Carrying out maintenance on aircraft electrical/electronic systems by component replacement
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out electronic component replacement on commercial, military or light aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to select the appropriate tools and equipment to use, based on the maintenance activities to be carried out, and to check that they are in a safe and serviceable condition. You will be required to prepare the aircraft for work, and this will involve obtaining permission to work on the aircraft, ensuring that all safety pins and warning notices are in place, and ensuring that the relevant systems are in a suitable condition for work to be undertaken. The maintenance activities will involve the replacement of a number of electrical, electronic or avionic modules or components from the following systems: power and distribution, lighting, engine control and indication, flight control, Pitot static, radar equipment, navigational equipment, communication equipment, defensive aids, undercarriage, and cabin equipment such as for catering and entertainment.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the maintenance activities undertaken, and to report any problems with these activities that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work either with a high level of supervision or as a member of a team, and you will take personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out. You must demonstrate a significant personal contribution during the team activities, in order to satisfy the requirements of this standard, and competency in all the areas required by the standard must be demonstrated.
Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a sound basis for your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying the appropriate maintenance techniques and procedures. You will have a basic understanding of the systems being maintained, and their application, and will know about the maintenance equipment and fastening devices, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the aircraft maintenance operations, especially those for isolating and depressurising equipment, and for protecting yourself and others from injury. 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:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- follow the relevant maintenance schedules to carry out the required work
- carry out the maintenance activities within the limits of your personal authority
- carry out the maintenance activities in the specified sequence and in an agreed time scale
- report any instances where the maintenance activities cannot be fully met or where there are identified defects outside the planned schedule
- complete relevant maintenance records accurately and pass them on to the appropriate person
- dispose of waste materials in accordance with safe working practices and approved procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the specific safety precautions and procedures to be observed whilst carrying out the aircraft maintenance activities (including any specific legislation, regulations or codes of practice relating to the activities, equipment or materials)
- the health and safety requirements of the work area in which you are carrying out the maintenance activities, and the responsibility these requirements place on you
- the authorisation you require to commence work on the aircraft
- the hazards associated with working on aircraft systems (such as electrical power, release of stored pressure, oil and fuel, gaseous substances), and how they can be minimised
- the protective equipment that you need to use for both personal protection (PPE) and protection of the aircraft
- the maintenance schedules and servicing specifications that are used during servicing and maintenance, and the importance of following the procedures listed in these documents
- the basic principle of operation of the equipment/circuits being maintained, and the purpose of individual components within the circuit
- the electrical components to be replaced, and the methods of replacement
- electrical bonding/earthing specifications, and their importance
- how to take electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions, and why are they needed
- the application and use of a range of electrical components (such as module blocks, terminal blocks, multi-pin plugs/sockets, tray-mounted sockets, earth bonding points)
- the adjustments/corrections/tuning required to the components that have been removed/replaced
- how to check that the replacement components meet the required specification/operating conditions
- how to identify the components to be used, and how to ensure that systems are not contaminated
- the quality control procedures to be followed during the maintenance procedures
- how to conduct any necessary checks to ensure the system integrity and functionality
- the problems that can occur with the servicing and maintenance activities, and how these can be overcome
- the importance of correct securing and locking of connections
- the importance of tool control, and company tool control procedures
- the methods and equipment used to maintain aircraft systems, and how to check that the equipment is within its current certification dates
- the tools and equipment used in the maintenance activities, and their calibration/care and control procedures
- the importance of ensuring that, when the maintenance is completed, the aircraft is free from dirt, swarf and foreign objects (FOD)
- the disposal methods for waste oil, fuel, other liquids and waste
- problems with the maintenance procedures, and the importance of informing appropriate people of defects
- 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
- the extent of your own responsibility, and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Carry out all of the following during the aircraft electrical, electronic or avionic maintenance activities:
- use the correct issue of the aircraft servicing or maintenance schedule
- use copies of relevant COSHH sheets, risk assessment and aircraft standards
- check the calibration dates of tools and equipment to be used
- return all tools and equipment to the correct location
- leave the work area in a safe and tidy condition
Prepare the aircraft for work by carrying out all of the following:
- obtain clearance to work on the aircraft, and observe the power isolation and safety procedures
- identify defects for maintenance and ensure the aircraft is fit for maintenance from the aircraft documentation
- ensure that relevant safety warnings are in place
- ensure that appropriate safety locks/pins are in place
- check that the relevant systems are in a condition for work, and for component replacement to take place
Carry out component replacements on three of the following aircraft electrical, electronic or avionic systems:
- aircraft power and distribution
- radar
- lighting
- navigation
- engine control and indication
- communication
- flight control
- defensive aids
- Pitot static
- undercarriage
- cabin equipment (such as catering, entertainment)
Carry out ten of the following maintenance techniques, as applicable to the equipment being maintained:
- isolating power
- removing excessive dirt and grime
- dismantling equipment to unit/component level
- use of special-to-type tools
- proof-marking/labelling of components/units
- de-pressurisation of the system
- replacing all damaged or defective units/components
- reassembly of the equipment/system
- replacing damaged wires or cables
- reconnecting electrical connections
- replacing damaged or defective connectors
- making fluid connections to components
- checking the integrity of all connections
- looming of cables
- checking the integrity and security of earth bonding
- inspecting and cleaning sensors
- tuning or making routine adjustments to components
- servicing battery systems
- securing components using mechanical fasteners and applying bolt locking methods
- making electrical connections (such as soldering, splicing and crimping)
- making static or functional checks of completed systems
Replace a range of electrical, electronic or avionic modules/components, involving the disconnection and reconnection of eight of the following:
- mechanical units
- quick release fasteners
- electrical connectors (such as terminal blocks, male to female plug-in connectors)
- backplate connectors
- Pitot/static connectors
- radio frequency (RF) connectors
- fluid system connectors (such as pipes, unions, hoses)
- switches (such as micro, pressure)
- avionic units
- earth and bonding leads
- mechanical controls (such as actuating mechanisms, brackets)
- other specific components
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Carry out maintenance work which complies with one of the following standards
- Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
- Ministry of Defence (MoD)
Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)
customer standards and requirements
- company standards and procedures
- manufacturers' specifications
Complete the relevant paperwork, to include one from the following, and pass it to the appropriate people:
- maintenance schedule/log
- job cards
- aircraft service/flight log
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Additional Information
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