What are the two broad categories of maintenance?

The two broad categories of maintenance are indeed scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Scheduled maintenance refers to activities that are planned and performed at regular intervals based on pre-determined criteria, such as operating hours or calendar time. This type of maintenance is crucial for ensuring aircraft readiness and reliability, allowing for systematic checks, part replacements, and updates to maintain optimal performance.

On the other hand, unscheduled maintenance occurs as a response to unexpected equipment failures or performance issues that arise between scheduled maintenance intervals. This type of maintenance is reactive, addressing immediate problems to restore safe and operational functionality to the aircraft.

Understanding the distinction between these categories helps technicians effectively manage maintenance schedules, allocate resources efficiently, and ensure that any unforeseen issues are promptly addressed without compromising safety or operational efficiency.