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Showing posts with label EASA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EASA. Show all posts

Sunday, 20 November 2011

Careers in Aircraft Engineering


1. How to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and an Aircraft Fitter


As a licensed aircraft engineer you will need to be in possession of a basic aircraft engineer's licence, at least one type rating for an aircraft, many hours/months/years spent gaining your practical experience, and a company approval to issue a Certificate of Release to Service for an aircraft. It is a highly skilled job and one which can take some years to achieve. View all of our Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer jobs.

Aircraft are signed off by licensed engineers, but their unlicensed and highly skilled colleagues perform a crucial role. Aircraft Mechanics (or Aircraft Fitters) are not certified and will work under the supervision of a certified engineer, but they are highly trained and experienced in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of aircraft (MRO jobs).

2. Aircraft Maintenance Engineering careers


Aircraft Engineers and Aircraft Mechanics work on a permanent basis as an employee of an airline or MRO organisation. Many more are employed on a contract basis, working for themselves via recruitment businesses that provide staffing services for airlines or MROs.

Aircraft Engineer Contractors tend to earn more money, but do not get the various company benefits or security offered by a permanent job.

Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers will need to prove their skills. As one, you will need a basic licence (for instance a B1 EASA Part 66 licensed aircraft engineer's licence). This will require many months of study (either about aircraft avionics for a B2 licence or airframe & engine for a B1 licence).

This will then need to be followed by further study on a type rating course taken at an approved centre (for instance B747-400 type rating), and then practical experience on type to gain company approvals.

Only once you have all of this can you then become a certified aircraft engineer. Even then, you will need to maintain 'recency' on type in order to continue working on any particular type of aircraft. If you lose recency (ie, you stop working on a type of aircraft for over 2 years), you may be required to take a familiarisation course before you can again be licensed on type. This can vary from one airline to another and the civil aviation authority (country / region) you wish to work within. (See the note at the end with more information about *Aircraft Licence Types.)

3. Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Jobs / Fitter Jobs


Aircraft Fitter Jobs
If you are a fitter you will need to search for Aircraft technicians jobs, aircraft mechanics jobs or aircraft fitters jobs (various terms are used interchangeably). View our Aircraft Technician and Fitter jobs.

Line Maintenance Engineer Jobs
Line Maintenance Engineer jobs will require a certified aircraft engineer to sign aircraft off 'on line'. The checks a line maintenance engineer carries out are light checks and are done during turn-around or overnight. You must have a license and approvals in order to sign a 'Certificate of Release to Service'. See our Licensed Line Maintenance Engineer Jobs.

Base Maintenance Engineer Jobs
Base Maintenance Engineer jobs require a certified aircraft engineer to sign aircraft off. The nature of the work focusses on bigger aircraft maintenance projects (or heavy checks). It usually takes longer than a Line Check. Checks are categorised and a base maintenance engineer's job is typically carrying out C Checks in the hangar over a number of days or weeks. Modifications and installations will also be included as part of a Licensed Base Maintenance Engineer's job.

NOTES

*Aircraft Licence Types
Basic licences are issued by the competent authority. Licence types are, for instance, an EASA Part 66 licence or ICAO licence. Licensed Engineers tend to specialise either in mechanics or avionics. Avionics Engineers (or EASA Part 66 B2 engineers) are able to issue CRS on avionics systems, while Airframe and Engine engineers (or A&C or B1 Licence Engineers) generally sign for all mechanical parts and the engines (they need to be trained on specific engine types too).
Variety is huge but the following are probably the most common aircraft types offering jobs: B777 jobs, B737 jobs, B747 jobs, A330 jobs, A340 jobs, A320 jobs.

4. Aerospace Jobs


Aerospace Design Engineer Jobs and Aircraft Manufacturing Jobs are filled by aerospace engineers skilled in aircraft design using software like DOORS and NASTRAN. Specialisms include Aerospace Design and Stress Engineer jobs, Aerodynamics jobs, Avionics Systems Design Engineer jobs, CATIA Jobs and IT jobs. Aerospace defence jobs, especially, require software specialists.

