By international law large aircraft are required to categorize aircraft information using a standard called the ATA document numbering system (Air Transport Association).
The ATA document chapters allow a pilot or mechanic to find the same information for any airplane under the same chapter/sub-chapter number. Thus a chapter number for a Boeing 747, B737, or Airbus 380 will be the same. Examples of this include Oxygen (Chapter 35), Electrical Power (Chapter 24) and Doors (Chapter 52).
A few examples of ATA chapter numbers...
ATA No. ATA Chapter name
ATA 00 GENERAL
ATA 01 MAINTENANCE POLICY
ATA 02 OPERATIONS
ATA 03 SUPPORT
ATA 04 AIRLINE USE Aircraft Handling
ATA 05 TIME LIMITS/MAINTENANCE CHECKS
ATA 06 DIMENSIONS AND AREAS
ATA 07 LIFTING AND SHORING
ATA 08 LEVELING AND WEIGHING
ATA 09 TOWING AND TAXIING
ATA 10 PARKING, MOORING, STORAGE AND RETURN TO SERVICE
ATA 11 PLACARDS AND MARKINGS
ATA 12 SERVICING
ATA 14 HARDWARE AND GENERAL TOOLS
ATA 18 VIBRATION AND NOISE ANALYSIS (HELICOPTER ONLY)
About 20years ago the FAA strongly urged GA aircraft to follow the standard with the anticipation that it would soon become law - it never did.
Why has the International community not mandated GA aircraft use the JASC/ATA document standard.
