(a) A certificated repair station may contract a maintenance function pertaining to an article to an outside source provided -
(1) The FAA approves the maintenance function to be contracted to the outside source; and
(2) The repair station maintains and makes available to its certificate holding district office, in a format acceptable to the FAA, the following information:
(i) The maintenance functions contracted to each outside facility; and
(ii) The name of each outside facility to whom the repair station contracts maintenance functions and the type of certificate and ratings, if any, held by each facility.
(b) A certificated repair station may contract a maintenance function pertaining to an article to a noncertificated person provided -
(1) The noncertificated person follows a quality control system equivalent to the system followed by the certificated repair station;
(2) The certificated repair station remains directly in charge of the work performed by the noncertificated person; and
(3) The certificated repair station verifies, by test and/or inspection, that the work has been performed satisfactorily by the noncertificated person and that the article is airworthy before approving it for return to service.
(c) A certificated repair station may not provide only approval for return to service of a complete type-certificated product following contract maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations.