Levelling and weighing aircraft
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to prepare for levelling and weighing commercial, military or light aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary aircraft, in accordance with the aircraft maintenance manual or approved change documentation (service bulletin) requirements. You will be required to prepare the aircraft ready for levelling and weighing, which will include carrying out activities such as defuelling, replenishing oil and other liquids/gaseous substances, removing foreign objects (such as tools, luggage) and cleaning the aircraft interior and exterior. You will be expected to obtain the correct equipment to use, as specified in the aircraft maintenance manual and weighing procedures, and to check that the equipment is within current certification requirements and is in a safe and usable condition. In carrying out the levelling and weighing activities, you will be expected to determine/locate the correct levelling points on the aircraft, to level the aircraft using appropriate techniques, to weigh the aircraft, to determine the weigh point arms and to determine the centre of gravity for the aircraft.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with the specific practices and procedures identified in the aircraft manual or change/service bulletin documentation for levelling and weighing the aircraft, and to complete the necessary documentation. You will be required to report any problems with the levelling and weighing activities that you cannot personally resolve, or which are outside your defined authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision and as part of a team, communicating (where appropriate) using hand signals and other communication devices. 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 the levelling and weighing of aircraft. You will understand the levelling and weighing process, and its application, and will know about the levelling and weighing requirements and equipment to be used, in sufficient depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required standards.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the levelling and weighing 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.
Notes: This standard is designed to cover the practical experience requirements of the Airline Transport Association (ATA) Chapter 08 Levelling and Weighing.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- obtain all the required equipment and ensure that it is in safe and usable condition
- carry out the necessary preparations to the equipment, in line with work requirements
- level and weigh the aircraft, using the approved techniques and procedures
- use the information gained to determine the weight and centre of gravity of the aircraft
- complete relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements
deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
leave the work area 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 to be taken when levelling and weighing aircraft, and the need for ensuring aircraft security (such as general airside and site safety, appropriate personal protective equipment, protecting other workers during the levelling and weighing operations, accident procedures, statutory regulations, risk assessment procedures and COSHH regulations)
- the hazards associated with levelling and weighing aircraft, and how to minimise them and reduce any risk
- why it is necessary to check periodically the weight of the aircraft (such as mandatory requirements and changes in weight due to maintenance, added or changed equipment)
- 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
- how a change in the aircraft weight will affect its handling characteristics
- the manuals and documentation that you will require for the levelling and weighing activities and how to obtain and complete them
- what information you will need to extract from the manuals and documentation in order to carry out the activities correctly
- the reasons for completing inventories of the actual equipment installed in the aircraft; the need to compare this with the aircraft basic weight and balance record and to update this as required
- the need to carry out the levelling and weighing activities in a controlled environment (such as a closed hangar or building)with no blowers or ventilating system blowing air onto the aircraft
- the preparations and checks that must be made on the aircraft and its systems prior to weighing (such as cleaning, emptying all waste and fuel tanks, replenishing oil, liquid and gaseous systems to the appropriate level)
- the range of levelling and weighing equipment that is to be used during the process (such as portable scales, load cells, hydraulic jacks, levels, clinometers and plumb bobs)
- the purpose and use of the respective pieces of equipment and the limitations (particularly with regard to safe working limit (SWL) or working load limit (WLL)
- checks to be made on the equipment to ensure that it is safe to use, correctly calibrated and configured for the intended purpose
- the various methods that may be used to level aircraft, depending on their type and size (such as chalk lines on the floor, levelling plates in the aircraft floor)
- the various methods that may be used to weigh aircraft, depending on their type and size (such as stationary platform/pit scales, mobile electronic weighing systems, load cells on hydraulic jacks)
- the information to be calculated from the loadings gathered (such as empty, basic and gross weight of the aircraft, the centre of gravity of the aircraft, weight and location of any required ballast)
- the disposal methods for waste oil, fuel and other liquids and waste
- problems with the weighing and levelling procedures and the importance of informing appropriate people of defects
- the recording documentation to be completed for the activities undertaken and how to fully complete it
- 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 extent of your own authority 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 aircraft levelling and weighing activities:
- ensure that appropriate authorisation to work on the aircraft is obtained, and observe all relevant isolation and safety procedures
- obtain and use the correct documentation (such as job instructions, aircraft configurations, technical instructions, aircraft manuals and levelling and weighing documentation)
- check that the work area is free from hazards and is suitably prepared for the activities to be undertaken
- 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 the correct tools and equipment for the levelling and weighing activity, and check that they are in a safe, tested and usable condition and within current calibration date(s)
- use the approved levelling and weighing techniques and procedures at all times
- return tools and equipment to the correct storage location on completion of the activities
- ensure that work carried out is correctly documented and recorded
Prepare the aircraft for the levelling and weighing operations, to include carrying out all of the following:
- de-fuel the aircraft to the unusable fuel level
- empty all waste tanks
- replenish oil, hydraulic fluid, cooling and anti-icing fluids, liquid oxygen and other gaseous substances to the appropriate level
- remove any items surplus to requirements (such as tools, cabin equipment or luggage)
- clean and dry the aircraft
- move the aircraft to a suitable environment, away from elements effecting the aircraft
- obtain or construct an inventory of equipment actually installed on
the aircraft
8. correct the basic weight and balance record, based upon the inventory
Level the aircraft, to include carrying out three of the following:
- setting and adjusting hydraulic jacks at the appropriate points (such as wing and nose)
- determining/locating the correct levelling points on the aircraft
- placing levelling bars across the levelling lugs
- creating a straight line on the floor from which measurements can be taken, or exposing the levelling plate on the aircraft floor
- using suitable equipment to check the level of the aircraft (such as spirit level, clinometers, plumb bob, steel tape, chalk line, laser levelling equipment)
- making adjustments to level the aircraft until the plumb bob tip or clinometers are at the required attitude
Use one of the following types of equipment for weighing the aircraft:
- stationary platform/pit weighing
- mobile electronic weighing system
- shear-beam load cells
- heavy duty portable scales
- self levelling pressure transducer
- on-board weight and balance equipment
- hydrostats
Weigh the aircraft, to include carrying out five of the following:
- obtaining the appropriate type and number of scales/load cells to use
- checking that all the equipment to be used is within current calibration dates
- placing portable weighing equipment in the appropriate positions on a level surface
- setting and levelling the equipment where required
- positioning the aircraft on the scales, or jacking the aircraft at the appropriate points using load cell jacks
- allowing electronic equipment to warm up before taking readings
- taking and recording all the load readings
Use the information gained to determine four of the following:
- weigh point arms
- empty weight of the aircraft
- centre of gravity/balance point of the aircraft
- basic weight of the aircraft
- most forward centre of gravity
- gross weight of the aircraft
- most rearward centre of gravity
- weight and location of any required ballast
Complete the relevant paperwork, to include one from the following and pass it to the appropriate people:
- job cards/work sheets
- computer records
- aircraft technical log
- aircraft log book
- other specific recording method
Carry out aircraft levelling and weighing in compliance with one of the following:
- Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)/European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
- extended range twin engined operations procedures (ETOPS) (where appropriate)
- Ministry of Defence (MoD)
- Military Aviation Authority (MAA)
- Aerospace Quality Management Standards (AS)
- Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)
- aircraft maintenance manual or approved change documentation (service bulletin) requirements
- aircraft manufacturer's requirements
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