CCOG for AMT 115 archive revision 202501

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Effective Term:
Winter 2025

Course Number:
AMT 115
Course Title:
Aircraft Structures & Inspection
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
0
Lecture/Lab Hours:
90
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Examines structural designs and methods of inspecting the aircraft to assure continued operation in the "as engineered" configuration. Emphasizes the interpretation of airworthiness directives, service bulletins and other maintenance documents. Covers technical writing skills required to complete FAA forms and records. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

This course is part of a Program designed to meet some of the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for certification of Aviation Mechanics, and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Upon completion of the Program the student should be able to:

  1. Meet the applicable Degree and/or Certificate Outcomes identified in the document found at www.pcc.edu/degree-outcomes/amt as appropriate to coursework level completed.
  2. Successfully complete FAA Knowledge testing, as identified in the following documents, as appropriate:
    1. 14 CFR Part 65—Certification: Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers
    2. FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix
      (Currently available at www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/testing_matrix)
    3. FAA Order 8080.6H (or latest revision)—Conduct of Airman Knowledge Tests
  3. Successfully complete FAA Oral and Practical (knowledge and skill) testing, as identified in the following documents, as appropriate:
    1. FAA-S-ACS-1 (or latest revision)—Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards (ACS)
      (Currently available at www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs)
    2. FAA-G-ACS-1 (or latest revision)—Companion Guide to the Aviation Mechanic ACS
    3. 14 CFR Part 65—Certification: Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. Inspect and make independent airworthiness judgments of aircraft structures based on the knowledge of applicable airworthiness requirements and airframe stresses.
  2. Identify and implement a strategy for accurate and timely maintenance research.
  3. Identify and implement record keeping strategies that are intelligible, accurate, and in compliance with applicable regulations.
  4. Communicate effectively with employers, co-workers, and customers in a professional manner.

Course Activities and Design

Concepts, knowledge, and theory will be introduced through a variety of methods including lecture, discussions, and demonstration sessions, supported by written instructional materials. Supervised lab and shop projects will give participants the opportunity to receive guided instruction, engage in “hands-on” skill and proficiency development, and gain experience in the methods, techniques, and practices that are acceptable to the FAA and commonly utilized in the aerospace industry.
Courses are designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the testing required for FAA certification of Aviation Maintenance Technicians, as well as entry-level employment in the industry.

The assignment of four credit hours to this course indicates that students will be involved with the course content for approximately 120 hours. Class participants will be expected to invest time outside of the official scheduled class hours in their efforts to master the course content. For this course to be creditable toward the FAA-authorized Certificate of Completion, the total hours recorded for the course must not be less than 90% of the hours offered during the module (typically 90 hours). Material missed by students during allowed absence will be made available to them in one or more ways, as selected by the instructor. The student is responsible for checking with the instructor following any absence, and for accessing the missed material that is made available.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Evaluation methods include written and oral testing, attendance and class participation, and satisfactory completion of class projects. Evaluations and assessments will be conducted in accordance with guidelines published by the FAA (including, but not limited to, the documents identified in the Addendum to Course Description section of this CCOG), as well as applicable PCC policies and grading standards. A letter grade of “C” (minimum 76%) or higher is required for this course to be creditable toward the FAA-authorized Certificate of Completion.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

This course is designed to comply with FAA requirements for content including, but not limited to, those identified in the Addendum to Course Description section, and principally outlined in the Aviation Mechanic Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-1). The following subject matter areas refer to that document.

I.C. – Weight and Balance
  • Jacking an aircraft.
  • Locate weight and balance information.
  • Revise an aircraft equipment list after equipment change.
I.I. – Regulations, Maintenance Forms, Records, and Publications
  • Privileges and limitations of a mechanic certificate.
  • Maintenance record entry requirements.
  • Manufacturer publications, including maintenance manuals, service bulletins, maintenance alerts, and master minimum equipment lists.
  • Compliance requirements for manufacturer and FAA -specified inspections and maintenance.
  • Execute an FAA Form 337.
  • Determine conformity
I.K. – Inspection Concepts and Techniques
  • Aircraft Inspection programs.
  • Aircraft inspection methods and tools; selection of inspection techniques.
I.L. – Human Factors
  • Communication/reporting of hazards.
  • Teamwork and leadership.
  • Professionalism and integrity.
  • Shift and task turnover.
  • File a Malfunction or Defect report.
II.A. – Metallic Structures
  • Inspection/testing of metal structures.
  • Types of structures and their characteristics

