This unit of competency requires application of hand skills and the use of maintenance publications and knowledge of system theory to test and troubleshoot aircraft flight control 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 training pathways.

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 relevant maintenance documentation and aircraft manuals to:

recognise defects during visual inspection of fixed wing flight control systems and system components

rig fixed wing flight control systems

functionally test the operation of fixed wing flight control systems and recognise system/component malfunction or evidence of incorrect rigging

to the extent permitted by applicable fault diagnosis guides, troubleshooting unserviceabilities in fixed wing flight control systems and clearly record the causes of the unserviceabilities.

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 the aircraft fixed wing flight systems. It is essential that testing procedures take into account all safety precautions associated with flight control system operation, in particular where system operation/switching interrelates with other systems being maintained, and that knowledge be demonstrated of dual inspection requirements associated with work on flight controls and systems.

This shall be demonstrated through application across the system/component groups 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:

WHS precautions relevant to flight control system maintenance

standard trade practices relating to tool and test/rigging equipment usage and installation/securing of system components

flight control system layout and operation:

theory of flight:

airflow

conditions of flight

lift and forces

drag

wings, tailplane and vertical stabiliser

lift augmentation (flaps, slats and slots)

aircraft control surfaces and their function (elevator, ailerons, rudder, elevons and trim tabs)

spoilers and speed brakes

flight control balancing and flutter

stability and control and flight control rigging

mechanical system layout and operation:

cockpit controls

cables and cable tensioning

pulleys and fairleads

bellcranks

levers

control surface horns

screwjacks

push/pull rods

powered flight controls:

system layout and operation

component construction and operation

electrical and instrument interfaces:

flaps

trim

position indication

flight control system maintenance procedures and troubleshooting methods

flight control system rigging equipment and procedures

flight control system interfaces with automatic pilot systems and automatic flight control systems

relevant maintenance manuals

relevant regulatory requirements and standard procedures.

Competency should be assessed in the work environment or simulated work environment using tools and equipment specified in aircraft maintenance manuals. 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 level of troubleshooting is limited in its application to the use of fault diagnosis guides or other similar information.

The application of ground 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 workplace assessor that the relevant elements and performance criteria of the unit of competency are being achieved under routine supervision on at least one (1) item from each of the following groups:

ailerons, elevators, rudders, trim tabs, speed brakes, spoilers, flaps and slats

actuators – mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or electric

mechanical flight control components including cables, pulleys, guides, fairleads, tension regulators, control rods, bellcranks, torque tubes, chains, sprockets, control sticks (or wheels or columns), trim wheels or handles, and rudder pedals.

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 MEA312 Inspect, test and troubleshoot aircraft fixed wing flight control systems and components, will have met the requirements for the Performance Criteria for Element 1. The requirements for Elements 2 and 3 will also be met if recorded experience for MEA312 Inspect, test and troubleshoot aircraft fixed wing flight control systems and components involved aircraft with powered flight controls. If experience was gained on aircraft types with only mechanical flight controls the recorded experience will partially meet the requirements for this unit. The Log of Industrial Experience and Achievement records relating to MEA312 Inspect, test and troubleshoot aircraft fixed wing flight control systems and components may be accepted as also meeting the evidence requirements for this unit in the applicable areas.

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

Aviation maintenance