Sunday, 30 October 2011

General Information about the EASA part 66 Licence

(Part-66)  66.1
For the purpose of this Part, the competent authority shall be the authority designated by the Member State to whom a
person applies for the issuance of an aircraft maintenance licence.
SECTION A
SUBPART A
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE LICENCE AEROPLANES AND HELICOPTERS
66.A.1 Scope
(a) This section establishes the requirements for the issue of an aircraft maintenance licence and conditions of its validity
and use, for aeroplanes and helicopters of the following categories:
— Category A
— Category B1
— Category B2
— Category C
(b) Categories A and B1 are subdivided into subcategories relative to combinations of aeroplanes, helicopters, turbine
and piston engines. The subcategories are:
— A1 and B1.1 Aeroplanes Turbine
— A2 and B1.2 Aeroplanes Piston
— A3 and B1.3 Helicopters Turbine
— A4 and B1.4 Helicopters Piston
66.A.10 Application
An application for an aircraft maintenance licence or amendment to such licence shall be made on EASA Form 19 and
in a manner established by the competent authority and submitted thereto. An application for the amendment to an
aircraft maintenance licence shall be made to the competent authority that issued the aircraft maintenance licence.
66.A.15 Eligibility
An applicant for an aircraft maintenance licence shall be at least 18 years of age.
66.A.20 Privileges
(a) Subject to compliance with paragraph (b), the following privileges shall apply:
1. A category A aircraft maintenance licence permits the holder to issue certificates of release to service following
minor scheduled line maintenance and simple defect rectification within the limits of tasks specifically endorsed
on the authorisation. The certification privileges shall be restricted to work that the licence holder has personally
performed in a Part-145 organisation.
2. A category B1 aircraft maintenance licence shall permit the holder to issue certificates of release to service
following maintenance, including aircraft structure, powerplant and mechanical and electrical systems. Replacement
of avionic line replaceable units, requiring simple tests to prove their serviceability, shall also be included in
the privileges. Category B1 shall automatically include the appropriate A subcategory.
3. A category B2 aircraft maintenance licence shall permit the holder to issue certificates of release to service
following maintenance on avionic and electrical systems.
4. A category C aircraft maintenance licence shall permit the holder to issue certificates of release to service
following base maintenance on aircraft. The privileges apply to the aircraft in its entirety in a Part-145 organisation.
(b) The holder of an aircraft maintenance licence may not exercise certification privileges unless:
1. in compliance with the applicable requirements of Part-M and/or Part-145.
2. in the preceding two-year period he/she has, either had six months of maintenance experience in accordance with
the privileges granted by the aircraft maintenance licence or, met the provision for the issue of the appropriate
privileges.
3. he/she is able to read, write and communicate to an understandable level in the language(s) in which the technical
documentation and procedures necessary to support the issue of the certificate of release to service are written.
66.A.25 Basic knowledge requirements
(a) An applicant for an aircraft maintenance licence or the addition of a category or subcategory to such an aircraft
maintenance licence shall demonstrate, by examination, a level of knowledge in the appropriate subject modules in
accordance with Appendix I to this Part.
The basic knowledge examinations shall be conducted by a training organisation appropriately approved under Part-
147 or by the competent authority.
(b) Full or partial credit against the basic knowledge requirements and associated examination shall be given for any
other technical qualification considered by the competent authority to be equivalent to the knowledge standard of
this Part. Such credits shall be established in accordance with Section B, Subpart E of this Part.
66.A.30 Experience requirements
(a) An applicant for an aircraft maintenance licence shall have acquired:
1. for category A and subcategories B1.2 and B1.4:
(i) three years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft, if the applicant has no previous relevant
technical training; or
(ii) two years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft and completion of training considered
relevant by the competent authority as a skilled worker, in a technical trade; or
(iii) one year of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft and completion of a Part-147 approved
basic training course.
2. for category B2 and subcategories B1.1 and B1.3:
(i) five years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft if the applicant has no previous relevant
technical training; or
(ii) three years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft and completion of training considered
relevant by the competent authority as a skilled worker, in a technical trade; or
(iii) two years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft and completion of a Part -147 approved
basic training course.
3. for category C with respect to large aircraft:
(i) three years of experience exercising category B1.1, B1.3 or B2 privileges on large aircraft or as Part-145 B1.1,
B1.3 or B2 support staff, or, a combination of both; or
(ii) five years of experience exercising category B1.2 or B1.4 privileges on large aircraft or as Part-145 B1.2 or
B1.4 support staff, or a combination of both; or
4. for category C with respect to non large aircraft:
three years of experience exercising category B1 or B.2 privileges on non large aircraft or as Part-145 B1 or B.2
support staff, or a combination of both; or
5. for category C obtained through the academic route:
an applicant holding an academic degree in a technical discipline, from a university or other higher educational
institution recognised by the competent authority, three years of experience working in a civil aircraft maintenance
environment on a representative selection of tasks directly associated with aircraft maintenance including
six months of observation of base maintenance tasks.
(b) An applicant for an extension to an aircraft maintenance licence shall have a minimum civil aircraft maintenance
experience requirement appropriate to the additional category or subcategory of licence applied for as defined in
Appendix IV to this Part.
(c) For category A, B1 and B2 the experience must be practical which means being involved with a representative cross
section of maintenance tasks on aircraft.
(d) For all applicants, at least one year of the required experience must be recent maintenance experience on aircraft of
the category/subcategory for which the initial aircraft maintenance licence is sought. For subsequent category/subcategory
additions to an existing aircraft maintenance licence, the additional recent maintenance experience required
may be less than one year, but must be at least three months. The required experience must be dependent upon the
difference between the licence category/subcategory held and applied for. Such additional experience must be typical
of the new licence category/subcategory sought.
(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), aircraft maintenance experience gained outside a civil aircraft maintenance environment
shall be accepted when such maintenance is equivalent to that required by this Part as established by the
competent authority. Additional experience of civil aircraft maintenance shall, however, be required to ensure understanding
of the civil aircraft maintenance environment.
66.A.40 Continued validity of the aircraft maintenance licence
(a) The aircraft maintenance licence becomes invalid five years after its last issue or amendment, unless the holder
submits his/her aircraft maintenance licence to the competent authority that issued it, in order to verify that the
information contained in the licence is the same as that contained in the competent authority records, pursuant to
66. B.120.
(b) Any certification privileges based upon a aircraft maintenance licence becomes invalid as soon as the aircraft maintenance
licence is invalid.
(c) The aircraft maintenance licence is only valid when issued and/or amended by the competent authority and when
the holder has signed the document.
66.A.45 Type/task training and ratings
(a) The holder of a category A aircraft maintenance licence may only exercise certification privileges on a specific
aircraft type following the satisfactory completion of the relevant category A aircraft task training carried out by an
appropriately approved Part-145 or Part-147 organisation. The training shall include practical hands on training and
theoretical training as appropriate for each task authorised. Satisfactory completion of training shall be demonstrated
by an examination and/or by workplace assessment carried out by an appropriately approved Part-145 or Part-147
organisation.
(b) Except as otherwise specified in paragraph (g), the holder of a category B1, B2 or C aircraft maintenance licence shall
only exercise certification privileges on a specific aircraft type when the aircraft maintenance licence is endorsed with
the appropriate aircraft type rating.
(c) Except as otherwise specified in paragraph (h), ratings shall be granted following satisfactory completion of the relevant
category B1, B2 or C aircraft type training approved by the competent authority or conducted by an appropriately
approved Part-147 maintenance training organisation.
(d) Category B1 and B2 approved type training shall include theoretical and practical elements and consist of the appropriate
course in relation to the 66.A.20(a) privileges. Theoretical and practical training shall comply with Appendix
III to this Part.
(e) Category C approved type training shall comply with Appendix III to this Part. In the case of a category C person
qualified by holding an academic degree as specified in 66.A.30(a), (5), the first relevant aircraft type theoretical
training shall be at the category B1 or B2 level. Practical training is not required.
(f) Completion of approved aircraft type training, as required by paragraphs (b) to (e), shall be demonstrated by an
examination. The examination shall comply with Appendix III to this Part. The examinations in respect of category
B1 or B2 or C aircraft type ratings shall be conducted by training organisations appropriately approved under Part-
147, the competent authority, or the training organisation conducting the approved type training course.
(g) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), for aircraft other than large aircraft, the holder of a category B1 or B2 aircraft maintenance
licence may also exercise certification privileges, when the aircraft maintenance licence is endorsed with the
appropriate group ratings, or manufacturer group ratings, unless the Agency has determined that the complexity of
the aircraft in question requires a type rating.
1. Manufacturer group ratings may be granted after complying with the type rating requirements of two aircraft
types representative of the group from the same manufacturer.
2. Full group ratings may be granted after complying with the type rating requirements of three aircraft types representative
of the group from different manufacturers. However, no full group rating may be granted to B1 multiple
turbine engine aeroplanes, where only manufacturer group rating applies.
3. The groups shall consist of the following:
(i) for category B1 or C:
— helicopter piston engine
— helicopter turbine engine
— aeroplane single piston engine — metal structure
— aeroplane multiple piston engines — metal structure
— aeroplane single piston engine — wooden structure
— aeroplane multiple piston engines — wooden structure
— aeroplane single piston engine — composite structure
— aeroplane multiple piston engines — composite structure
— aeroplane turbine — single engine
— aeroplane turbine — multiple engine
(ii) for category B2 or C:
— aeroplane
— helicopter
(h) Notwithstanding paragraph (c), ratings on aircraft other than large aircraft may also be granted, subject to satisfactory
completion of the relevant category B1, B2 or C aircraft type examination and demonstration of practical
experience on the aircraft type, unless the Agency has determined that the aircraft is complex, where paragraph 3
approved type training is required.
In the case of a category C ratings on aircraft other than large aircraft, for a person qualified by holding an academic
degree as specified in 66.A.30 (a), (5), the first relevant aircraft type examination shall be at the category B1 or B2
level.
1. Category B1, B2 and C approved type examinations must consist of a mechanical examination for category B1
and an avionics examination for category B2 and both mechanical and avionics examination for category C.
2. The examination shall comply with Appendix III to this Part. The examination shall be conducted by training
organisations appropriately approved under Part-147, or by the competent authority.
3. Aircraft type practical experience shall include a representative cross section of maintenance activities relevant to
the category.
66.A.70 Conversion provisions
(a) The holder of a certifying staff qualification valid in a Member State, prior to the date of entry into force of this Part
shall be issued an aircraft maintenance licence without further examination subject to the conditions specified in
66.B.300.
(b) A person undergoing a qualification process valid in a Member State, prior to the date of entry into force of this Part
may continue to be qualified. The holder of a qualification gained following such qualification process shall be issued
an aircraft maintenance licence without further examination subject to the conditions specified in 66.B.300
(c) Where necessary, the aircraft maintenance licence shall contain technical limitations in relation to the scope of the
pre-existing qualification.
SUBPART B
AIRCRAFT OTHER THAN AEROPLANES AND HELICOPTERS
66.A.100 General
Until such time as this Part specifies a requirement for certifying staff of aircraft other than aeroplanes and helicopters,
the relevant Member State regulation shall apply.
SUBPART C
COMPONENTS
66.A.200 General
Until such time as this Part specifies a requirement for certifying components, the relevant Member State regulation shall
apply.
SECTION B
PROCEDURE FOR COMPETENT AUTHORITIES
SUBPART A
GENERAL
66.B.05 Scope
This section establishes the administrative requirements to be followed by the competent authorities in charge of the
application and the enforcement of Section A of this Part.
66.B.10 Competent authority
(a) General
A Member State shall designate a competent authority with allocated responsibilities for the issuance, continuation,
amendment, suspension or revocation of licences. This competent authority shall establish documented procedures
and an organisational structure.
(b) Resources
The competent authority shall be appropriately staffed to carry out the requirements of this Part.
(c) Procedures
The competent authority shall establish procedures detailing how compliance with this Part is accomplished.
The procedures shall be reviewed and amended to ensure continued compliance.
66.B.15 Acceptable means of compliance
The Agency shall develop acceptable means of compliance that the Member States may use to establish compliance with
this Part. When the acceptable means of compliance are complied with, the related requirements of this Part shall be
considered as met.
66.B.20 Record-keeping
(a) The competent authority shall establish a system of record-keeping that allows adequate traceability of the process
to issue, revalidate, amend, suspend or revoke each aircraft maintenance licence.
(b) The records for the oversight of the Part shall include:
1. the application for an aircraft maintenance licence or change to that licence, including all supporting documentation;
2. a copy of the aircraft maintenance licence including any changes;
3. copies of all relevant correspondence;
4. details of any exemption and enforcement actions;
5. any report from other competent authorities relating to the aircraft maintenance licence holder;
