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Contributing to making decisions in a continuing airworthiness environment

URN: SEMAE3355
Business Sectors (Suites): Aeronautical Engineering Suite 3
Developed by: Enginuity
Approved on: 2021

Overview

This standard identifies the competences you need to make an effective contribution to the decision making process in a continuing airworthiness environment in accordance with approved policies and procedures. You will be required to confirm and agree the scope of the issue requiring a decision and use a robust, systematic and auditable decision making process that includes working with and communication with the appropriate people, gathering all relevant data and information, making a decision, communicating and recording the decision process in the appropriate format.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures when contributing to the decision making process, and to report any problems with these activities 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 input you provide.

Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to the methods, techniques and procedures for making informed decision relating to continuous airworthiness certification activities. You will understand the regulatory requirements for providing continuing airworthiness certification activities including the processes, procedures and terminology used and their applications, and will know about them in adequate depth to provide a sound basis in order to make an informed contribution to the decision making process.

You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the work area.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, directives and other relevant guidelines
  2. work with colleagues that have the necessary technical competence to be able to contribute to the decision making process
  3. confirm and agree the scope and parameters of the continuing airworthiness activities where a decision is required
  4. identify what and/or whom will be affected by the decision 
  5. contribute to the identification and gathering of relevant data and information required in order to make an informed decision
  6. ensure that all data and information to be used is valid, reliable, authentic, sufficient and auditable  
  7. confirm that you have interpreted the requirements correctly and accurately
  8. establish the timelines required in order to provide the outcome of the decision making process
  9. contribute to the analysis and evaluation the data and information that will impact on the decision
  10. contribute to the identification and evaluation of the range of possible decisions available supported by reasoned arguments, reliable and auditable information
  11. contribute to the making of the final decision
  12. provide the outcome of the decision making process to those affected in the correct format and to agreed timescales and protocols
  13. confirm the recipient understands the decision made
  14. provide any follow up information and documentation where required
  15. keep records of the data and documentation used in decision making process in accordance with organisational requirements

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the specific safety precautions to be taken in the work area
  2. the specific continuing airworthiness regulations, directives and guidelines that are relevant to the area of activity where decisions are required
  3. 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
  4. how to obtain up to date information on continuing airworthiness regulations, standards, directives and guidelines that will be required to assist in the decision making process
  5. the importance of ensuring that information gathered is up to date, accurate, authentic and auditable and the consequences if this is not the case
  6. how to judge if you have sufficient, accurate and authentic information to make an effective decision
  7. the importance of dealing with facts rather than opinion when analysing information as part of the decision making process
  8. how to identify if information is inaccurate, unreliable or contradictory
  9. the key stages of effective decision making (such as define and clarify the issue, gather the facts, consider possible options, select the best option, evaluate the decision, communicate the decision)
  10. the importance of setting objectives and timescales for the decision
  11. how to make it clear what is in and out of scope of the process
  12. the importance of involving all relevant people in the decision making process
  13. how to decide who needs to be involved in the decision making process
  14. how to make effective contributions to meetings and other discussions relating to the decision making process
  15. the importance of being proactive in the decision making process
  16. why it is important to take into account everyone's views, contributions and opinions 
  17. the range of decisions available and how the options are evaluated
  18. who needs to be informed of the decision outcome
  19. how to ensure the recipient understands the outcome of the decision making process provided
  20. how the decision is communicated and recorded
  21. the scope of your authority for taking decisions and where you need to refer to someone else
  22. the importance of maintaining, where appropriate, individual, customer or company confidentiality
  23. to whom you should go for advice if you do not have sufficient information or the decision is outside of your responsibility or permitted authority

Scope/range

Scope Performance

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  1. Contribute to making decisions by working with all of the following groups:

    1. immediate supervision/line management and/or managers/supervisors from other departments
    2. colleagues in same working group and/or outside work group
    3. external organisations (such as customers, suppliers, consultants, regulatory bodies or manufactures) 

  2. Contribute to the decision making process as part of the continuing airworthiness activities for one of the following types of aircraft as defined by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) current listing:

    1. commercial/military passenger ( over 5700kg)
    2. commercial/military passenger ( under 5700kg)
    3. commercial/military freight ( over 5700kg)
    4. commercial/military freight ( under 5700kg)
    5. rotary craft
    6. private large aircraft
    7. private small aircraft

  3. Take into account all of the following when making decisions relating to the implementation of continuous airworthiness activities:

    1. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)/ regulations, guidelines or directives 
    2. organisational guidelines and codes of practice    
    3. customer standards and requirements
    4. aircraft/component manufacturer's operating specification/range including warranty considerations
    5. service bulletins/modifications
    6. airworthiness directives
    7. service information leaflets
    8. foreign (third country) airworthiness directives and service bulletins
    9. bi-weekly reports

  4. Contribute to making decisions associated with six of the following:

    1. accountabilities
    2. continuing airworthiness 
    3. maintenance standards
    4. components  
    5. maintenance organisation
    6. continuing airworthiness management
    7. certificate of release to service
    8. airworthiness review certificate
    9. quality assurance and compliance auditing
    10. development and/or revision of standard operating procedures
    11. data and documentation requirements
    12. information systems
    13. training and development

  5. Contribute to making decisions resulting from three of the following:

    1. reported problems found during operating conditions/activities
    2. consequences from the embodiment of modifications (such as airworthiness directives and service bulletin
    3. recorded deviations from agreed plans and schedules
    4. customer requests or complaints
    5. outcome from audit or inspection
    6. annual utilisation

  6. Provide the outcome of the decision by the following method:

    1. specific company documentation

Plus by two other methods from the following:
2. verbally supported by specific and auditable documentation
3. electronic mail                                                            
4. computer-based presentation
5. computer generated report                                                
6. verbal report supported by specific and auditable documentation
7. other appropriate media

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

2

Indicative Review Date

2024

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Enginuity

Original URN

SEMAE3355

Relevant Occupations

Engineer, Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Technicians

SOC Code

5234

Keywords

engineering; continuing; airworthiness; aircraft; information; decisions; data; customer; providing; contribute; process