This unit of competency requires application of skills and knowledge relating to the maintenance and packing of parachutes. Maintenance involves inspection, testing, fault diagnosis, replacement of parts, completion of repairs and cleaning during the performance of scheduled or unscheduled maintenance. Maintenance may be performed individually or as part of a team.

The unit applies to person carrying parachutes, including emergency and ejection parachutes. It also applies to ballistic parachutes used for the recovery of light aircraft.

This unit is part of the Aeroskills Life Support and Furnishing Certificate III and IV training pathways.

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 practices relating to parachute maintenance processes, including the selection and correct use of PPE, where applicable

handling, storing and organising transport of equipment

delivering briefings to personnel in relation to operating parachutes

using MSDS

using maintenance publications, drawings and documentation relating to parachute maintenance

using applicable testing and measuring equipment, tools and maintenance documentation to:

test parachutes for serviceability

replace unserviceable components in accordance with approved procedures

select and use appropriate parachute cleaning materials

repair parachutes (both hand and machine sewing)

cleaning and maintenance of equipment and tools.

The underlying skills inherent in this unit should be transferable across a range of aircraft life support equipment maintenance activities. It is essential that parachute testing and inspection procedures, cleanliness requirements and safety precautions are fully observed, understood and complied with. Ability to interpret maintenance and packing procedures and apply them in practice is critical.

This is to be demonstrated through demonstration of the ability to recognise faults, replace components and perform appropriate repairs that are within the bounds of the individual’s authority, and through the demonstration of correct packing procedures.

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 regulations, standards, enterprise procedures and maintenance publications

WHS procedures relating to parachute maintenance, including the selection and use of PPE

how to obtain MSDS

critical nature of maintaining and packing parachutes, i.e. risk of death

approved cleaning methods for aviation life support equipment

components of a parachute and their function

parachute assembly materials of construction

environmental conditions that may affect parachutes and parachute assemblies including ultraviolet degradation

types of corrosion and contamination that may affect parachute assemblies

handling, storage and transit procedures relating to parachutes

physiological effects of flight

sequence of ejection

operation of person carrying parachutes

operation of ballistic parachutes in aircraft recovery

purpose of different types of canopies

modification requirements for parachutes

requirements for a parachute servicing facility

operation of testing and measuring equipment and tools used to maintain parachutes

repair limitations for parachutes

packing tools and measuring equipment required to pack parachutes.

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 the following range of tasks:

correctly packing a minimum of three (3) parachutes consecutively and without the need for corrective action by the supervisor

recognising the limits of own authority

replacing canopy/harness, including line sequence tests

correctly repairing a tear in parachute canopy material through patching

inspecting, testing and replacing unserviceable parts of a quick release fitting

recognising a range of faults and their serviceability limits and repairing within limitations/tolerances.

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.

Aircraft life support