National Occupational Certificate: Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Technician

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Technician.

A Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Technician dismantles, re-assembles, maintains, tests, diagnoses and repairs Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).

A qualified learner will be able to

• Dismantle, inspect, assess, repair, re-assemble and test Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems.
• Perform scheduled and preventative maintenance on Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems.
• Diagnose and repair faults in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems.

Rationale

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution reshapes how we live, work, and communicate, it is impacting government, education, healthcare, commerce and almost every aspect of life. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) technology is at the heart of these changes and the development of the skills and knowledge to thrive in this environment has a great potential for job creation and poverty alleviation in South African communities. It will increase the potentiality of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Technicians to be employed, while ensuring the upward mobility of individuals with the entrepreneurial spirit to move confidently towards self-employment.

The exponential growth for the use of an RPAS, which are also known as drones, for work and commercial purposes in industries such as emergency services, the police service, research, collection, and surveying has led to a huge demand in the market for more qualified personnel to attend to various issues that arise with the usage and support for RPAS operations.

RPAS are already being used as a business tool to access high, difficult, or unsafe places and as a result, many sectors are ramping up their usage, using them for disaster management, infrastructure, agriculture, surveillance, and resource purposes. RPAS are being considered to move freight and are even being used in a military sense. This qualification reflects the workplace-based needs of the RPAS environment in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) that are expressed by this growing upward trend in the market.

Currently the RPAS repair environment is proliferated with individuals who are trained on the job without formal qualifications, hence the need for a formal qualification targeted at people who wish to join the RPAS repair industry, or those that are currently working in this industry as salespersons and repairers. They will be performing duties related to fault-finding, repair and maintenance of electronic equipment related to the RPAS for disaster management, infrastructure, agriculture, surveillance, commercial, military, etc.

This qualification will empower the learners with the required skills that will allow them to enter this market of RPAS with the skills and knowledge to work either in the sales stream or the technical stream. It will permit individuals to increase their employability or become self-employed by starting their own small businesses with a potential of employing others.

Furthermore, the qualification will benefit societies by ensuring better quality products and services. The sector will benefit from Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Technicians with a set of competencies aligned to industry regulated standards for products and services. The economy will benefit from increased revenue due to increased employment opportunities, entrepreneurship due to emerging SMME's that will create employment and pay tax. It will also allow the country to embark on localisation of manufacturing of electronic devices and components, once there are enough skilled personnel capable of innovation locally. The availability of suitably qualified Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Technicians will permit quick recovery for faulty RPAS by reducing business interruptions for individuals and businesses and allowing economic activities to carry on. This will also improve the safe working environment especially as these devices are in the proximity of the public.

Upon completion, the qualification will provide learners with opportunities for professional development and career advancement within the broader RPAS environment, including, RPAS Pilot, Senior Technicians, Team Leaders, Master Technicians, Sales Officers, Sales Representatives, Senior Sales Representatives, RPAS Centre Managers, etc.

There is no professional registration needed for the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Technician.

There are no similar qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

a) Learners will gain access to the qualification through RPL for Access as provided for in the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by accredited education institution, skills development provider or workplace accredited to offer that specific qualification/part qualification.

b) Learners who have acquired competencies of the modules of a qualification or part-qualification will be credited for modules through RPL.

c) RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment

Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result.

Entry Requirements

• NQF Level 3 qualification.

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

Knowledge Modules

• 311401-001-00-KM-01, Workplace Fundamentals, Level 2, 2 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-KM-02, Foundational Concepts for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Technician, Level 3, 4 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-KM-03, End User Computing, Level 4, 4 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-KM-04, Business Communication and Customer Services, Level 4, 4 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-KM-05, Entrepreneurship in The Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Industry, Level 4, 8 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-KM-06, Basic Electrical and Electronic Principles, Level 4, 8 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-KM-07, Electronic Components and Circuits, Level 4, 8 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-KM-08, RPAS Schematic Diagrams, Level 4, 4 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-KM-09, Fundamentals of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems: Hardware, Level 4,

