Identifying, monitoring and resolving aircraft maintenance programme problems
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to identify, monitor and resolve aircraft maintenance programme problems, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to investigate the problems, obtaining all the necessary information from the relevant sources to enable you to establish a clear picture of the situation, to identify and evaluate potential corrective actions, and to select the most appropriate and effective solution. Your proposed solution will take into account the effects on both the maintenance programme and on the people involved.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures during the rectification of the aircraft maintenance programme problem, and to report any problems 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 problem solving techniques and procedures to aircraft maintenance programmes. You will understand the regulatory requirements including relevant directives and guidelines for providing continuing airworthiness certification including the processes, procedures and terminology used and their applications, and will know about them in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for resolving aircraft maintenance programme problems
You will be aware of any company/customer, legislative or regulatory aviation, health, safety and environmental requirements applicable to the engineering activities being investigated. You will understand the specific safety precautions required when carrying out the problem solving activity. 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:
- take prompt action to identify and/or report aircraft maintenance programme problems and keep all relevant people informed of progress
- obtain all relevant information relating to the aircraft maintenance programme problems
- identify the nature, root cause and extent of the aircraft maintenance programme problems
- discuss with the relevant people about the extent of the problem and its impact on the aircraft maintenance programme
- communicate the proposed solution to the relevant people, obtaining feedback where appropriate
prepare a plan of action for the implementation of the agreed solution
ensure that the approved solution is implemented correctly and promptly
- ensure that the rectification complies with all relevant regulations and guidelines
- ensure that all information is documented to provide an audit trail
- implement preventive measures into future programmes, where applicable, to ensure that there is no recurrence of the problem
- prepare relevant reports for the continuing airworthiness manager to forward to the manufacturer and regulatory authority
- monitor outcomes of the rectification activity, and make any necessary revisions to the plan of action
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the specific safety precautions to be taken in the work areas where is being undertaken
- 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 to obtain and interpret company policy and procedures
- the importance of using the company information systems
- the information systems that are in use within your organisation, and how to record data to the system
- the company reporting procedures, documentation and their application
- how to access information required on the relevant aircraft
- how to access information on continuing airworthiness regulations, standards, directives and guidelines
the implications of not taking account of legislation, regulations, standards and guidelines when determining solutions to problems identified with the aircraft maintenance programme
the communication techniques used to obtain information
- the principles of effective problem solving, the main problem solving methods and techniques in use, and how to apply them
- the benefits of adopting a formalised problem solving process
- how to involve the user/customer in the problem solving process
- the importance of collecting as much relevant information as necessary, and of collating such information in a way which facilitates decision making, and the methods to achieve this
- action planning (to include risk analysis, testing decisions, determining time-scales and protecting the user/customer)
- the importance of analysing problems from a variety of perspectives
- how to define and verify root cause of a problem
- the importance of involving a range of relevant people in generating possible solutions
- the importance of developing a range of possible options in solving problems
- the factors to be taken into account when resolving problems and determining suitable solutions (especially those covering working conditions, safety and costs)
- the methods and techniques for evaluating information
- how to present possible solutions in a way which helps relevant people to reach an informed and realistic judgement
- how to determine and select permanent corrective actions (to include decision making, assessing the criteria and determining the risks, costs and generating alternatives)
- the process used in the organisation to validate the solution to the problem
- how to prevent recurrence of the problems (to include proposed changes to management systems, operating systems and procedures, and identification of opportunities for improvements)
- the importance of customer care and satisfaction
- the importance of maintaining records of the problem solving activities; what needs to be recorded, and where records are kept
- the company reporting procedures, documentation and their application
- the different ways in which the solutions can be reported back
- who to inform of actions taken, and by what means
- the extent of your own responsibility, and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
- the sources of technical expertise if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Identify, monitor and resolve aircraft maintenance programme problems associated with one of the following types of aircraft as defined by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) current listing:
- commercial/military passenger ( over 5700kg)
- commercial/military passenger ( under 5700kg)
- commercial/military freight ( over 5700kg)
- commercial/military freight ( under 5700kg)
- rotary craft
- private large aircraft
- private small aircraft
Use information obtained from eight of the following sources to help resolve, amend and evaluate the effectiveness of the aircraft maintenance programme:
- statistical data
- fault diagnostics
- historical records
- operational procedures/maintenance manuals
- quality audits
- health and safety information
- external sources
- feedback from operator/customer
- reliability monitoring (such as trend, condition)
- manufacturer's data
- pilot and engineering reports
Determine and implement the solution for two of the following:
- temporary (interim solution)
- long term (permanent solution)
- short term (will require further action)
Taking into account both the following:
4. safety/environmental considerations
5. continuing airworthiness regulations, directives and guidelines
Ensure that the solution complies with the continuing airworthiness regulations, directives and guidelines, from all of the following:
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)/ regulations, guidelines or directives
organisational guidelines and codes of practice
- customer standards and requirements
- aircraft/component manufacturer's operating specification/range including warranty considerations
- service bulletins/modifications
- airworthiness directives
- service information leaflets
- foreign (third country) airworthiness directives and service bulletins
- bi-weekly reports
Communicate the solution to appropriate people, using the following methods:
- specific company documentation
Plus two more from the following:
2. verbally supported by specific and auditable documentation
3. computer generated report
4. electronic mail
5. computer based presentation
6. other appropriate media
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