Higher Occupational Certificate: Aircraft Composite Structures Worker

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as an Aircraft Composite Structures Worker.

Qualifying learners will benefit by acquiring skills to fabricates, inspects, modifies, dismantles, assembles, repairs and replaces the components of aircraft structures using composite materials. Upon completion of the qualification, qualified learners will be able to gain access to job opportunities in the aviation sector both locally and internationally.

A qualified learner will be able to

• Prepare for maintenance and safety in the working area.
• Inspect composite aircraft components for damage.
• Manufacture and assemble composite aircraft structural components.
• Remove and repair damaged composite aircraft structural components.

A qualified learner will demonstrate the following key attributes: problem solving and identification, decision making, communicating information, methodological, technical orientation.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme.

Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider which offers that specific qualification/part qualification/skills programme. Such an assessment must ensure that the learner is able to display the equivalent level of competencies required for access, based on the NQF level descriptors.

For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded.

Learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded.

A valid Statement of Results is required for admission to the EISA in which confirmation of achievement is provided that all internal assessment criteria for all modules in the related curriculum document have been achieved.

For a Skills Programme, the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) must ensure all modular competency requirements are met prior to the FISA and keep record of such evidence.

Upon successful completion of the EISA/FISA, RPL learners will be issued with the QCTO certificate for the qualification, part-qualification or skills programme. Quality Partners are responsible for ensuring the RPL mechanism and process for qualifications and part-qualification is approved by the QCTO.

Entry Requirements

An NQF Level 4 qualification with Mathematics and Science.

This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules

Knowledge Modules

• 653202-001-00-KM-01, Analytical Thinking, Innovation and Complex Problem-Solving, NQF Level 4, 5 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-02, Programming and Technological Skills for the future, NQF Level 4, 5 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-03, Workplace relationships and Performance, NQF Level 4, 7 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-04, Decision-Making, NQF Level 4, 6 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-05, Workplace Fundamentals and Workplace Safety, NQF Level 4, 6 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-06, Aviation Legislation, NQF Level 4, 4 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-07, The principles of Mathematics related to Aircrafts, NQF Level 4, 12 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-08, The principles of Physics Related to Aircrafts, NQF Level 4, 5 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-09, Aerodynamics and the Theory of Flight, NQF Level 5, 6 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-10, Trade related Hand and Workshop Tools and Safety, NQF Level 4, 10 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-11, Corrosion and Corrosion Control, NQF Level 4, 10 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-12, Plastic Materials and Inspection Techniques, NQF Level 5, 4 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-13, Reading of Engineering Drawings, NQF Level 5, 5 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-14: Use of Glass Reinforced Plastics, NQF Level 5, 5 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-15: Manufacturing of Panels, Doors and Galleys, NQF Level 5, 4 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-KM-16: Performing of Skin Repairs, NQF Level 5, 8 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 102

Practical Skill Modules

• 653202-001-00-PM-01, Prepare the Working Area and Apply Safety Precautions in The Workshop, NQF Level 4, 6 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-PM-02, Use, Care for, and Store Tools and Equipment Required for Aircraft Structure Manufacturing and repairs, NQF Level 4, 40 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-PM-03, Inspect aircraft Composite Components, NQF Level 5, 20 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-PM-04, Mix and Apply Protective Coatings and Sealants, NQF Level 4,8 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-PM-05, Manufacture Plugs and Moulds, NQF Level 5, 20 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-PM-06, Manufacture and Assemble Panels, Doors and Galleys, NQF Level 5, 20 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-PM-07, Perform Metal Skin Repairs, NQF Level5, 20 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-PM-08, Perform Glass Fibre Skin Repairs (Wet Lay-up), NQF Level 5, 16 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-PM-09, Perform Hot Ronding Repairs (Pre-impregnated Materials), NQF Level 5, 20 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 170

