Elements and Performance Criteria

Application of this unit may relate to:
Scheduled or unscheduled maintenance activities, and includes special inspections required after events such as heavy landings, overstress or flight through heavy turbulence.
Individual or team related activities
Procedures and requirements refer to industry standard procedures specified by manufacturers, regulatory authorities or the enterprise.
Inspection techniques may include visual inspection, physical checks, mensuration and alignment.
Assembly stress defects can refer to oil canning, buckling, contour misalignment.


1. Non-ferrous and ferrous alloys and composite (FRP) materials used in aircraft construction
2. Structural fastening and attachment hardware and/or devices
3. Seals, sealants
4. Glass, moulded plastics
5. Application of NDI techniques
6. Doors, hinges and locking mechanisms for damage/misalignment

7. Remove corrosion by chemical and mechanical methods
8. Restore protective coatings
9. Apply sealants and jointing compounds
10. Freehand precision hole generation
11. Remove and install structural hardware and fastening devices
12. Remove and replace bushes, bearings and bearing surfaces
13. Remove and repair damaged sections and reinstall
14. Repair by replacement major load-carrying structural members, ie skins, longerons, spars, frames, bulkheads
15. Minor repairs to non-metallic materials.

Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to use maintenance manuals, repair scheme drawings and applicable tools to inspect and repair/modify aircraft structure while observing all relevant safety precautions.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The underlying skills inherent in this unit should be transferable across a range of inspection, testing and repair applications associated with aircraft maintenance. It is essential that the procedures take into account all aircraft and personal safety precautions relating to aircraft structure.
Evidence of transferability of skills and knowledge related to inspection, testing and repair of aircraft structure is essential. This may be demonstrated through application across a number of aircraft systems or aircraft types. Ability to interpret inspection and repair procedures and specifications and apply them in practice is critical. The application of the procedures should also clearly indicate knowledge of structural flight loads and aerodynamic requirements.
A person cannot be assessed as competent until it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the workplace assessor that the relevant elements of the Unit of Competency are being achieved under routine supervision on at least one inspection task from each of Groups 1 to 6 and at least one repair task from each of Groups 7 to 15, as listed in the Range Statement. This shall be established via the records in the Log of Industrial Experience and Achievement or, where appropriate, an equivalent Industry Evidence Guide.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency should be assessed in the work environment or simulated work environment using tools and equipment specified in maintenance documentation. It is also expected that general purpose tools and test equipment found in most routine situations would be used where appropriate.