Carrying out maintenance of aircrew protective clothing
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out servicing and maintenance activities of aircrew protective clothing, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to select the appropriate tools and equipment to use, based on the maintenance activities to be carried out and to check that they are in a safe and serviceable condition.
The maintenance activities will involve removing attachments from clothing, cleaning the various parts of the clothing and equipment using suitable solutions, carrying out a thorough examination of the clothing and associated parts in line with the relevant schedule, replacing any damaged or defective parts, carrying out any required modifications, making any required adjustments and checking equipment operation and performance.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the maintenance activities undertaken and to report any problems with these activities that you cannot personally resolve, or that are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work and will provide an informed approach to applying maintenance techniques and procedures to aircrew clothing. You will understand the clothing being maintained, and its application, and will know about the various components, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities, identifying and correcting faults and ensuring that the clothing is maintained to the required specification.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the aircrew clothing maintenance operations. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- follow the relevant maintenance schedules to carry out the required work
- carry out the maintenance activities within the limits of your personal authority
- carry out the maintenance activities, and replace components in the specified sequence and in an agreed timescale
- report any instances where the maintenance activities cannot be fully met or where there are identified defects outside the planned schedule
- dispose of waste materials in accordance with safe working practices and approved procedures
- complete the relevant documentation, in accordance with organisational requirements
- leave the work area, and equipment in a safe and appropriate condition, free from foreign object debris on completion of the activities
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the specific safety precautions and procedures to be observed whilst carrying out the maintenance of the aircrew protective clothing (such as any specific legislation, regulations or codes of practice relating to the activities, equipment or materials)
- the health and safety requirements of the work area in which you are carrying out the servicing/maintenance activities and the responsibility these requirements place on you
- the hazards associated with maintaining aircrew protective clothing and equipment, and with the tools, materials and equipment used, and how to minimise them and reduce any risks
- the requirements and importance of understanding and applying human factors as defined by the regulatory requirements and the potential impact if these are not adhered to
- the personal protective equipment (PPE) that you need to use during the maintenance activities and where it can be obtained
- the maintenance schedules and servicing specifications that are used during the servicing and maintenance and the importance of following the procedures listed in these documents (to include Urgent Technical Instructions (UTI), Routine Technical Instructions (RTI), Maintenance Instructions (MI), Preliminary Warning Instructions (PWI) and Serious Defect Signals)
- the types of faults, defects or wear characteristics that are likely to occur with the protective clothing
- how to determine when components require adjustment, repair or replacement
- the components to be replaced in the aircrew protective clothing and the method of replacement
- how to identify the components to be used for the various types of aircrew protective clothing being maintained
- the quality control procedures to be followed during the maintenance procedures
- how to conduct any necessary checks to ensure that the protective clothing and equipment functions to specification
- the problems that can occur with the maintenance of the aircrew protective clothing and how these can be overcome
the importance of the correct securing and locking of connections
the importance of tool control and the organisational tool control procedures
- the tools and equipment used in the maintenance activities and their calibration/care and control procedures
- the importance of ensuring that, when the maintenance is completed, the equipment is free from dirt and foreign objects
- the disposal methods for waste and petrol, oil and lubricants (POL)
- problems with the maintenance procedures and the importance of informing appropriate people of defects
- the recording documentation to be completed for the activities undertaken and where appropriate, the importance of marking and identifying specific pieces of work in relation to the documentation
- the extent of your own responsibility and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Carry out all of the following during the servicing and maintenance of the aircrew protective clothing:
- obtain and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, servicing or maintenance schedule, specifications, material data sheets and other relevant documentation)
- adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment, COSHH, personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations and procedures to realise a safe system of work
- provide and maintain a safe working environment for the maintenance activities
- obtain the correct tools and equipment for the activity and check that they are in a safe, tested and usable condition and within current certification/calibration date
- obtain clearance to work on the aircraft and observe any power isolation procedures
- use approved servicing and maintenance techniques at all times
- return all tools and equipment to the correct location on completion of the activities
Carry out maintenance activities on three of the following types of aircrew protective clothing:
- aircrew coverall
- coverall immersion inner
- immersion coverall
- anti-G trousers
Carry out all of the following repair/maintenance activities, using appropriate methods and techniques:
- dismantle the equipment to component or sub-assembly level (such as removal of knife)
- clean the equipment using appropriate solutions (such as removal of soiling, oil stains, salt water)
- monitor the condition/deterioration of components
- replace all damaged or defective components
- reassemble the equipment
- carry out any required modifications to the equipment
- carry out adjustments to components and connections
- check equipment operation and performance
- test equipment in accordance with the relevant specification
Carry out a thorough examination of the aircrew clothing, to include checking/examining all of the following:
- the fabric for damage or deterioration
- sliding fasteners, eyelets and closure flaps for security of attachment
- securing straps, webbing and touch-and-close tape check for security
- emergency knife (if fitted), examine for damage, check release mechanism and ensure correct operation
- fabric patch, cleat and lanyard for damage, fraying of the cord and security of attachment
- snap fasteners for damage and security of attachment
- neck, wrist and supply seals (if fitted) for deterioration, damage and security of attachment
- pull-tab retainer, pen pocket and chinagraph pencil attachment loop, for damage and security of attachment
- boots and socks, external and internal tapes and urination sleeve, for deterioration and damage
- bladder cover/waistband for rupture of the fabric weave, contamination and broken stitching
- hose and hose connector for perishing, fraying, protrusion of reinforcing wire, distortion and damage
- lacing for fraying, security of knots, and attachment
Replace a range of protective clothing components, to include six of the following:
- pockets
- front entry sliding fastener pull-tab assembly
- sliding fasteners
- socks
- renewal of broken stitching
- boots
- cleat
- blanking plugs
- nylon cord
- tapes
- split-ring split
- urination sliding fastener panel
- stainless tab washer
- pull-tab back gusset
- fastener snap nylon
- back gusset sliding fastener
- fabric base
- back gusset
- neck seal
- patches
- wrist seal
Carry out maintenance requirements in accordance with two of the following types of instruction:
- Urgent Technical Instructions (UTI)
- Routine Technical Instructions (RTI)
- Maintenance Instructions (MI)
- Preliminary Warning Instructions (PWI)
- Serious Defect Signals
Carry out maintenance work in compliance with one of the following standards:
- Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)/European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
- Ministry of Defence (MoD)
- Military Aviation Authority (MAA)
- Aerospace Quality Management Standards (AS)
- Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)
- BS, ISO or BSEN procedures
- customer standards and requirements
- company standards and procedures
- manufacturers standards and procedures
Complete the relevant maintenance records, to include one from the following and pass it to the appropriate people:
- maintenance schedule/log
- job cards
- aircraft service/flight log
- other specific recording method
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
You will be able to apply the appropriate behaviours required in the workplace to meet the job profile and overall company objectives, such as:
- strong work ethic
- positive attitude
- team player
- dependability
- responsibility
- honesty
- integrity
- motivation
- commitment