permanently, you will be faced with a tough decision. You will have to delete old alumni data to reduce your monthly fee or pay ongoing fees for alumni who no longer attend.
SimpliTrain removes this issue by charging a flat $60 monthly fee per administrator. Training centres easily manage active B1/B2 groups while keeping decades of graduate data with no extra fees. Review long-term cost structures in the Training Management Software Buyer’s Guide 2026.
Bring your Part-147 training, exams and records together into one system
Are you currently using EASA Form 148 and Form 149 certificates in separate spreadsheets and folders on your local computers? Are you concerned that your LMS will require a large fee per user which means your admin have to delete your students records early?
SimpliTrain provides basic training, workshop scheduling, iPad sign-offs, and permanent record keeping for a flat $60 monthly per administrator. Visit the Aviation Training Management System page to explore compliance features, or schedule a live SimpliTrain Demo today