II.B. – Non-Metallic Structures
  • Care and maintenance of windows.
  • Maintenance safety practices/precautions for composite materials/structures, and windows.
  • Clean and inspect acrylic type windshields.
II.C. – Flight Controls
  • Aircraft flight controls and stabilizer systems.
  • Inspect a primary and secondary flight control surface
II.D. – Airframe Inspection
  • Inspection requirements under 14 CFR Part 91.
  • Maintenance recordkeeping requirements under 14 CFR Part 43.
  • Requirements for complying with ADs.
  • Special Inspections.
  • Use of FAA-approved data.
  • Compliance with service letters, service bulletins, instructions for continued airworthiness, or Airworthiness Directives.
  • CFRs applicable to inspection and airworthiness.
  • Selection and use of checklists and other maintenance publications.
  • Perform an airframe inspection, including a records check.
  • Write descriptions of work performed including aircraft discrepancies and corrective actions using typical aircraft maintenance records.
  • Complete required maintenance forms, records, and inspection reports.
II.E. – Landing Gear Systems
  • Use of aircraft jacks.
  • Perform landing gear retraction and extension test.
II.N. – Rotorcraft Fundamentals
  • Maintenance and inspection of rotorcraft systems and components.

Related Instruction

Computation
Hours: 7

2.  Identify and implement a strategy for accurate and timely maintenance research.

3.  Identify and implement record keeping strategies that are intelligible, accurate, and in compliance with applicable regulations.

  1. Direct instruction on how to calculate when certain items of maintenance are due, including both one-time and recurring/repeating actions, for both calendar (date)-based events as well as time (hour)-based events.

  2. Direct instruction on computing “Aircraft Total Time” and its relation to “Tach Time” or other recording devices.

  3. As part of several projects, students research, compute, verify, and record aircraft times (including Aircraft Total Time), time-in-service, and remaining time for aircraft and/or components, including calculating when inspections or other maintenance actions are due next (calendar- and/or hour-based events).

  4. Students research and calculate the cost of required maintenance documents and prepare an itemized list to present to a potential customer.

Communication
Hours: 30

  1. Inspect and make independent airworthiness judgments of aircraft structures based on the knowledge of applicable airworthiness requirements and airframe stresses.
  2. Identify and implement a strategy for accurate and timely maintenance research.
  3. Identify and implement record keeping strategies that are intelligible, accurate, and in compliance with applicable regulations.
  4. Communicate effectively with employers, co-workers, and customers in a professional manner.

  1. Instruction on reading and interpreting regulations pertaining to aircraft maintenance, inspection, and record-keeping.
  2. Instruction on properly documenting maintenance and inspection findings.

  3. Instruction on properly writing a maintenance “Logbook” entry for both maintenance and inspections.

  4. Instruction on using Manufacturer and Government provided data to use in maintenance and inspections.

  5. Identifying the airworthiness requirements of a particular aircraft based on research from regulatory sources as well as manufacturer-provided guidance.

  6. Developing a comprehensive Airframe inspection Checklist, including at least those items identified in 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix D as minimum scope and detail of an inspection.

  7. Documenting any discrepancies discovered as a part of an aircraft airworthiness inspection.

  8. Documenting maintenance actions per appropriate regulations.
  9. Instruction on proper execution of required governmental forms (pertaining to aircraft inspection and maintenance).

  10. Preparing and completing various required governmental forms (pertaining to aircraft inspection and maintenance).

  11. Creating documents and lists as a result of research performed for or maintenance actions taken on a customer’s aircraft, including cost analysis, maintenance actions performed, inspection results, etc.

  12. Develop a statement to give to a potential customer/client explaining the rationale for using proper maintenance publications and documents; this statement will also include an itemized list of documents and publications necessary for work on the customer’s aircraft and the prices associated with them.

Human Relations
Hours: 24

  1. Inspect and make independent airworthiness judgments of aircraft structures based on the knowledge of applicable airworthiness requirements and airframe stresses.
  2. Identify and implement a strategy for accurate and timely maintenance research.
  3. Identify and implement record keeping strategies that are intelligible, accurate, and in compliance with applicable regulations.
  4. Communicate effectively with employers, co-workers, and customers in a professional manner.

  1. Direct instruction, student skill development, and practice in working in groups and teams for purposes of aircraft jacking and landing gear operations with a special emphasis on the human factors of workplace and industrial safety.

  2. Direct instruction on ways to present documentation and inspection results to customers/clients.

  3. Direct instruction on how to work effectively and efficiently as an inspection team, with an emphasis on the human factors of safety awareness in the workplace.

  4. Supervised experience performing an aircraft inspection, with emphasis on effectively collaborating and working as a team, including delegating roles, identifying safety risks, inter-team communication, and collaborative input on post-action documentation.

  5. Prepare and present  a list of discrepancies found for to a potential customer, or to “hand-off” the work to another team-mate or co-worker.

  6. Give a briefing of research performed to simulate the role of a shop lead or maintenance manager.