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Carrying out maintenance of aircrew personal survival packs (PSP)

URN: SEMAE3101
Business Sectors (Suites): Aeronautical Engineering Suite 3
Developed by: Enginuity
Approved on: 2021

Overview

This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out servicing and maintenance activities on aircrew personal survival packs (PSP), 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 dismantling the equipment, cleaning the various parts using suitable solutions, carrying out a thorough examination of the personal survival packs in line with the relevant schedule, replacing any damaged, defective or out-of-life parts/equipment, carrying out any required modifications, making any required adjustments, checking and testing 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 personal survival packs. You will understand the aircrew survival packs being maintained, and their 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 equipment is maintained to the required specification.

You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out maintenance operations on aircrew personal survival packs. 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:

  1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
  2. follow the relevant maintenance schedules to carry out the required work
  3. carry out the maintenance activities within the limits of your personal authority
  4. carry out the maintenance activities, and replace components in the specified sequence and in an agreed timescale
  5. report any instances where the maintenance activities cannot be fully met or where there are identified defects outside the planned schedule
  6. dispose of waste materials in accordance with safe working practices and approved procedures
  7. complete the relevant documentation, in accordance with organisational requirements
  8. 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:

  1. the specific safety precautions and procedures to be observed whilst carrying out the maintenance of the aircrew personal survival packs (such as any specific legislation, regulations or codes of practice relating to the activities, equipment or materials)
  2. 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
  3. the hazards associated with maintaining aircrew personal survival packs and with the tools, materials and equipment used and how to minimise them and reduce any risk
  4. 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
  5. the personal protective equipment (PPE) that you need to use during the maintenance activities and where it can be obtained
  6. 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)
  7. the types of fault, defect or wear characteristic that are likely to occur with the aircrew personal survival packs
  8. how to determine when components require adjustment, repair or replacement
  9. the components to be replaced in the aircrew personal survival packs and the method of replacement
  10. how to identify the components to be used for the aircrew personal survival packs being maintained
  11. the quality control procedures to be followed during the maintenance procedures
  12. how to conduct any necessary checks to ensure that the equipment functions to specification
  13. the problems that can occur with the maintenance of the aircrew personal survival packs and how these can be overcome
  14. the importance of correct securing and locking of connections
  15. The importance of tool control and the organisational tool control procedures used
  16. the tools and equipment used in the maintenance activities and their calibration/care and control procedures

  17. the importance of ensuring that when the maintenance is completed the equipment is free from dirt, swarf and foreign objects

  18. the disposal methods for waste and petrol, oil and lubricants (POL)

  19. problems with the maintenance procedures and the importance of informing appropriate people of defects
  20. 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
  21. the extent of your own responsibility and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve

Scope/range

Scope Performance

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  1. Carry out all of the following during the servicing and maintenance of the aircrew personal survival packs:

    1. obtain and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, servicing or maintenance schedule, specifications, material data sheets and other relevant documentation)
    2. 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
    3. provide and maintain a safe working environment for the maintenance activities
    4. obtain the correct tools and equipment for the activity and check that they are in a safe and usable condition and within current certification/calibration date
    5. obtain clearance to work on the aircraft and observe any power isolation procedures
    6. use approved servicing and maintenance techniques at all times
    7. return all tools and equipment to the correct location on completion of the activities

  2. Carry out all of the following repair/maintenance activities, using appropriate methods and techniques:

    1. dismantling equipment to component or sub-assembly level (such as removal of the operating head, CO2 cylinder and survival aids)
    2. cleaning the equipment using appropriate solutions
    3. monitoring the condition/deterioration of components
    4. replacing all damaged or defective components
    5. reassembling the equipment
    6. carrying out any required modifications to the equipment
    7. carrying out adjustments to components and connections (such as torque setting)
    8. checking equipment operation and performance
    9. testing the equipment, in accordance with the relevant specification

  3. Carry out a thorough examination of the life raft and emergency pack, to include checking all of the following:

    1. the rigid shell and protective strips for damage, cracks and security of attached items
    2. fabric container, cushion, lowering line and single-handed release system, for contamination, deterioration, wear and broken stitching
    3. survival aids, for damage, deterioration, illegibility and life expiry date of consumables
    4. automatic life-raft inflation unit (ALIU), automatic deflation unit (ADU) cables for corrosion, damage and security of attachment
    5. buoyancy chamber, floor and canopy for deterioration, chafing and damage
    6. oral inflation valves for damage and deterioration
    7. boarding handles, handling loops, water pockets and cylinder sleeve, for damage and security of attachment
    8. leak stoppers and harness, for wear, damage and security of attachment
    9. CO2 cylinders for stowage, security of attachments and life expiry date
    10. all ancillary equipment for damage and security
    11. emergency pack - all contents for expiry date, damage and warranty life
    12. batteries and signalling devices for damage/warranty life

  4. Replace a range of personal survival pack components, to include six of the following:

    1. CO2 cylinder              
    2. cushion assembly 
    3. signal distress day/night
    4. first aid kit                    
    5. retaining lanyard      
    6. deflation plug
    7. sea sickness tablets   
    8. operating head    
    9. battery
    10. shell                    
    11. automatic life-raft inflation unit (ALIU)
    12. closure flaps
    13. survival aids container     
    14. operating cable   
    15. drogue
    16. lowering line            
    17. automatic deflation unit (ADU)  
    18. disk bushing
    19. gas inlet                  
    20. polyacetal washer 
    21. special nut
    22. handles                   
    23. bellows               
    24. compass
    25. fabric cover/closure flaps 
    26. sponge    
    27. lifed items (such as rations)

  5. Carry out maintenance requirements, in accordance with two of the following types of instruction:

    1. Urgent Technical Instructions (UTI)
    2. Routine Technical Instructions (RTI)
    3. Maintenance Instructions (MI)
    4. Preliminary Warning Instructions (PWI)
    5. Serious Defect Signals

  6. Carry out maintenance work in compliance with one of the following standards:

    1. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)/European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
    2. Ministry of Defence (MoD)
    3. Military Aviation Authority (MAA)
    4. Aerospace Quality Management Standards (AS)
    5. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)
    6. BS, ISO or BSEN standards and procedures
    7. customer standards and requirements
    8. company standards and procedures
    9. manufacturers standards and procedures

  7. Complete the relevant maintenance records, to include one from the following and pass it to the appropriate people:

    1. maintenance schedule/log
    2. job cards
    3. aircraft service/flight log
    4. other specific recording method

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

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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

Skills

Glossary

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

2024

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Enginuity

Original URN

SEMAE3101

Relevant Occupations

Engineer, Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Technicians

SOC Code

5234

Keywords

engineering; aeronautical; maintenance; aircrew; personal survival pack; clean components; replace components; deterioration; test components; quick release fasteners