The unit of competency provides skills and knowledge required by small aircraft maintenance B1 and B2 Licence holders to perform and certify mechanical elementary maintenance on small fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

The unit is part of the Aeroskills Mechatronics Certificates IV small aircraft maintenance training pathways.

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.

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, including the selection and use of MSDS and applicable items of PPE

correctly removing and installing mechanical components listed in the Range of Conditions

performing repairs listed in the Range of Conditions and classified as elementary maintenance

removing and installing removable items of cabin and cockpit equipment including co-pilot control levers

removing, checking and reinstalling engine chip detectors.

performance of engine compression tests

The underlying skills inherent in this unit should be transferable across a range of elementary maintenance and repair applications across the aircraft types maintained by the enterprise. It is essential that the relevant procedures are interpreted and applied to ensure quality and safety standards are achieved.

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:

applicable WHS procedures, including the use of PPE and MSDS

aircraft configuration and safety precautions associated with component removal and installation tasks listed in the Range of Conditions

types of aircraft fabric coverings and the procedures for minor repairs classified as elementary maintenance

aircraft composite materials and associated safety precautions

aircraft window materials and construction

methods of minor composite repairs classified as elementary maintenance

methods for performing minor repairs to cabin trim and upholstery

purpose of chip detectors and inspection requirements

procedure for performing engine compression tests

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 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 the following mechanical elementary maintenance tasks:

replacement of defective locking wire or split pins used on other than flight control systems

removal and installation of passenger and crew seat safety restraints

removal and installation of co-pilot control levers

removal and installation of simple hose connections not requiring special tools or bench assembly (excludes hydraulic connections and engine compartment fuel and oil pressure or scavenge hose connections)

removal and installation of prefabricated fuel lines

removal and installation of aircraft wheels or skids, including servicing and inspection of wheel bearings and replacement of tyres

removal and installation of landing gear elastic shock absorber cords

removal and installation of engine cowls not requiring propeller removal or disconnection of engine controls

removal and installation of induction system baffles

removal and installation of non-structural passenger cabin partitions

replacement of side windows in non-pressurised cabins

removal and installation of spark plugs, includes cleaning and setting of gap clearance

performance of cylinder compression tests

removal and installation of fuel and oil strainers or filter elements, includes element disassembly and cleaning, where applicable

removal, checking and installation of magnetic chip detectors

removal and installation of doors on non-pressurised aircraft

small simple repairs to fairings, non-structural cover plates and cowlings

simple fabric patches not requiring rib stitching or the removal of structural components (not on flight controls)

minor repairs to cabin trim and upholstery

restoration of finish after repairs and minor touch-up of decorative coatings

adding oil, air or both to non-retractable landing gear shock struts.

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