This unit of competency applies to members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) who are required to apply explosive ordnance safety and handling procedures, hand skills and the use of maintenance documentation/publications in the inspection, testing and troubleshooting of stores management systems (SMS) and components.

The unit applies to all aircraft with stores management systems.

The unit is part of the Armament Certificate IV training pathway.

This unit is used in workplaces that operate under the airworthiness regulatory systems of the ADF.

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 safety procedures relating to aircraft SMS

applying hand skills and use of applicable maintenance manuals in removal and installation of SMS components

using ground support equipment and test equipment

applying logic processes, taking and interpreting measurements, using test equipment and appropriate documentation and manuals to isolate SMS malfunctions

performing system functional tests and checks to isolate system faults and assess post-maintenance serviceability

explosive ordnance handling

manual handling of SMS components.

The underlying skills inherent in this unit should be transferable across a range of aircraft SMS and system component inspection, testing and troubleshooting activities. It is essential that assessment confirms the ability to comply with organisational safety requirements and appropriate legislative and regulatory requirements while maintaining SMS systems. The ability to work safely within an explosive ordnance environment, conduct applicable tests and maintain relevant documentation is critical, including checking specifically for:

failure to check aircraft safety devices are installed

failure to ensure firing devices checked and removed if fitted

commencing task prior to initiating documentation

failure to comply with relevant WHS procedures and policies.

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:

the aircraft operating and maintenance environment

aircraft SMS and interfaces with other aircraft systems

WHS procedures and policies

SMS and component test procedures

explosive ordnance safety and handling procedures

technical publications and manuals

hardware and component attachment methods

technical documentation procedures.

Competency should be assessed on aircraft and/or simulator 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 unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with unit MEA605 Inspect, test and troubleshoot aircraft stores suspension systems and components.

Evidence of transferability of skills and knowledge related to SMS and system component inspection, testing and troubleshooting is essential. This is to be established through demonstration of the ability to:

render the system safe

perform relevant inspections and tests

troubleshoot faults and perform appropriate rectification 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 ADF 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 range of inspection, testing and troubleshooting tasks involving the following SMS components:

mission computer

armament computer

encoder/decoder

control unit

HUD

MFD.

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).

In addition to evidence provided in the Log of Industrial Experience assessment methods may include questioning and observation in operational or simulated environments.

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.

Aviation maintenance