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Maintaining windows on aircraft

URN: SEMAE3329
Business Sectors (Suites): Aeronautical Engineering Suite 3
Developed by: Enginuity
Approved on: 2021

Overview

This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out maintenance activities on aircraft windows, in accordance with the approved aircraft maintenance manual, approved change documentation (service bulletin) and airworthiness requirements. It covers both fixed wing and rotary winged aircraft, and includes fuselage and crew compartment windows and windshields including windows installed in doors. The maintenance activities will include the removal, fitting and where appropriate testing of a range of windows. You will be required to select the correct tools and equipment to use, based on the operations to be performed and the window equipment to be removed or fitted. The aircraft windows include items such as the transparent material and frame of sliding and fixed windows and windshields, frost shields, handles, latching mechanisms. You will remove the required window components and fit approved replacements, as appropriate. You will then need to test and adjust the completed system to meet the aircraft maintenance manual, change documentation (service bulletin) and airworthiness requirements.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with the specific practices and procedures identified in the aircraft manual, change/service bulletin documentation and airworthiness requirements for the maintenance activities undertaken, and to report any problems with these requirements 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 are correctly accounted for on completion of the activities, and that all necessary job/task documentation is completed thoroughly, 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 the appropriate maintenance techniques and procedures to aircraft windows. You will understand the removal, fitting and testing/checking methods and procedures, and their application, along with the window maintenance requirements. You will know how the window equipment functions, the common problems that can occur, the purpose of the individual components and associated defects, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the maintenance activities, correcting faults and for ensuring that the aircraft windows are maintained to the required standard.

You will understand the safety precautions required when working on the aircraft windows, and when using the associated tools and 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.

Notes:

  1. This standard is designed to cover the practical experience requirements of the Airline Transport Association (ATA) Chapter 56 Windows.
  2. To display competence in this standard, it is necessary to both remove and fit aircraft windows. You must remove windows; however, you may fit a replacement where the original was previously removed by another person. You should also be aware of how to leave a system in a safe condition if maintenance tasks cannot be completed. This covers both the physical systems and the job documentation.

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. complete relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements
  7. dispose of waste materials in accordance with safe working practices and approved procedures
  8. leave the aircraft and 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 practices and procedures that you need to observe when carrying out maintenance activities on aircraft windows (including any specific legislation, regulations/codes of practice for the activities, equipment or materials)
  2. the importance of maintenance on aircraft windows, and impact upon (Extended Range Twin-Engine Operations Procedures) ETOPS systems, legislation and local procedures
  3. the hazards associated with removing and fitting aircraft windows, and with the tools 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 protective equipment that you need to use for both personal protection (PPE) and protection of the aircraft

  6. what constitutes a hazardous voltage and how to recognise victims of electric shock

  7. how to reduce the risks of a phase to earth shock (such as insulated tools, rubber matting and isolating transformers)

  8. the importance of aircraft husbandry and of ensuring that, throughout the maintenance activity, the aircraft and work area are maintained free from foreign objects, and the implications of FOD to the safety of the aircraft

  9. how to extract and use information from aircraft manuals, log books, flight logs, and other documents needed in the maintenance process
  10. how to carry out currency/issue checks on the specifications you are working with
  11. the range of windows and window components that may need to be maintained/replaced
  12. the various mechanical fasteners that are used to hold the equipment in place, and their methods of removal and replacement (such as threaded fasteners, special securing devices)
  13. the importance of using the specified fasteners for the particular installation and why you must not substitute others
  14. why securing devices need to be locked and labelled, and the different methods that are used to remove and install them
  15. the torque loading requirements on the fasteners and what to do if these loadings are exceeded or not achieved

  16. the various types of electrical connector that are used, methods of unlocking, orientation indicators and locating and locking-in of the connections

  17. the need to take care when removing windows so as not to cause damage to the equipment or surrounding structure

