Moggy, you arn’t that confused. But you arn’t completely correct. When the insomnia can’t be beat, troll through CAP 393, the Air Navigation Order. Article 16 para 6 and 7, and Section 3 General Regulation 9 might enlighten you, especially if you own your own Type Certified aircraft.

At present, if the aircraft is operating on an AOC (Air Operators Certificate) i.e. carrying fare paying passangers (pleasure flights for most light single AOC operators) or cargo movements, then it must be maintained by an EASA or JAR 145 approved organisation.

If the aircraft is being used for non-AOC work, the 150 hour and Annual inspections can be certified by an appropriatly licenced engineer. For C of A’s the aircraft has to go to either an M3 or Part 145.

As you quite rightly say, it is different for the Permit world, be it CAA or PFA.