Application
This unit of competency requires application of woodworking hand skills and knowledge and the use of maintenance publications to inspect and repair aircraft wooden structure and wooden components 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 Certificate IV (Aircraft Maintenance Stream) training pathway.
Where a Civil Aviation Safety Authority (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.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1. | Inspect aircraft wooden structure | 1.1 | Relevant maintenance documentation and modification status, including defect reports, where relevant, are used to identify specific inspection requirements |
1.2 | Appropriate preparation and access to the aircraft structure is undertaken to allow for proper inspection and testing in accordance with maintenance documentation | ||
1.3 | Aircraft wooden structure is visually or physically checked for signs of deterioration, deformation defects or damage in accordance with maintenance documentation and approved procedures while observing all relevant work health and safety (WHS) requirements, including the use of material safety data sheets (MSDS) and items of personal protective equipment (PPE) | ||
1.4 | Damage or defects are assessed against damage or wear limits specified by structural repair manual or other approved data to determine if repair or replacement is required | ||
2. | Repair aircraft wooden structure | 2.1 | Extent of deterioration or damage is correctly assessed to assist in determining repair procedure |
2.2 | Structure is supported and prepared in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual to ensure personal safety and freedom from damage | ||
2.3 | Appropriate repair scheme is identified in accordance with structural repair manual and/or approved data | ||
2.4 | Specialist advice is obtained in establishing an approved repair scheme where a standard repair scheme cannot be identified or damage is beyond limits | ||
2.5 | All materials and equipment required are organised | ||
2.6 | Structural repairs are performed in accordance with approved repair scheme ensuring that aircraft standard practices are used and process requirements are carried out while observing all relevant WHS requirements, including the use of MSDS and items of PPE | ||
2.7 | Finishing scheme is restored while observing all relevant WHS requirements, including the use of MSDS and items of PPE | ||
2.8 | Work area is cleaned of all waste material or contaminants | ||
2.9 | Components are adjusted, where necessary, to operate within prescribed specifications | ||
2.10 | Required maintenance/repair documentation is completed and processed in accordance with standard enterprise procedures | ||
2.11 | Where required, repaired components or assemblies are tagged, sealed and packaged or cradled in accordance with specified procedures | ||
Evidence of Performance
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 relevant WHS procedures, including the correct selection and use of PPE and MSDS
using approved maintenance documentation and aircraft publications relating to aircraft wooden structure
identifying and using woodworking tools
identifying aircraft structural timbers and their characteristics
identifying potential causes of deterioration in wooden structural components
identifying wooden structure defects and damage
identifying the condition of glue lines
fabricating and fitting repair members
gluing of wooden structure
restoring surface finish after repair.
The underlying skills inherent in this unit should be transferable across a range of inspection, testing and repair applications associated with maintenance of aircraft wooden structures. It is essential that the procedures take into account all aircraft and personal safety precautions relating to aircraft structure.
This shall be demonstrated through application across a range of aircraft wooden structures. Ability to interpret inspection and repair procedures and specifications (allowable limits) and apply them in practice is critical.
The application of the procedures should also clearly indicate knowledge of structural flight loads.
Evidence of Knowledge
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 hazards relating to wooden structure repair materials and how to obtain relevant MSDS and PPE
aircraft wooden construction principles and inspection techniques
wooden structural component attachment methods
the effects of environmental factors on aircraft wooden structures
wooden structure glues and application methods
wooden component assembly methods and testing of joints
wooden structure finishing schemes for exterior and interior surfaces
the application of flight loads to aircraft wooden structural components and joints, and related failure mechanisms
wooden component fabrication and repair techniques.
Assessment Conditions
Competency should be assessed in the work environment or simulated work environment using tools and equipment specified in maintenance documentation. It is also expected that general-purpose tools and test equipment found in most routine situations would be used where appropriate.
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 all of the following:
inspection and/or testing of:
drainage and water and dirt collection points
fabric covered plywood surfaces
single and double plywood skin
structural timbers and bolt holes
glued joint strength
glue lines
inspection techniques must include visual inspection, physical checks, mensuration and alignment
repair of:
load carrying structural timbers
plywood skin
spars and ribs.
refinishing of structure after repair using approved finishing scheme.
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.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. | ||
Inspection and testing requirements include: | Drainage and water and dirt collection points Fabric covered plywood surfaces Single and double plywood skin Structural timbers and bolt holes Glued joint strength Glue lines | |
Inspection techniques include: | Visual inspection Physical checks Mensuration and alignment | |
Components to be repaired include: | Load carrying structural timbers Plywood skin Spars and ribs. | |
Finishing scheme includes: | Refinishing of structure after repair using approved finishing scheme | |
Procedures and requirements include: | Industry standard procedures specified by manufacturers, regulatory authorities or the enterprise | |
Sectors
Competency Field
Aviation maintenance