  18. the need to label and store correctly components that require repair or overhaul, and to check that replaced components have the correct part/identification markings and accompanying release documentation
  19. the need to position, align, adjust and secure correctly the replaced windows on the aircraft, without damage to the components or surrounding structure
  20. methods of lifting, handling and supporting the components/equipment during the maintenance activities
  21. why electrical bonding is critical, and why it must be both mechanically and electrically secure
  22. how to carry out routine checks of the aircraft windows (such as checking condition of seals, checking correct operation of sliding windows and window locking mechanisms, checking window warning devices)
  23. 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
  24. the problems that can occur with the maintenance operations and how these can be overcome
  25. 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
  26. the procedure for the safe disposal of waste materials and scrap components
  27. 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 maintenance of the aircraft windows:

    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 correct documentation (such as job instructions, technical instructions, aircraft manuals and maintenance documentation)
    3. obtain the correct tools and equipment for the activity, and check that they are in a safe, tested and usable condition and within current calibration dates
    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 removal, fitting and testing techniques and procedures at all times
    7. return tools and equipment to the correct storage location on completion of the activities
    8. ensure that work carried out is correctly documented and recorded
    9. ensure that any outstanding tests are correctly documented

  2. Carry out maintenance on two of the following aircraft windows:

    1. flight compartment       
    2. door            
    3. window heating/wiring system
    4. passenger/cargo compartment 
    5. inspection and observation

  3. Remove and fit four different aircraft window components (at least two must be from group A):

Group A

1.  windshield                                  
2.  cabin window assembly          
3.  canopy
4.  fixed windows                      
5.  rear window       
6.  window seals
7.  sliding windows                              
8.  ice inspection window
9.  landing gear and cargo bay inspection windows

Group B
10. handle assembly           
11. trim        
12. warning devices (such as lights, bells horns)
13. lock assembly              
14. window blind  
15. cable harness/wiring/switches/plugs sensors
16. window latching mechanisms 
17. lift block                
18. windscreen wiper blades    
19. window slide
20. other specific components

  1. Carry out fifteen of the following maintenance activities:

    1. removing linings and covers to expose components/fastenings to be removed
    2. carrying out fault diagnosis and system checks
    3. preparing the equipment for maintenance
    4. disconnecting electrical connections                    
    5. refitting components in the correct position, orientation and alignment
    6. removing securing devices and mechanical fasteners          
    7. supporting components to be removed                   
    8. positioning and aligning replaced equipment
    9. setting and adjusting replaced components
    10. dismantling equipment to an appropriate level       
    11. replacing seals, sealants and desiccant (as appropriate)
    12. covering (protecting) exposed components, wires, pipework or vents      
    13. making mechanical connections
    14. making electrical connections
    15. checking components for serviceability          
    16. torque loading as required
    17. replacing damaged/defective components        
    18. carrying out equipment functional checks
    19. ensuring that replacement equipment is of the correct type (have the correct part numbers)
    20. labelling (and storing in the correct location) equipment that requires repair or overhaul
    21. applying bolt locking methods (such as split pins, wire locking, lock nuts)
    22. carrying out area inspections prior to task close down

  2. Service/check aircraft windows, to include carrying out three of the following:

    1. checking window seals for damage
    2. checking cleanliness
    3. applying rain repellent
    4. checking window condition (such as delamination, cracking, crazing, chips)
    5. checking latching mechanisms for correct operation
    6. checking critical fastenings for security
    7. rigging/adjusting the latching mechanism
    8. testing window heating elements

  3. Complete the relevant paperwork, to include one from the following and pass it to the appropriate people:

    1. job cards/work sheets
    2. computer records
    3. aircraft technical log
    4. aircraft cabin log
    5. aircraft log book

  4. Carry out maintenance on aircraft windows in compliance with one of the following:

    1. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)/European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
    2. Extended Range Twin-Engine Operations Procedures (ETOPS) (where appropriate)
    3. Ministry of Defence (MoD)
    4. Military Aviation Authority (MAA)
    5. Aerospace Quality Management Standards (AS)
    6. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)
    7. aircraft maintenance manual/approved change documentation (service bulletin)
    8. manufacturers standards and procedures

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

Skills

Glossary

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

2024

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Enginuity

Original URN

SEMAE3329

Relevant Occupations

Engineer, Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Technicians

SOC Code

5234

Keywords

engineering; aeronautical; aircraft windows; fuselage and crew compartment windows; windshields; frost shields; handles; latching mechanisms