This unit of competency requires application of skills and knowledge relating to the maintenance and fitment of anti-G suits worn by aircrew and passengers in high performance aircraft. Maintenance involves inspection, testing, fault diagnosis, replacement of parts, repairs to fabric and cleaning. Fitment involves adjusting the anti-G suit to correctly fit an individual. Maintenance may be performed individually or as part of a team.

The scope of repairs excludes inflatable components of the anti-G suit.

This unit is part of the Aeroskills Life Support and Furnishing Certificate III and 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).

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 WHS practices relating to Anti-G suit maintenance processes, including the selection and correct use of PPE, where applicable

using MSDS

using applicable tools and maintenance documentation to:

test/inspect anti-G suits for serviceability

replace unserviceable components and repair fabric in accordance with approved procedures including sewing

select and use appropriate anti-G suit cleaning materials

correctly fit anti-G suits to users

tying of knots, including:

reef knot

bowline

thumb knot

daisy chain

half hitch

cleaning and maintenance of equipment and tools.

The underlying skills inherent in this unit should be transferable across a range of aircraft life support equipment maintenance activities. It is essential that anti-G suit testing and inspection procedures, cleanliness requirements and safety precautions, including the correct use of PPE, are fully observed, understood and complied with. Ability to interpret maintenance and fitting procedures and apply them in practice is critical.

This is to be demonstrated through demonstration of the ability to recognise faults and damage and perform appropriate repairs that are within the bounds of the individual’s authority, and through the demonstration of correct fitting procedures on different sized individuals.

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:

relevant enterprise procedures and maintenance publications

WHS procedures relating to Anti-G suit maintenance, including the selection and use of PPE

how to obtain MSDS

G forces and anti-G suit operation during flight

physiological effects of flight

critical nature of maintaining and fitting anti-G suits

forces of ejection

operation of testing and measuring equipment and tools used to maintain anti-G suits

inflation methods used in the maintenance of anti-G suits

types of corrosion and contamination that may affect anti-G suits

modification requirements for anti-G suits

anti-G suit repair procedures and limitations

lacing techniques used in the fitting of anti-G suits

anti-G suit cleaning methods and materials

handling, storage and transit procedures.

Competency should be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace using materials, tools and equipment specified in the maintenance manuals and applicable procedures. It is also expected that general and special-purpose tools and ground support equipment 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.

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 maintenance tasks and on the correct fitting of anti-G suits to at least three (3) different sized individuals.

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).

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

Aircraft life support