This unit of competency requires application of hand skills, standard trade practices, and systems knowledge in the testing and troubleshooting of aircraft hydro-mechanical, mechanical, gaseous and landing gear systems and components of fixed wing aircraft during the performance of scheduled or unscheduled maintenance. Maintenance may be performed individually or as part of a team.

The unit is part of the Mechanical Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) Certificate IV (Aircraft Maintenance Stream) training pathways and must be taken with MEA318 Inspect aircraft hydro-mechanical, mechanical, gaseous and landing gear systems and components.

The unit is used in workplaces that operate under the airworthiness regulatory systems of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Civil Aviation safety Authority (CASA).

Where a CASA licensing outcome is sought this unit forms part of the CASA requirement for the granting of the chosen maintenance certification licence under Civil Aviation Safety Regulation (CASR) Part 66, in accordance with the licensing provisions in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria under the specified conditions of assessment, and must include:

applying all relevant WHS procedures

using maintenance manuals to prepare the aircraft for testing and troubleshooting of hydraulic, fuel, gaseous, landing gear and mechanical systems and components

using hand skills, tools and systems knowledge in the testing, adjustment and troubleshooting of hydraulic, fuel, gaseous, mechanical and landing gear systems

using hand skills, tools and component knowledge in the adjustment and troubleshooting of hydraulic, fuel, gaseous and mechanical system components

jacking of the aircraft, as required, for landing gear system testing, rigging and troubleshooting

using hand skills, tools and system/component knowledge in the adjustment and troubleshooting of landing gear components

effectively using maintenance documentation and relevant fault diagnosis guides in the troubleshooting process

recognising external defects in hydro-mechanical, gaseous, mechanical and landing gear systems and components.

The underlying skills inherent in this unit should be transferable across a range of testing and troubleshooting applications (including the timely involvement of supervisors or other trades) associated with aircraft hydro-mechanical, gaseous, mechanical and landing gear systems and their components. It is essential that system test procedures take into account all safety precautions applicable to the system being maintained, especially where system operation/switching interrelates to other systems being maintained.

Ability to interpret system performance specifications (allowable limits) and apply them in practice is critical and shall be demonstrated through application across the range of systems listed in the Assessment Conditions.

Evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

hydraulic, fuel, gaseous, mechanical and landing gear system layout, operation and characteristics and system component operation and construction, including electrical system interfaces

how to configure the aircraft for testing and troubleshooting of hydraulic, fuel, gaseous, mechanical and landing gear systems and components

standard trade practices relating to tool usage and installation/securing of aircraft hardware

fluid power theory

hydraulic system layout, operation and characteristics (including electrical and instrument system interfaces) and system component construction and operation for:

landing gear retraction systems

brake and anti-skid systems

nose wheel steering systems

fuel system and component layout, operation and characteristics (including electrical system interfaces) and system component operation and construction

gaseous (pneumatic, air conditioning, pressurisation and fire-extinguishing system and component layout, operation and characteristics (including electrical and instrument interfaces) and system component operation and construction

construction and operation of landing gear components, including:

wheel assemblies

struts/oleos

uplocks and downlocks

mechanical systems and linkages, including those related to the above systems

how to configure the aircraft for inspection, testing and troubleshooting of hydraulic, fuel, gaseous and landing gear systems and components

maintenance requirements and troubleshooting procedures

relevant WHS practices relating to hydraulic, fuel, gaseous, mechanical and landing gear systems and components, including lifting and handling of heavy items

relevant maintenance manuals

relevant regulatory requirements and standard procedures.

Competency should be assessed in the work environment or simulated work environment, using procedures, tools and equipment specified in maintenance documentation. It is also expected that applicable general-purpose tools, test and ground support equipment found in most routine situations would be used where appropriate.

The application of testing procedures should clearly indicate knowledge of system operation, the relationship of individual components and the links with other systems (if applicable) within the limits of the aircraft/system fault-finding guide before undertaking any action. The work plan should take account of applicable safety and quality requirements in accordance with the industry and regulatory standards.

The following conditions of assessment represent the requirements of the Regulators (ADF and CASA) and maintenance stakeholders and must be rigorously observed.

A person cannot be assessed as competent until it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the approved aerospace assessor that the relevant elements and performance criteria of this unit of competency are being achieved under routine supervision on each type of system and on at least one (1) component of each group, as follows:

hydraulic systems – a system and at least one (1) component from each of the following hydro-mechanical system component groups:

hydraulic accumulators, filters, reservoirs, valves, pumps, motors, actuators, regulators and direct reading gauges

rigid and flexible pipelines, hoses and fittings

fuel systems – a system and at least one (1) component from each of the following fuel system component groups:

fuel system filters, valves, pumps, rigid and flexible storage cells/tanks

rigid and flexible pipelines, hoses and fittings

landing gear systems – each of the following systems:

retraction systems

steering systems

brake systems, including anti-skid, where applicable

landing gear components – one (1) each of:

wheel assemblies

brake units

struts/oleos

gaseous systems – each of the following systems:

pneumatic

air cycle air conditioning

pressurisation

fire-extinguishing

gaseous system components - at least one (1) component from each of the following gaseous system component groups:

gauges (direct reading), temperature sensors, pressurisation controllers and temperature controllers

heat exchangers, pressure vessels, condensers, compressors, expansion turbines, humidifiers, valves and actuators

rigid and flexible pipelines and fittings

ducting

mechanical systems – a mechanical operating and locking system and at least one (1) component from each of the following mechanical system component groups:

cables, pulleys, guides, fairleads, tension regulators, chains and sprockets

push/pull rods, torque tubes, bellcranks, screwjacks, clutches, springs, bearings and gears.

This shall be established via the records in the Log of Industrial Experience and Achievement or, where appropriate, an equivalent Industry Evidence Guide (for details refer to the Companion Volume Assessment Guidelines).

Assessors must satisfy the requirements of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Australian Skills Quality Authority, or its successors).

Where the unit is to be used for CASA licensing purposes the Assessor must also meet the criteria specified in the CASR Part 147 Manual of Standards.

Individuals being assessed who have already attained the following related units will have met the Performance Criteria and Range of Conditions variables for Elements listed:

Element 1 – any one of MEA309 Inspect, test and troubleshoot aircraft hydro-mechanical and landing gear system and components, or MEA310 Inspect, test and troubleshoot aircraft pneumatic systems and components

Elements 2 and 3 – MEA309 Inspect, test and troubleshoot aircraft hydro-mechanical and landing gear system and components, for hydro-mechanical system variables, and MEA310 Inspect, test and troubleshoot aircraft pneumatic systems and components, for gaseous system variables.

The Log of Industrial Experience and Achievement records relating to the listed units may be accepted as also meeting the evidence requirements for this unit in the applicable Elements for systems and components as listed in the Range of Conditions variables. Advice in MEA310 Inspect, test and troubleshoot aircraft pneumatic systems and components, regarding MEA355 Maintain light aircraft air cycle air conditioning systems, and MEA356 Maintain light piston engine aircraft pressurisation systems, may also be taken into consideration where applicable.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Aviation maintenance