This unit of competency requires application of skills and knowledge relating to final preparation of surfaces and application of paint finishes to fixed and rotary wing aircraft and aircraft components during the performance of scheduled or unscheduled maintenance. Work may be performed individually or as part of a team.

No licensing requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication, but compliance with legislation and regulations for the handling and disposal of hazardous materials is included in the unit.

The unit is used in workplaces that operate under the airworthiness regulatory systems of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria under the specified conditions of assessment, and must include:

applying WHS procedures relating to paint application, including the selection and correct use of PPE

selecting and applying masking and barrier materials

identifying, preparing and using applicable primers and top coats

using MSDS

using manufacturer specifications and directions

selecting and using applicable paint application equipment

preparing surfaces for paint application

correctly disposing of waste materials

cleaning and maintenance of equipment and tools.

The underlying skills inherent in this unit should be transferable across a range of paint application tasks associated with aircraft and aircraft components. It is essential that system testing procedures, cleanliness requirements and safety precautions, including the correct use of PPE, and application of environmental protection procedures are fully observed, understood and complied with. Ability to interpret coating application procedures and apply them in practice is critical.

This is to be demonstrated through application of paint finishes across a range of aircraft and component substrate types.

Evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

relevant enterprise procedures, process specifications and maintenance publications

WHS procedures relating to the application of aerospace coatings, including PPE and fume extraction

how to obtain MSDS

manufacturer specifications and directions

types of paint finishes and applicability to various substrates

procedures for preparing surfaces for paint application

types of masking and barrier materials

methods used for final finishing of surfaces

environmental legislation and regulations relating to the storage, use and disposal of hazardous materials.

Competency should be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace using materials, tools and equipment specified in the maintenance manuals and applicable procedures. It is also expected that general and special-purpose tools and ground support equipment would be used where appropriate.

The work plan should take account of applicable safety and quality requirements in accordance with the industry and regulatory standards.

The following conditions of assessment represent the requirements of the Regulators (ADF and CASA) and maintenance stakeholders and must be rigorously observed.

A person cannot be assessed as competent until it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the workplace assessor that the relevant elements and performance criteria of the unit of competency are being achieved under routine supervision on a representative range of paint finish application tasks that are performed at the enterprise.

This shall be established via the records in the Log of Industrial Experience and Achievement or, where appropriate, an equivalent Industry Evidence Guide (for details refer to the Companion Volume Assessment Guidelines).

Assessors must satisfy the requirements of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Australian Skills Quality Authority, or its successors).

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Aviation maintenance