Undertaking scheduled maintenance of aircraft avionics equipment/systems
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out scheduled maintenance activities on aircraft avionics equipment/systems, in accordance with approved procedures. It covers both fixed wing and rotary winged aircraft and covers a range of avionic equipment and systems such as electrical power generation and distribution, internal and external lighting, indication and gauging equipment, pitot static, armament, communication, passive warning and electronic countermeasure, infra-red and optical systems, radar, navigational and flight guidance and control equipment. You will need to organise and carry out the maintenance activities to minimise down time and ensure that the maintained equipment/system meets airworthiness standards, and performs at operational levels and to the required specification.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the maintenance activities undertaken and to report any problems with the maintenance activities, tools or equipment used that you cannot personally resolve, or that are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You must ensure that all tools, equipment and materials used in the maintenance activities are removed from the work area on completion of the work and that all necessary job/task documentation is completed, accurately and legibly. 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 scheduled maintenance procedures to aircraft avionics equipment. You will know how the system and equipment functions and the potential problems or defects that may occur. You will understand the process of developing scheduled maintenance and its application and will know about the maintenance criteria, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities safely and effectively and for ensuring that the equipment is maintained to the required specification. In addition, you will be expected to report where the outcome of the maintenance activity identifies the need for further investigation or maintenance work.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the maintenance activities, especially those for isolating the equipment. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout and will understand your responsibility for taking the necessary safeguards to protect 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 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
- complete the relevant maintenance records accurately and pass them on to the appropriate person
- dispose of waste materials in accordance with safe working practices and approved procedures
- leave the aircraft and the avionics system 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 scheduled maintenance (including any specific legislation, regulations or codes of practice relating to the activities, equipment or materials)
- the importance of maintenance on and impact upon ETOpS (extended twin operations procedures) systems, legislation and local procedures
- the health and safety requirements of the area in which the scheduled maintenance activity is to take place and the responsibility these requirements place on you
- the isolation and lock-off procedure or permit-to-work procedure that applies to the aircraft system being maintained
- 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 importance of wearing protective clothing and other appropriate safety equipment (PPE) during the maintenance activities and where it may be obtained
- hazards associated with carrying out maintenance activities on aircraft electrical/avionic equipment (such as exposure to live conductors, handling fluids, electrical supplies, using damaged or badly maintained tools and equipment, not following laid-down maintenance procedures) and how to minimise them and reduce any risks
- how to obtain and interpret drawings, charts, specifications, aircraft manuals, history/maintenance reports and other documents needed for the maintenance activities
- the various planned maintenance schedules that are generally used (such as condition based maintenance, scheduled maintenance, and total preventative maintenance (TPM)) and the methods to be followed to comply with company procedures for the maintenance of the aircraft electrical/avionic equipment
- the equipment operating and control procedures and how to apply them in order to carry out the scheduled maintenance activities
- the principle of operation of the equipment or system being maintained and the purpose of individual units/components and how they interact
the importance of applying electrostatic discharge (ESD) procedures when working on sensitive equipment or devices
what constitutes a hazardous voltage and how to recognise victims of electric shock
how to reduce the risks of a phase to earth shock (such as insulated tools, rubber matting and isolating transformers)
the application and use of a range of electrical components (such as module blocks, terminal blocks, multi-pin plugs/sockets, tray-mounted sockets, earth bonding points) and the likely functions that will require checking
- the different types of wiring enclosure that are used (to include conduit, trunking, tray work systems and bulkhead penetrations) and what to check during the maintenance activities
- why electrical bonding is critical and why it must be both mechanically and electrically secure
- methods of checking that components are fit for purpose and the need to replace 'lifed' items
- how to recognise defects in aircraft electrical/avionic equipment (such as under or over performance)
- the adjustments/corrections/tuning required to maintain the equipment/system at operational standard through full range parameters
- the testing methods and procedures to be used to check that the system conforms to acceptable limits
- how to make sensory checks by sight, sound, smell, touch
- company policy on repair/replacement of components during the maintenance activities
- the importance of ensuring that the equipment is maintained to the prescribed category of cleanliness
- why tool/equipment control is critical and what to do if a tool or piece of equipment is unaccounted for on completion of the activities
- the generation of maintenance documentation and/or reports on completion of the maintenance activity
- the problems that can occur whilst carrying out the maintenance activities and how they can be avoided
- the organisational procedure to be adopted for the safe disposal of waste of all types of materials
- the extent of your own authority and to whom you should report if you have a problem that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Carry out all of the following during the scheduled maintenance activities:
- plan the scheduled maintenance activities to cause minimal disruption to normal working
- obtain and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, aircraft manuals, technical instructions, and other relevant maintenance 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
- obtain clearance to work on the aircraft and observe all relevant isolation and safety procedures (such as mechanical, electricity, gas, air or fluids)
- 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
- carry out the maintenance activities, using approved techniques and procedures
- where appropriate, apply electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection procedures
- re-connect and return the system to service on completion of the maintenance activities
- dispose of waste items in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner
- return all tools and equipment to the correct location on completion of the activities
Carry out the scheduled maintenance on three of the following aircraft avionics systems:
- electrical power generation and distribution
- armament equipment and systems
- internal and external lighting
- passive warning and electronic countermeasure
- indication and gauging
- infra-red and optical systems
- pitot static
- radar
- communication
- flight guidance and control
- navigational
- other specific system
Carry out twelve of the following planned maintenance activities:
- removing excessive dirt and dust from panels or equipment
- replacing 'lifed' consumables (such as filters, desiccant, protection devices)
- checking the operation of gauges and sensors
- replacing 'lifed' components
- carrying out specified visual inspections
- carrying out system self-analysis checks
- carrying out testing of equipment against the maintenance schedule
- inspecting and cleaning sensors
- checking and adjusting shock mountings
- making visual checks of equipment and cables
- disconnecting and reconnecting bonding leads
- tuning and adjusting components
- checking the integrity of connections
- servicing back-up battery systems
- replacing damaged or defective connectors
- reviewing equipment/system operation
- monitoring the condition of switches and contactors
- equipment/component calibration
- making approved sensory checks (such as sight, sound, smell, touch)
- replacing missing or damaged locking and retaining devices (such as cable ties, clips, proprietary fasteners)
- recording the results of the maintenance activity and reporting any defects found
Undertake planned maintenance, based on one of the following types of maintenance schedule:
- condition based maintenance
- total preventative maintenance (TPM)
- scheduled maintenance
- depth maintenance
Carry out two of the following checks during the maintenance activities:
- off-load checks (such as insulation, continuity, earth bonding, resistance)
- input/output checks (voltage, power)
- frequency checks
- receiver sensitivity
- distant object test
- voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) checks
- other specific check
Ensure that the maintained equipment/system meets all of the following:
- all components and units are fit for purpose
- all connections are safe and sound
- equipment static checks, after maintenance, meet specification
- the equipment operates within acceptable limits for successful continuous operation
- any potential defects are identified and reported for future action
- all relevant documentation is completed, accurately and legibly
Ensure that the maintained equipment complies with one of the following:
- Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) / European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
- extended twin operations procedures (ETOpS) (where appropriate)
- Ministry of Defence (MoD)
- Military Aviation Authority (MAA)
- Aerospace Quality Management Standards (AS)
- Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)
- BS, ISO or BSEN standards and procedures
- customer standards and requirements
- company standards and procedures
- aircraft manufacturer's requirements
Complete the relevant paperwork, to include one of the following and pass it to the appropriate people:
- computer records
- job cards
- aircraft service/flight log
- aircraft log
- permit to work/formal risk assessment
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