Part-66 training discussed

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), formerly the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), have established a common Aircraft Maintenance Engineers’ Licence under IR Part-66 known as Part-66 (formerly JAR-66)

All tutorials comply with Part-66 (Jar-66) syllabus and cover all modules required for the issue of Category A, B1 and B2 licences.

Category A Licence

The Category A Licence allows an experienced and knowledgeable mechanic to be authorised to certify certain simple inspections and routine tasks.

Category B1 and B2 Licences

Category B licences are aimed at line maintenance. They can also be used within base maintenance, in inspection or supervisory roles. Category B licences are separated into Mechanical and Avionics disciplines, identified and B1 and B2 respectively.

The following are the sub-categories within Licences B1 and B2:

Category B1.1 – Turbine Engine Aeroplanes

Category B1.2 – Piston Engine Aeroplanes

Category B1.3 – Turbine Engine Helicopters

Category B1.4 – Piston Engine Helicopters

Category B1.5 – reserved for airships (to be developed)

Category B2 – Line Maintenance Certifying Technician (Avionics)

To be eligible for a licence, an individual must have completed the relevant modular examinations and have a prescribed period of aircraft maintenance experience.

A minimum of Grade C GCSE’s or equivalent in maths and a science subject is required. Practical maintenance experience will also be a benefit, in both assisting understanding and ensuring all experience requirements will be fulfilled within the specified 5 year period.

Once passed, the modules are held in credit for 5 years. All experience and relevant examinations must be gained within this time period, otherwise module examinations will have to be retaken.

Experience required:

5 years – where no previous experience of formal training has been achieved

4 years – where the applicant has already qualified as a ‘skilled worker’ in another profession

2 years – where the applicant has successfully completed a JAR-147 approved cost of basic training at a category B1 or B2 level

The wider responsibilities of the Category B technician requires a more detailed knowledge than for Category A and, hence, a longer period of experience.

Category B1 is mechanically oriented and covers aircraft structure, airframe systems, engines and propellers, or rotors, as appropriate. Category B1 licence holder will be also be able to certify all electrical work, including power and distribution systems and control and indication systems.

Category B2 is avionic based and confers privileges similar to those of the mechanical technician to cover electrical power and distribution and control and indication systems associated with avionic systems.

One module will typically be made up like the following maintenance practices module...

Safety Precautions - Aircraft and Workshop

Aspects of safe working practices including precautions to take when working with electricity, gases especially oxygen, oils and chemicals.

Also, instruction in the remedial action to be taken in the event of a fire or another accident with one or more of these hazards including knowledge of extinguishing agents.

Workshop Practices

Care of tools, control of tools, use of workshop materials; Dimensions, allowances and tolerances, standards of workmanship; Calibration of tools and equipment, calibration standards.

Tools

Common hand tool types; Common power tool types; Operation and use of precision measuring tools; Lubrication equipment and methods; Operation, function and use of electrical general test equipment.

Avionic General Test Equipment...Operation, function and use of avionic general test equipment.

Engineering Drawings, Diagrams and Standards

Drawing types and diagrams, their symbols, dimensions, tolerances and projections; Identifying title block information; Microfilm, microfiche and computerised presentations;

Specification 100 of the Air Transport Association (ATA) of America; Aeronautical and other applicable standards including ISO, AN, MS, NAS and MIL; Wiring diagrams and schematic diagrams.

Fits and Clearances

Drill sizes for bolt holes, classes of fits; Common system of fits and clearances; Schedule of fits and clearances for aircraft and engines; Limits for bow, twist and wear;

Standard methods for checking shafts, bearings and other parts.

Electrical Cables and Connectors

Continuity, insulation and bonding techniques and testing; Use of crimp tools: hand and hydraulic operated; Testing of crimp joints; Connector pin removal and insertion;

Co-axial cables: testing and installation precautions; Wiring protection techniques: Cable looming and loom support, cable clamps, protective sleeving techniques including heat shrink wrapping, shielding.

Riveting

Riveted joints, rivet spacing and pitch; Tools used for riveting and dimpling; Inspection of riveted joints.

Pipes and Hoses

Bending and belling/flaring aircraft pipes; Inspection and testing of aircraft pipes and hoses; Installation and clamping of pipes.

Springs

Inspection and testing of springs.

Bearings

Testing, cleaning and inspection of bearings; Lubrication requirements of bearings; Defects in bearings and their causes.

Transmissions

Inspection of gears, backlash; Inspection of belts and pulleys, chains and sprockets;

Inspection of screw jacks, lever devices, push -pull rod systems.

Control Cables

Swaging of end fittings; Inspection and testing of control cables; Bowden cables; aircraft flexible control systems.

Material Handling

Sheet Metal Marking out and calculation of bend allowance; Sheet metal working, including bending and forming; Inspection of sheet metal work. Composite and non-metallic

Bonding practices; Environmental conditions; Inspection methods.

Welding, Brazing, Soldering and Bonding

Soldering methods; inspection of soldered joints; Welding and brazing methods; Inspection of welded and brazed joints; Bonding methods and inspection of bonded joints.

Aircraft Weight and Balance

Centre of Gravity / Balance limits calculation: use of relevant documents; Preparation of aircraft for weighing; Aircraft weighing.

Aircraft Handling and Storage

Aircraft taxiing / towing and associated safety precautions; Aircraft jacking, chocking, securing and associated safety precautions; Aircraft storage methods; Refuelling / defuelling procedures; De -icing/anti -icing procedures; Electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic ground supplies; Effects of environmental conditions on aircraft handling and operation.

Disassembly, Inspection, Repair and Assembly

Techniques...types of defects and visual inspection techniques;

Corrosion removal, assessment and reprotection.

General repair methods, Structural Repair Manual; Ageing, fatigue and corrosion control programmes.

Non destructive inspection techniques including, penetrant, radiographic, eddy current, ultrasonic and boroscope methods.

Disassembly and re -assembly techniques.

Trouble shooting techniques.

Abnormal Events...Inspections following lightning strikes and HIRF penetration.

Inspections following abnormal events such as heavy landings and flight through turbulence.

Maintenance Procedures

Maintenance planning; Modification procedures; Stores procedures; Certification/release procedures; Interface with aircraft operation; Maintenance Inspection/Quality Control/Quality Assurance; Control of life limited components.