12 Credits.

• 311401-001-00-KM-10, Fundamentals of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems: Software, Level 5,

12 Credits.

• 311401-001-00-KM-11, Legislation and Guidelines That Governs a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Technician, Level 4, 4 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-KM-12, Diagnosing and Problem Solving, Level 5, 8 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 78

Practical Skill Modules

• 311401-001-00-PM-01, Work Safely and Respond to Incidents, Level 2, 2 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-PM-02, Use Tools and Equipment, Level 3, 12 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-PM-03, Calibrate and Test Instrumentation Equipment, Level 4, 8 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-PM-04, Join Materials, Level 4, 8 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-PM-05, Remove, Update and Install Software and Firmware, Level 4, 8 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-PM-06, Remove and Install Components, Level 4, 12 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-PM-07, Work with Electronic Components, Level 5, 8 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-PM-08, Maintain and Service Components, Level 4, 12 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-PM-09, Assess, Dismantle, Repair and Reassemble Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems: Hardware, Level 4, 8 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-PM-10, Diagnose and Upgrade Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems: Software, Level 5, 8 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 86

Work Experience Modules

• 311401-001-00-WM-01, Calibrate Instrumentation Equipment for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, Level 4, 8 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-WM-02, Optimise Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, Level 4, 16 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-WM-03, Assessing, Dismantling and Repairing Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems: Hardware, Level 4, 16 Credits.
• 311401-001-00-WM-04, Diagnosis and repairing of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems: Software, Level 5, 8 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 48

1. Demonstrate the ability to remove, update and install software and firmware used for remotely piloted aircraft systems according to manufacturer's specifications and procedures.
2. Assess, dismantle, repair, and reassemble remotely piloted aircraft systems hardware according to standard operating procedures.
3. Diagnose and upgrade remotely piloted aircraft systems software according to standard operating procedures.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

ELO 1: Demonstrate the ability to remove, update and install Software and firmware used for remotely piloted aircraft systems according to manufacturer's specifications and procedures.

• Prepare a safe working environment.
• Source, correct and interpret specific technical information.
• Select and use the appropriate tools correctly and safely.
• Install and complete software or firmware within specific parameters.
• Adhere to all relevant safety and environmental criteria.
• Restore the works area to its original condition and store tools safely.
• Identify and report all defects.
• Carry out the appropriate pre- and post-checks correctly.
• Demonstrate the understanding of general principles and critical issues relating to component operations and functional specifications.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

ELO 2: Demonstrate the ability to assess, dismantle, repair, and reassemble remotely piloted aircraft systems hardware according to standard operating procedures.

• Assess, dismantle, repair, and reassemble remotely piloted aircraft systems according to standard operating procedures.
• Complete the tasks within the specified time.
• Select and use the appropriate tools, equipment and replacement components or parts correctly and safely.
• Source and correctly interpret technical information.
• Adhere to all relevant safety and environmental criteria.
• Restore the works area to its original condition and store tools safely.
• Carry out the appropriate pre- and post-checks correctly.
• Demonstrate understanding of general principles and critical issues relating to component operations and functional specifications.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

ELO 3: Demonstrate the ability to diagnose and upgrade remotely piloted aircraft systems software according to standard operating procedures.

• Diagnose and upgrade remotely piloted aircraft systems according to standard operating procedures.
• Complete the diagnosis and/or upgrades within the specified time.
• Select and use the appropriate tools, equipment and replacement components or parts correctly and safely.
• Source and correctly interpret technical information.
• Adhere to all relevant safety and environmental criteria.
• Restore the works area to its original condition and store tools safely.
• Follow the appropriate diagnostic process, and identify the root cause of the fault correctly.
• Carry out the appropriate pre- and post-checks correctly.
• Demonstrate understanding of general principles and critical issues relating to component operations and functional specifications.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessment

The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment together with work experience leads to entrance in the external integrated summative assessment.

Summative Assessment

An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria.