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Lifting and trestling/shoring aircraft for maintenance/repair operations

URN: SEMAE3301
Business Sectors (Suites): Aeronautical Engineering Suite 3
Developed by: Enginuity
Approved on: 2021

Overview

This standard identifies the competences you need to lift and where appropriate, trestle/shore commercial, military or light aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary aircraft, for maintenance operations (such as routine maintenance, repair, refurbishment or recovery), in accordance with the aircraft maintenance manual or approved change documentation (service bulletin) requirements. You will be required to use correctly specified items of lifting and supporting equipment, which will include hand and/or power operated lifting and jacking equipment, and associated lifting accessories. You must check that the lifting equipment is within current authorisation dates, is undamaged and within the permitted safe working load (SWL) or working load limit (WLL). You will be expected to establish the weight of the aircraft to be lifted, and to attach the appropriate lifting equipment/slings to the designated lifting points on the aircraft, in order to achieve a safe and balanced lift.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with the specific practices and procedures identified in the aircraft manual or change/service bulletin documentation for the aircraft lifting and shoring activities undertaken, and to report any problems with the lifting and trestling/shoring activities or with the equipment used, 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 and, as part of a team, you must demonstrate a significant personal contribution during the team activities, in order to satisfy the requirements of this standard, and competence in all the areas required by the standard must be demonstrated. You will be expected to take personal responsibility for your own actions, for your contribution to the team, and for the safety 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 the correct aircraft lifting and trestling/shoring techniques and procedures. You will understand the lifting and trestling/shoring techniques used, and their application, and will know about the lifting equipment and accessories for lifting, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities safely and correctly.

You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the lifting and trestling/shoring, and the safeguards that are necessary for undertaking these activities. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibilities you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.

Notes: This standard is designed to cover the practical experience requirements of the Airline Transport Association (ATA) Chapter 07 Lifting and Shoring.

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. position the lifting equipment so that the weight of the aircraft is evenly distributed
  3. attach the appropriate lifting equipment securely to the aircraft, using approved methods to eliminate slippage
  4. confirm that the aircraft is secure before moving
  5. lift, trestle/shore the aircraft using approved techniques and procedures
  6. position and release the aircraft safely in its intended location
  7. leave the aircraft and in a safe and appropriate condition, free from foreign object debris

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the specific safety precautions to be taken when lifting and trestling/shoring aircraft, and the need for ensuring aircraft security (such as general workshop and site safety, appropriate personal protective equipment, protecting other workers during the lifting operations, accident procedures, statutory regulations, risk assessment procedures and COSHH regulations)
  2. the hazards associated with lifting and trestling/shoring aircraft, and how to minimise them and reduce any risk
  3. the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for safe use of lifting equipment, and Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)
  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 specific requirements for the marking of lifting equipment and the specific method used in the organisation in which you are working
  6. the range of equipment that is to be used for the lifting operations (such as hydraulic jacks, power operated cranes, winches, pulling equipment)
  7. the lifting equipment accessories that are to be used (such as slings, eye bolts)
  8. checks that should be made on the lifting equipment prior to use and the problems that you should look for
  9. how to carry out visual in-service inspections of the equipment and what to do should any defective equipment be identified
  10. factors which affect the selection of the lifting equipment and lifting accessories (such as weight, type of load, operating environment)
  11. how to check that the lifting equipment is capable of lifting the load to be moved
  12. signalling techniques used to communicate with crane drivers (to include both hand signals and verbal commands)
  13. how to identify the lifting and trestling/shoring points on the aircraft and why you must not use any other
  14. why balance/ballast weights are sometimes required during the lifting operations
  15. how to determine the type of ballast/balance weight material (such as water, sand, newspaper bulk) with regard to suspension points and floorboard loading limits
  16. the various trestling/shoring methods that may be used, and the types of trestling/shoring material, contour dimensions and trestling/shoring locations on the aircraft
  17. the need to carry out the lifting and trestling/shoring operations without causing damage or undue stress to the airframe and its components 
  18. how lifting and trestling/shoring equipment should be stored and handled
  19. the problems that can occur during the lifting, trestling or shoring of the aircraft and how these problems can be rectified
  20. 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
  21. the extent of your own authority, 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 aircraft lifting and trestling/shoring activities:

    1. ensure that appropriate authorisation to work on the aircraft is obtained, and observe all relevant isolation and safety procedures
    2. obtain and use the appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, technical instructions, aircraft manuals and lifting/shoring maintenance documentation)
    3. check that the work area is free from hazards and suitably prepared for the activities to be undertaken
    4. 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
    5. ensure that the relevant safety devices and mechanical/physical locks are in place (where appropriate)
    6. use approved lifting and trestling/shoring techniques and procedures at all times
    7. return tools and equipment to the correct storage location on completion of the activities
    8. return tools and equipment to the correct storage location on completion of the activities
    9. ensure that the work carried out is correctly documented and recorded

  2. Ensure that the lifting and trestling/shoring equipment to be used is correct for the aircraft being lifted and is in a safe and usable condition, by establishing all of the following:

    1. the lifting equipment selected is as specified for the aircraft being lifted (such as type, lifting capacity)
    2. the lifting equipment is certified and is compliant, within current test dates (such as LOLER regulations and health and safety requirements)
    3. all lifting equipment documents/registers are up to date
    4. where appropriate, all slings and ancillary equipment are free from obvious defects
    5. all trestles and shoring equipment are in a safe and usable condition

  3. Use two of the following lifting methods and techniques:

    1. bellyband suspension           
    2. tail wheel jacking   
    3. rotor head suspension
    4. nose wheel jacking     
    5. complete aircraft jacking
    6. hard point attachment slings
    7. main undercarriage jacking   
    8. stress jacking
    9. other specific technique

  4. Carry out jacking and trestling/shoring of an aircraft, to include carrying out all of the following:

    1. establishing the weight of the aircraft to be lifted, including fuel on board
    2. determining the correct lifting/jacking points on the aircraft
    3. removing access panels to expose the jacking/lifting points
    4. positioning the lifting/jacking equipment correctly on the aircraft
    5. attaching any required balance weights (ballast) to the aircraft (where appropriate)
    6. carrying out the lifting/jacking using the approved techniques and procedures for the aircraft type
    7. positioning the supporting equipment (such as contoured/cushioned supports, trestles, tail supports) and ensuring that it is installed at the appropriate/defined positions on the aircraft (where appropriate)
    8. lowering the aircraft onto the supporting equipment without causing damage to the aircraft structure (where appropriate)
    9. checking that the aircraft is correctly and safely balanced and held

  5. Jack and trestle/shore an aircraft for one of the following conditions:

    1. routine maintenance
    2. modifications
    3. repair work
    4. refurbishment
    5. recovery

  6. Carry out aircraft lifting and trestling/shoring operations in compliance with one of the following:

    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. aircraft maintenance manual/approved change documentation (service bulletin)
    7. aircraft manufacturer's requirements

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

SEMAE3301

Relevant Occupations

Engineer, Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Technicians

SOC Code

5234

Keywords

engineering; aeronautical; lifting and trestling/shoring aircraft; SWL; WLL; safeguards; military or light aircraft; fixed wing and rotary aircraft; lifting and jacking equipment