This unit of competency requires application of hand skills and the use of relevant process documentation to shot peen aircraft components, such as structural components and components of engines, propellers and landing gear shock struts from fixed and rotary wing aircraft during scheduled or unscheduled maintenance.

The unit is part of the Mechanical Certificate IV training pathway and is used in workplaces that operate under the airworthiness regulatory systems of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

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 use of MSDS and applicable items of PPE

using relevant process documentation relating to shot peening of component surfaces to:

select and set up the required shot peening equipment

select and set up the Almen test strip

adjust equipment settings to obtain the required Almen strip distortion

prepare component surfaces for shot peening

shot peen surfaces to obtain the specified intensity and coverage

remove surface contaminants from shot peened surfaces

correctly disposing of waste shot peening media.

The underlying skills inherent in this unit should be transferable across a range of shot peening applications associated with aircraft components. It is essential that the relevant procedures are interpreted and applied to ensure quality and safety standards are achieved.

Evidence of transferability of skills and knowledge related to shot peening is essential. This shall be demonstrated through application across a number of different aircraft components.

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:

how to obtain relevant MSDS

the correct use of PPE

WHS procedures

the reasons for shot peening

the types of aircraft component and the materials that are shot peened

shot peening equipment and processes applicable to aircraft components

the uses of different types of shot peening media

the use of process documentation

the types of Almen test strips and their uses

setting up and calibrating equipment for use

preparation of surfaces for peening and cleaning after peening

environmental requirements associated with disposal of used media.

Competency should be assessed in the work environment or simulated work environment using equipment specified in process documentation. It is also expected that general and special purpose tools and test equipment found in most routine situations would be used where appropriate.

The work plan should take account of applicable safety and quality requirements in accordance with the industry and regulatory standards. Ability to obtain and correctly interpret shot peening process documentation will be necessary before undertaking any action.

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 a representative range of shot peening tasks that are performed within the enterprise.

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

Aviation maintenance