Application
This unit of competency applies to design of avionic digital systems and components for aircraft, including hardware and embedded system software, design of modifications, automatic test stations, and development and update of test procedures and of repair requirements. It includes electrical, electronic and software design techniques and performance of the design process within the requirements of airworthiness regulators and documentation of the design process within management systems, such as configuration management (CM) and integrated logistic support (ILS).
It is suitable for people working as members of avionic system design teams and for those employed within maintenance engineering support departments or pursuing careers and qualifications as paraprofessionals in avionic engineering.
This 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).
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | |||
1. | Investigate requirements of avionic digital design projects | 1.1 | Review the context and negotiate parameters of the engineering design brief in consultation with stakeholders | |
1.2 | Determine engineering scientific principles and design techniques required for design process | |||
1.3 | Investigate life-cycle design and sustainability implications of avionic digital design | |||
1.4 | Determine specification, documentation and graphical techniques required to define designs | |||
1.5 | Confirm work health and safety (WHS), regulatory requirements, codes of practice, standards, risk management and registration requirements relevant to avionic digital design project | |||
1.6 | Investigate the need for technical and professional assistance | |||
2. | Apply avionic digital design techniques | 2.1 | Plan, schedule and coordinate the design task | |
2.2 | Apply the design process and avionic scientific principles to component selection and design proposals | |||
2.3 | Create adequate and accurate calculations, preliminary graphics and maintain design process records | |||
2.4 | Evaluate multiple solutions against design criteria, risk, sustainability and cost | |||
2.5 | Integrate avionic techniques, hardware and embedded software, including mechanical, fluid, electrical, electronic, controller and networking | |||
2.6 | Apply systems thinking, problem solving and decision making in dealing with contingencies and constraints for continuous improvement and development of design options | |||
2.7 | Incorporate professional and technical assistance as required | |||
2.8 | Apply specification, documentation and graphical techniques modelling, mock-up or prototyping techniques to define designs | |||
3. | Report results | 3.1 | Report results of investigations, application and development of avionic digital design | |
3.2 | Provide documentation, such as calculations, specifications, diagrams, computer-aided design (CAD) files, control circuits and controller programs, mock-ups or prototypes | |||
3.3 | Provide draft documentation required by CM plan and/or ILS process, where applicable | |||
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:
communicating, negotiating and reviewing context and parameters of the engineering design brief with stakeholders
determining or confirming scientific principles and design techniques, WHS and regulatory requirements, and design specification requirements
evaluating multiple solutions against design criteria, risk, sustainability and cost
investigating life-cycle design and sustainability, technical and professional assistance required
investigating CM and/or ILS requirements
planning, scheduling and coordinating the avionic design task
applying design process and scientific principles to component selection and design proposals for components and avionic digital systems
solving problems and making decisions with systems thinking for contingencies and constraints and continuous improvement
integrating avionic techniques, hardware, components and software into aircraft avionic digital systems
defining designs
specifying, documenting and applying graphical techniques, modelling, mock-up or prototyping techniques
creating and maintaining adequate and accurate calculations and design process records
reporting and documenting, results of investigations, application of principles and techniques, calculations, specifications, diagrams, CAD files, mock-ups or prototypes of designs.
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:
life-cycle design and sustainability implications of avionic digital component and system designs
CM and ILS requirements
design processes and techniques to investigate, synthesise and develop proposals, evaluate feasibility against design criteria, review and revise in consultation with stakeholders, model, mock-up and prototype
systems thinking, problem solving, decision making and continuous improvement methods
WHS and regulatory requirements, codes of practice, standards, risk management and registration requirements
professional and licensed technical assistance for engineering specialisations
requirement for consultation and negotiation to establish design parameters and criteria
procedures for planning, scheduling and coordination of design
hardware requirements of typical avionic digital component and system applications
engineering avionic scientific principles and techniques required for digital system design tasks
design calculations techniques
software for product planning and design, such as CAD layout, circuit design, system software and project management
required documentation:
design brief and records of negotiation
planning and schedule
calculations and diagrams documentation for checking and design records
specifications and graphics required to define designs
risk analysis report
design process summary report
life-cycle and sustainability reports
CM and ILS documentation
prototyping options, including mock-ups, simulation, physical and virtual modelling, rapid prototyping.
Assessment Conditions
This unit may be assessed on the job, off the job or a combination of both on and off the job. Where assessment occurs off the job, that is, the candidate is not in productive work, then a simulated working environment must be used that reflects realistic workplace situations and conditions.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.
Assessment methods must be by direct observation of tasks and include questioning on underpinning knowledge to ensure its correct interpretation and application.
Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process.
Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances.
Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently:
communicate, negotiate and review design brief with stakeholders
determine or confirm scientific principles and design techniques, WHS and regulatory requirements, design specification requirements
evaluate multiple solutions
investigate life-cycle design and sustainability, technical and professional assistance required
plan, schedule and coordinate the design task
select design components using design process and scientific principles
integrate avionic digital techniques, hardware and software
solve problems and make decisions with systems thinking for contingencies and constraints and continuous improvement
define designs, specify and document and apply graphical techniques, modelling, mock-up or prototyping techniques
create and maintain adequate and accurate calculations and design process records
report and document results and processes.
Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency where required
Assessors must satisfy the requirements of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Australian Skills Quality Authority, or its successors).
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. | ||
Avionic engineering refers to: | The engineering discipline concerned with the conceptual development, research, design, manufacture, implementation, installation, commissioning and maintenance of aerospace electrical, instrument, radio and electronic systems and components and related test equipment for civil and military applications | |
Avionic digital systems include: | Instrument display systems Automatic flight and engine control systems Monitoring systems Navigation and communication systems, including integration through flight management systems In-flight entertainment systems On-board maintenance systems | |
Context of engineering design activity includes: | Competitive market Geo political factors, such as access to materials and markets Technological advantage/disadvantage Resources supply: materials, labour and skills Sustainability issues relevant to design task, including: social, economic and environmental considerations material and energy resources WHS, risk, applicable standards and code requirements | |
Planning processes include: | Establishing design parameters and design criteria Contributing to the negotiation and advice process Preliminary planning, design investigations and costing Identifying design, development, prototyping activities and skills requirements Planning and scheduling design activities Improving, adjusting, rescheduling as required by emergency contingencies and constraints | |
Design process includes: | Establishing design parameters and criteria Researching, measuring, experimenting and investigating Generating ideas Synthesis, problem solving, decision making and addressing constraints Applying scientific principles, calculation and graphics, prototyping and mock-up techniques Evaluating solutions against design criteria Consultation, adjustments and agreement Finalising design and sign-off | |
Design criteria includes: | Performance specifications Function Aesthetics Manufacturability and maintainability Marketability Sustainability: social, economic and environmental material and energy resources Cost constraints Ergonomics and anthropometrics and physiology Facilities, plant and skills available Safety and risk | |
Design analysis includes: | Graphical and mathematical methods and software options associated with mechanical, electrical and electronic aspects of avionic digital systems | |
Sustainability considerations include: | Resources and energy required for design: Life-cycle design of product (manufacture to remanufacture or recycle) Environmental considerations in manufacturing and operation of design: raw material, solids and hazardous waste, and production by-products potential contamination of land, air and stormwater pollutants, and discharge to sewerage carbon pollution and reduction effects | |
Configuration management (CM) | CM is a process for control and documentation of the design and development process and for the management of system, component and software throughout the service life | |
Integrated logistic support (ILS) | ILS is an integrated approach to the management of logistic disciplines originally developed for the management of military systems from design concept to final disposal at life-of-type. It covers: reliability engineering, maintainability engineering and maintenance planning supply and support support and test equipment manpower and personnel training and training support technical data and publications computer resources support facilities packaging, handling, storage and transportation design interface | |
Prototyping includes: | Any combination of: mock-ups physical and virtual modelling with post-processing for computer-numerically controlled (CNC) and rapid prototyping | |
Appropriate technical and professional assistance includes: | Assistance from individuals with CASA maintenance certification licences or those with supervisory authorisations in the ADF regulatory system Professional support from engineers employed within: organisations with CASA continuing airworthiness management or maintenance approvals approved engineering organisations under the ADF regulatory system Engineers employed within organisations recognised by overseas airworthiness organisations | |
WHS, regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures include: | WHS Acts and regulations Relevant standards Industry codes of practice Risk assessments Registration requirements Safe work practices State and territory regulatory requirements applying to electrical work Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASRs) AAP7001 .053 ADF Technical Airworthiness Management Manual Overseas airworthiness authorities, where applicable, e.g. Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Canada, European Aviation Safety Agency | |
Relevant standards include: | AS 1100.101-1992 Technical drawing – General principles AS 1102.101-1989 Graphical symbols for electrotechnical documentation - General information and general index AS/NZS ISO 31000 Set:2013 Risk Management Set NOHSC:1014 National standard for the control of major hazard facilities AS/NZS ISO 14000 Basic Set:2007 Environmental Management Basic Set ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework. AS 61508.1-2011 Functional safety of electrical/ electronic/ programmable electronic safety related systems – General requirements AS 62061-2006 Safety of machinery - Functional safety of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems IEEE 802 Wireless PAN, LAN, MAN and WPAN standards IEEE 1332, IEEE Standard reliability program for the development of electronic systems and equipment MIL-STD 785 Reliability program for systems and equipment development and production MIL-STD 1388-1A Logistic Support Analysis (LSA) MIL-STD 1388-2B Requirements for a LSA record MIL-STD 1629A Procedures for performing a failure mode, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) MIL-STD 1629B FMECA MIL-STD 2173 Reliability centred maintenance requirements (superseded by NAVAIR 00-25-403 OPNAVINST 4130.2A | |
Relevant handbooks include: | Integrated Logistic Support Handbook, third edition – James V Jones MIL-HDBK-217 Reliability prediction of electronic equipment MIL-HDBK-338B Electronic reliability design handbook MIL-HDBK-781A Reliability test methods, plans and environments for engineering development, qualification and production NASA PRA Probabilistic risk assessment handbook NASA Fault tree assessment handbook | |
Systems thinking includes: | The process of developing solutions within the context of an entire system Recognising that an improvement in one subsystem can adversely affect another subsystem | |
Sectors
Competency Field
Avionic engineering