6. records of examinations conducted by the competent authority;
7. aircraft maintenance licence conversion reports;
8. examination credit reports.
(c) Records referred to in paragraph (b), 1. to 5. shall be kept at least five years after the end of the licence validity.
(d) Records referred to in paragraph (b), 6. shall be kept at least five years.
(e) Records referred to in paragraph (b), 7. and 8. shall be kept for an unlimited period.
66.B.25 Mutual exchange of information
(a) In order to contribute to the improvement of air safety, the competent authorities shall participate in a mutual
exchange of all necessary information in accordance with Article 11 of the basic Regulation.
(b) Without prejudice to the competencies of the Member States, in the case of a potential safety threat involving several
Member States, the concerned competent authorities shall assist each other in carrying out the necessary oversight
action.
66.B.30 Exemptions
All exemptions granted in accordance with Article 10, 3. of the basic Regulation shall be recorded and retained by the
competent authority.
SUBPART B
ISSUE OF AN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE LICENCE
This Subpart provides the procedures to be followed by the competent authority to issue or vary or to permit continuity
of the aircraft maintenance licence.
66.B.100 Procedure for the issue of an aircraft maintenance licence by the competent authority
(a) On receipt of EASA Form 19 and any supporting documentation, the competent authority shall verify EASA Form
19 for completeness and ensure that the experience claimed meets the requirement of this Part.
(b) The competent authority shall verify an applicant’s examination status and/or confirm the validity of any credits to
ensure that all required modules of Appendix 1 have been met as required by this Part.
(c) When satisfied that the applicant meets the standards of knowledge and experience required by this Part, the competent
authority shall issue the relevant aircraft maintenance licence to the applicant. The same information shall be
kept on competent authority file.
66.B.105 Procedure for the issue of an aircraft maintenance licence via the Part-145 approved maintenance
organisation
(a) A Part-145 maintenance organisation which has been authorised to carry out this activity by the competent
authority may prepare the aircraft maintenance licence on behalf of the competent authority or make recommendations
to the competent authority regarding the application from an individual for a aircraft maintenance licence so
that the competent authority may prepare and issue such licence.
(b) The Part-145 maintenance organisation shall ensure compliance with 66.B.100 (a) and (b). In all cases, the competent
authority shall issue the aircraft maintenance licence to the applicant.
66.B.110 Procedure for the amendment of an aircraft maintenance licence to include an additional basic category
or subcategory
(a) In addition to the documents required under 66.B.100 or 66.B.105, as appropriate, the applicant for additional basic
categories or subcategories to an aircraft maintenance licence shall submit his/her current original aircraft maintenance
licence to the competent authority together with EASA Form 19.
(b) At the completion of the procedure as specified in 66.B.100 or 66.B.105, the competent authority shall endorse the
additional basic category or subcategory on the aircraft maintenance licence by stamp and signature or reissue the
licence. The competent authority file shall be amended accordingly.
(c) Where the applicant for amendment of the basic categories qualifies for such variation via 66.B.100 in a Member
State other than the Member State in which he/she first qualified, the application shall be sent to the Member State
of first qualification.
(d) Where the applicant for amendment of the basic categories qualifies for such variation via 66.B.105 in a Member
State other than the Member State in which he/she first qualified, the Part-145 approved maintenance organisation
shall send the aircraft maintenance licence together with EASA Form 19 to the Member State of first qualification
for Member State stamp and signature of the amendment or reissue of the licence.
66.B.115 Procedure for the amendment of an aircraft maintenance licence to include an aircraft type or group
On receipt of a satisfactory EASA Form 19 and any supporting documentation demonstrating compliance with the
applicable type rating and/or group rating requirements and the accompanying aircraft maintenance licence, the competent
authority shall either endorse the applicant’s aircraft maintenance licence with the aircraft type or group or reissue
the said licence to include the aircraft type or group. The competent authority file shall be amended accordingly.
66.B.120 Procedure for the renewal of an aircraft maintenance licence validity
(a) The holder of an aircraft maintenance licence shall complete the relevant parts of EASA Form 19 and submit it with
the holder’s copy of the licence to the competent authority that issued the original aircraft maintenance licence,
unless the Part-145 approved maintenance organisation has a procedure in its exposition whereby such organisation
may submit the necessary documentation on behalf of the aircraft maintenance licence holder.
(b) The competent authority shall compare the holder’s aircraft maintenance licence with the competent authority file
