Application
This unit of competency applies to aircraft primary, secondary and tertiary structure and related structural components. It involves evaluation of structure and structural components for compliance with design standards and with airworthiness regulatory requirements within both civil and military environments.
Also covered is documentation of the evaluation process within management systems, such as configuration management (CM) and integrated logistic support (ILS).
It is suitable for people working as paraprofessionals within aircraft design teams, within the engineering departments of aircraft maintenance organisations or employed within Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisations (CAMOs) and Approved Engineering Organisations (AEOs), and for those pursuing qualifications or careers in those fields.
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. | Prepare to evaluate structure | 1.1 | Confirm and apply safe working practices relating to aircraft structure |
1.2 | Determine parameters and context of applications and purpose of evaluation | ||
1.3 | Confirm personal functions and responsibilities, team and support functional group interdependencies and communications | ||
1.4 | Confirm that tasks and responsibilities are appropriate to qualifications and delegations and that appropriate support, including technical and professional assistance, is available | ||
1.5 | Determine chain of responsibility for the activity evaluation, reporting arrangements and timelines | ||
1.6 | Identify work health and safety (WHS) and regulatory requirements with particular emphasis on safety, codes of practice and standards, including airworthiness regulatory requirements for aircraft structure, risk management and organisational procedures | ||
2. | Identify principles and techniques required for evaluation of aircraft structure | 2.1 | Identify features and functions of aircraft structure and structural components |
2.2 | Review aircraft structural design, layout and assembly requirements and techniques | ||
2.3 | Identify requirements applicable to ageing aircraft structural inspection and maintenance | ||
3. | Evaluate aircraft structure and structural components | 3.1 | Evaluate proposed modifications to structure and structural components |
3.2 | Evaluate structural maintenance requirements | ||
3.3 | Evaluate structural damage and defect history | ||
3.4 | Evaluate proposed repair schemes and extensions to existing schemes | ||
3.5 | Evaluate for compliance with WHS Acts, regulations, codes, directives and standards/specifications, including those related to risk management | ||
4. | Report results | 4.1 | Report results of scoping, principles and techniques identification and evaluation of structure and structural components |
4.2 | Provide documentation, such as modification instructions and drawings, repair scheme instructions and drawings and data required by CM and/or ILS | ||
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:
identifying WHS, regulatory and risk management procedures, structural design and construction principles, and ageing aircraft structure inspection and maintenance requirements
determining and confirming:
parameters and context of tasks
chain of responsibility
personal functions and responsibilities
team and support functional group interdependencies and communications
appropriate qualifications and delegations
appropriate support, including technical and professional assistance
investigating associated CM and ILS requirements and drafting required data
assessing and applying:
basic aircraft structural analysis and design procedures
design standards
regulatory requirements
graphics skills and techniques
evaluating proposed modification and repair schemes
reporting and documenting results of scoping, principles and techniques identification and evaluation of applications.
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:
aircraft structural design and construction:
design standards and manufacturer’s stress analysis
structural materials
structural hardware
construction and assembly methods
sealants and surface finishing schemes
basic design principles for:
structural modifications
repair schemes and extensions to existing schemes
ageing aircraft structural inspection and maintenance requirements
airworthiness regulator design standards
compliance requirements of the WHS Act and regulations, codes of practice, standards and risk assessment
scope of trade, technical and professional support services required in aircraft structural applications
management data interface with CM and ILS.
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:
identify and apply WHS, regulatory and risk management procedures
determine parameters and context of tasks, personal, team, technical and professional assistance and support, personnel functions and responsibilities, and chain of responsibility
investigate sustainability implications of aircraft structure as specified in CM and/or ILS requirements
assess and apply basic aircraft structural design and maintenance/repair requirements, and graphics skills and techniques
evaluate aircraft structure and structural components for compliance with WHS and airworthiness regulatory requirements
report and document results, including provision of CM and ILS input data.
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. | ||
Aircraft structure includes: | Primary structure Secondary structure Tertiary structure Assembly and attachment hardware | |
Aircraft structural components include: | Fuselage Wings Tailplane Fin Flight control surfaces Flaps Doors Access panels Engine nacelles Pylons Fairings Windscreens and windows Bearings, assembly and attachment hardware | |
Standards and guidance material include: | ADF AAP7001 .054 Airworthiness Design Requirements Manual FAR Part 23 Airworthiness Standards for Airplanes in the Normal, Utility, Aerobatic or Commuter Categories FAR Part 25 Airworthiness Standards for Airplanes in the Transport Category EASA CS-23 Certification Specifications for Aeroplanes in the Normal, Utility, Aerobatic or Commuter Categories EASA CS-25 Certification Specifications for Airplanes in the Transport Category CASA AC21.16(0) Approval of material, parts, processes and appliances CASA AC21.145(0) Manufacture of parts during the course of maintenance CASA AC21.601(0) Australian Technical Standards Order Authorisation CASA CAAP35 -7(0) Design approval of modifications and repairs CASA AC 21-99 Aircraft Wiring and Bonding FAA AC 43-13-1B Acceptable Methods, Techniques and Practices – Aircraft Inspection and Repair MIL-HDBK-1530A (USAF) Aircraft Structural Integrity Program General Guidelines For | |
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 | |
Appropriate technical and professional assistance includes: | Assistance from individuals with CASA maintenance certification licenses 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 Civil Aviation Safety Regulations AAP7001 .053 ADF Technical Airworthiness Management Manual Overseas airworthiness authorities, where applicable, e.g. Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Canada, European Aviation Safety Agency | |