The Federal Aviation Administration has finalized new digital recordkeeping requirements for Part 145 certificated repair stations that take effect in 2026. MRO operators transitioning to paperless documentation systems must now document in their Repair Station Manual the specific data integrity controls, user access management protocols, audit trail mechanisms, and backup and recovery procedures governing their electronic records.
The FAA will accept fully paperless Repair Station Manual administration only when the RSM itself contains detailed descriptions of how electronic systems protect data integrity and provide records accessible to the agency upon request. Shops that have digitized their operations without updating their RSM documentation are out of compliance and face enforcement risk.
Additional 2026 regulatory updates affecting US aviation maintenance include revised Safety Management System requirements, expanded Part 145 auditing scope, and new fatigue risk management thresholds for maintenance personnel. Together, these changes represent one of the more significant compliance cycles the MRO industry has seen in a decade.
For repair stations and MRO providers, the compliance burden is real, but the documentation requirements also create an opportunity. Organizations that build structured, well-documented processes and training materials have a competitive advantage in airline RFPs, where quality management and regulatory compliance are scored evaluation criteria. Aviation maintenance video production that captures standard operating procedures and technician training supports both regulatory compliance and business development goals.
Operators that proactively build documentation systems now will face far less disruption when the next round of FAA audits begins.
Source: OXmaint Aviation Compliance -- https://oxmaint.com/industries/aviation-management/aviation-maintenance-compliance-checklist-2026-regulatory