and verify any pending revocation, suspension or variation action pursuant to 66.B.500. If the documents are identical
and no action is pending pursuant to 66. B.500, the holder’s copy shall be renewed for five years and the file
endorsed accordingly.
(c) If the competent authority file is different from the aircraft maintenance licence held by the licence holder:
1. the competent authority shall investigate the reasons for such differences and may choose not to renew the
aircraft maintenance licence.
2. the competent authority shall inform both the licence holder and any known Part-145 or Part-M approved maintenance
organisation affected of such fact and shall, if necessary, take action under paragraph 66.B.155 to revoke,
suspend or amend the licence in question.
SUBPART C
EXAMINATIONS
This Subpart provides the procedure for examinations conducted by the competent authority.
66.B.200 Examination by the competent authority
(a) All examination questions shall be kept in a secure manner prior to an examination, to ensure that candidates will
not know which particular questions will form the basis of the examination. The competent authority shall nominate
those persons who control the questions to be used for each examination.
(b) The competent authority shall appoint examiners who shall be present during all examinations to ensure the integrity
of the examination.
(c) Basic examinations shall follow the standard specified in Appendix I and II to this Part.
(d) Type examinations must follow the standard specified in Appendix III to this Part.
(e) New essay questions shall be raised at least every six months and used questions withdrawn or rested from use. A
record of the questions used shall be retained in the records for reference.
(f) All examination papers shall be handed out at the start of the examination to the candidate and handed back to the
examiner at the end of the allotted examination time period. No examination paper may be removed from the examination
room during the allotted examination time period.
(g) Apart from specific documentation needed for type examinations, only the examination paper may be available to
the candidate during the examination.
(h) Examination candidates shall be separated from each other so that they cannot read each other’s examination papers.
They may not speak to any person other than the examiner.
(i) Candidates who are proven to be cheating shall be banned from taking any further examination within 12 months
of the date of the examination in which they were found cheating.
SUBPART D
CONVERSION OF NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
This Subpart provides the requirements for converting national qualifications to aircraft maintenance licences.
66.B.300 General
(a) The competent authority may only perform the conversion specified in 66.A.70 in accordance with a conversion
report prepared pursuant to paragraph 66.B.305 or 66.B.310, as applicable.
(b) The conversion report shall be either developed by the competent authority or approved by the competent
authority.
L 315/80 EN Official Journal of the European Union 28.11.2003
66.B.305 Conversion report for national qualifications
The report shall describe the scope of each type of qualification and show to which aircraft maintenance licence it will
be converted, which limitation will be added and the Part-66 module/subjects on which examination is needed to ensure
conversion to the aircraft maintenance licence without limitation, or to include an additional (sub-) category. The report
shall include a copy of the existing regulation defining the licence categories and scopes.
66.B.310 Conversion report for approved maintenance organisations authorisations
For each approved maintenance organisation concerned, the report shall describe the scope of each type of authorisation
and show to which aircraft maintenance licence it will be converted, which limitation will be added and the module/
subjects on which examination is needed to convert to the licence, or to include an additional (sub-)category. The report
shall include a copy of the relevant approved maintenance organisation’s procedures for the qualification of certifying
staff, on which the conversion process is based.
SUBPART E
EXAMINATION CREDITS
This Subpart provides the requirements for granting examination credits in accordance with 66.A.25(b).
66.B.400 General
(a) The competent authority may only grant examination credit on the basis of an examination credit report prepared
in accordance with 66.B.405.
(b) The examination credit report must be either developed by the competent authority or approved by the competent
authority.
66.B.405 Examination credit report
(a) For each technical qualification concerned the report shall identify the subject matter and knowledge levels contained
in Appendix I to this Part relevant to the particular category being compared.
(b) The report shall include a statement of compliance against each subject stating where, in the technical qualification,
the equivalent standard can be found. If there is no equivalent standard for the particular subject, the report shall
state such facts.
(c) Based upon paragraph (b) comparison, the report shall indicate for each technical qualification concerned the
Appendix I subject matters subject to examination credits.
(d) Where the national qualification standard is changed, the report shall be amended as necessary.