Work Experience Modules

• 653202-001-00-WM-01, Processes and Procedures to Prepare the Work Area for Maintenance and Aepair Activities, NQF Level 4, 22 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-WM-02, Processes and Procedures Related to the Inspection of Composite Aircraft Components for Damage, NQF Level 5, 46 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-WM-03, Processes and Procedures Related to the Manufacturing, and Assembly of Composite Structural Components, NQF Level 5, 100 Credits.
• 653202-001-00-WM-04, Processes and Procedures Related to the Removal and Repair of Damaged Aircraft Composite Structural Components, NQF Level 5, 100 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 268

1. Prepare for safe maintenance activities.
2. Perform inspections on aircraft composite components.
3. Perform composite aircraft components manufacturing safely.
4. Perform composite aircraft structural repairs safely.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

ELO 1: Prepare for safe maintenance activities.

• Take working area safety precautions accurately and completely.
• Select tools and equipment accurately for a given task and used safely.
• Select personal protective equipment and safety precautions followed for the given task.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

ELO 2: Perform inspections on aircraft composite components.

• Inspect composite aircraft components for damages in accordance with relevant maintenance documentation
• Inspect aircraft windows for damages in accordance with relevant maintenance documentation.
• Apply protective coatings and sealants in accordance with relevant maintenance documentation.
• Complete relevant maintenance documentation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

ELO 3: Perform composite aircraft components manufacturing safely.

• Cut to size, drill and rework a composite structural component according to engineering drawing specifications.
• Manufacture a mould and composite aircraft structure components to correct standards in accordance with relevant manufacturing specifications and safety standards.
• Assemble and disassemble A manufactured composite structural component following correct sequence and procedures in accordance with relevant maintenance documentation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

ELO 4: Perform composite aircraft structural repairs safely.

• Repair a damaged metal composite component to specifications in accordance with relevant maintenance documentation and safety standards.
• Repair a damaged glass fibre component to specifications in accordance with relevant maintenance documentation.
• Repair a composite component using the hot bond controller safely in accordance with the relevant maintenance documentation.

Integrated Assessment

Formative assessments are conducted throughout the training of learners. A range of formal, non-formal, and informal ongoing assessment activities are used to focus on teaching and learning outcomes to improve learner attainment.

Formative assessments are conducted continuously by the facilitator to feed into further learning, to identify strengths and weakness, and to ensure the learner's ability to apply knowledge, skills and workplace experience gained.

Formative Assessments are conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP), and a variety of ongoing assessment methods may be used, for example, quizzes, assignments, tests, scenarios, role play, interviews. Continuous feedback must be provided.

Integrated Assessment involves all the different types of assessment tasks required for a particular qualification, part-qualification or occupational skills programme, such as written assessment of theory and practical demonstration of competence. To achieve this, the Internal Assessment Criteria (IAC) for all modules as found in the QCTO curriculum document must be followed.

An accredited SDP should implement a well-designed, formal, relevant, final internal Summative Assessment strategy for all modules to prepare learners for the EISA. These assessments evaluate learning achievements relating to the achievement of each module of the relevant components of the qualification, part-qualification or skills programme.

Internal Summative Assessments are developed, moderated and conducted by the SDP at the end of each module or after integration of relevant modules, e.g. applied knowledge tests, workplace tasks, practical demonstrations, simulated tasks/demonstrations, projects, case studies, etc.

The results of these final formal summative assessments must be recorded. These results, which include the Statement of Work Experience results, where applicable, contribute to the Statement of Results (SoR) that is a requirement for admission to the EISA. An SoR, using the template provided by the Quality Partner, is issued by the accredited SDP for qualifications and part-qualifications. The SDP must produce a valid Statement of Results for each learner, indicating the final result and the date on which the competence in each module, of each component, was achieved. Learners are required to produce this SoR, together with their ID document or alternative ID document, at the point of the EISA.

The Quality Partner is responsible for the management, conduct and implementation of the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA), in accordance with QCTO set standards. Competence in the EISA is a requirement for certificating a learner.

For entrance into the EISA, the learner requires a valid Statement of Results issued by the accredited institution indicating:

• The attainment of all modules for the Knowledge, Practical and Work Experience modules.

Or

• The attainment of all modules for the Knowledge and Application Components.