PART-66 /JAR-66.A.30 Experience Requirements

(a) An applicant for an PART-66 /JAR-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence shall have acquired:
1. for PART-66 category A and subcategories B1.2 and B1.4:
three years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft, if the applicant has no previous relevant technical training; or
two years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft and completion of training considered relevant by the competent authority as a skilled worker, in a technical trade; or
one year of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft and completion of a Part-147 approved basic training course.
2. for PART-66 category B2 and subcategories B1.1 and B1.3:
five years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft if the applicant has no previous relevant technical training; or
three years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft and completion of training considered relevant by the competent authority as a skilled worker, in a technical trade; or
two years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft and completion of a Part -147 approved basic training course.
3. for PART-66 category C with respect to large aircraft:
three years of experience exercising category B1.1, B1.3 or B2 privileges on large aircraft or as Part-145 B1.1, B1.3 or B2 support staff, or, a combination of both; or
five years of experience exercising category B1.2 or B1.4 privileges on large aircraft or as Part-145 B1.2 or B1.4 support staff, or a combination of both; or
4. for category C with respect to non large aircraft:
three years of experience exercising category B1 or B.2 privileges on non large aircraft or as Part-145 B1 or B.2 support staff, or a combination of both; or
5. for category C obtained through the academic route:
an applicant holding an academic degree in a technical discipline, from a university or other higher educational institution recognized by the competent authority, three years of experience working in a civil aircraft maintenance environment on a representative selection of tasks directly associated with aircraft maintenance including six months of observation of base maintenance tasks.
(b)    An applicant for an extension to an PART-66 /JAR-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence shall have a minimum civil aircraft maintenance experience requirement appropriate to the additional category or subcategory of Licence applied for as defined in Appendix IV to this Part.
(c)    For category A, B1 and B2 the experience must be practical which means being involved with a representative cross section of maintenance tasks on aircraft.
(d)    For all applicants, at least one year of the required experience must be recent maintenance experience on aircraft of the category/subcategory for which the initial PART-66 /JAR-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence is sought. For subsequent category/subcategory additions to an existing PART-66 /JAR-66 Aircraft Maintenance License, the additional recent maintenance experience required may be less than one year, but must be at least three months. The required experience must be dependent upon the difference between the Licence category/subcategory held and applied for. Such additional experience must be typical of the new Licence category/subcategory sought.
(e)    Notwithstanding paragraph (a), aircraft maintenance experience gained outside a civil aircraft maintenance environment shall be accepted when such maintenance is equivalent to that required by this Part as established by the competent authority. Additional experience of civil aircraft maintenance shall, however, be required to ensure understanding of the civil aircraft maintenance environment.

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

EASA to order A300 operators to fit rudder-reversal alarms

Airbus A300 and A310 operators will be instructed to fit a warning device designed to prevent crews from making potentially hazardous rudder inputs of the kind that brought down an American Airlines jet 10 years ago.
The accident occurred on 12 November 2001, when the A300′s vertical fin broke away as flight AA587 climbed out of New York Kennedy airport.
Investigators found that the pilot commanded a series of five heavy rudder inputs, alternately deflecting the rudder in one direction then the other, intending to counter a roll disturbance induced by wake turbulence. These rudder reversals exerted excessive loads on the fin and it sheared off.
While the sequential rudder inputs were “unexpected” and “non-conventional”, the European Aviation Safety Agency said, the results of a pilot survey published at the end of 2010 indicated that the rudder “is still reported to be used or considered for use by pilots in ways they have not been trained”.
It added that the actions “sometimes contradict” industry guidance on aircraft upset recovery.
EASA has approved a design change involving installation of a “stop rudder inputs” warning system, and is proposing to order A300-600 and A310 operators to fit the device within four years.
The equipment monitors rudder inputs and triggers both aural and visual warnings if it detects a single “dangerous” rudder doublet.
EASA said it is still co-operating with the US Federal Aviation Administration to determine whether, and to what extent, certification standards for large transport aircraft can be amended to take into account possible excessive use of the rudder.