Airworthiness Advisory Circular (AAC)
General AME Licensing Information
AAC Number
Part 9-0
Issue Number
Sixteen
Date Amendment
May 2017
This AAC contains information on the following topics applicable
to Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME) licensing:
1.
Purpose and Contents
2.
Schedule of Experience – Recording of Experience
3.
Schedule of Experience Compilation – Responsibilities of the Applicant
4.
Schedule of Experience (SOE) Task Entries – Time Taken
5.
Schedule of Experience – Date Entries
6.
Schedule of Experience – Verification
7.
Schedule of Experience – False Entries
8.
Schedule of Experience – Assessment
9.
Schedule of Experience – Composite Training Course In-Lieu of Airframe Group 7
10.
Reissue of Expired AME licences
11.
Recognition of the Licence Without Type Rating (LWTR)
12.
United States of America A & P Mechanical Certificates
13.
Use of Aviation Reference Numbers (ARN)
14.
Specific Type Training Course Attendance Pre-Requisites
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Airworthiness Advisory Circular (AAC)
General AME Licensing Information
1. Purpose and Contents
The purpose of this AAC is to provide information of a general nature applicable to AME
licensing. The information contained within is supplementary to that contained in Civil
Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASRs), Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs) and other AACs.
2. Schedule of Experience – Recording of Experience
Practical Experience – The CAO 100.91 through CAO 100.95 mention minimum experience
times for aircraft and component maintenance as well as experience in category. There must
also be practical experience gained in the group or type for which a rating is sought to the
scope and depth indicated in the releavant Schedule of Experience (SOE).
Schedule Of Experience (SOE) Scope and Depth – Explanatory Statement
An SOE can be used to demonstrate the practical competency of an AME or Licenced
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME). The maintenance work carried out and documented
within the Air Transport Association (ATA) chapters or task areas of the SOE must be of
sufficient scope and depth to meet the practical experience requirements for the ATA chapter
or task area. Whilst this activity can be subjective in its analysis, the following guidance is
offered to define the scope and depth aspects of the SOE application assessment.
To be of sufficient scope, the SOE entries collated within the various mandated ATA chapters
or task areas must show a sufficient undertaking of tasks that would broadly cover all
maintenance tasks as documented within the maintenance manuals, which could be achieved
within a maintenance environment.
To be of sufficient depth, the types of entries should not be repetitive in nature and should
contain examples of both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, and provide a good cross
section of tasks representative of the aircraft and aircraft systems, both in complexity and in
the technical input required to complete the tasks.
Entries should be to the extent that it would be reasonable for the Civil Aviation Safety
Authority (CASA) to consider that the AME/ LAME possesses a broad understanding of the
particular ATA chapter or relevant task area, and has gained practical experience on the
aircraft type and or aircraft systems, which they are seeking to be granted privileges for on
their Part 66 licence.
The CASA specifies rating practical experience policy (scope and depth) within paragraph
5.3 (b) of CAO’s 100.91 to 100.95 and within the related CASA published SOE and
AAC 9-91 to 9-95 series.
Airframe
CAO 100.91 and
AAC 9-91
Engine
CAO 100.92 and
AAC 9-92
Radio
CAO 100.93 and
AAC 9-93
Electrical
CAO 100.94 and
AAC 9-94
Instrument
CAO 100.95 and
AAC 9-95
SOE policy detailed within the AAC series overrides that within the SOE documents (where
any conflict is discovered). Other reference material available includes:
•
requisite experience – AME Licensing Procedure Manual (refer to chapter 7)
•
classification of tasks performed on foreign aircraft of State Aircraft – AME Licensing
Procedure Manual (refer to chapter 8).
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What is practical maintenance experience and what can be included in its overall
measure?
maintenance means any task required to ensure, or that could affect, the continuing
airworthiness of an aircraft or aeronautical product, including any one or combination of
overhaul, repair, inspection, replacement of an aeronautical product, modification or defect
rectification.
In relation to practical experience a licence or rating applicant needs to have satisfied CASA
that they have had such practical experience of the 'duties performed by the holder of the
licence sought as CASA requires and directs in CAO'. Such duties extend past the actual
hands on carrying out of maintenance and include the experience gained when using the
system of maintenance, the maintenance schedule, amending publications, task scheduling,
supervision and tool calibrations.
A person who gains a minimum of four years experience on aircraft and aeronautical products
– two of those years relevant to the applicable licence category (reductions available) and
records experience such that it meets SOE policy obligations; can be taken to meet the
experience requirements. The experience can be gained in the workplace and/or in the
aviation training environment on aircraft and aeronautical products in use, or via use of
training aids.
The four years and two years experience requirements are a measure of the total time
employed in aircraft maintenance inclusive of time in aircraft maintenance training. The
experience recorded in the SOE plus the theory credits from CASA, along with time
employed in aircraft and aeronautical product maintenance (including time in maintenance
training) provides the overall measure of experience.
Whilst CASA can accept experience gained on non VH registered aircraft, this relief is
generally limited to 25%. Tasks carried out during the CASA assessment of SOE are checks
of valid verifications and duplicate entries, and ensuring recorded maintenance covers the
appropriate scope and depth of the required maintenance tasks. Undertaking these checks
within self managed organisations (eg RAAus) or with overseas entities can be slow or not
forthcoming hence the limited relief available. Additonal representation can be made to
CASA if the particular circumstances warrant it.
There is no requirement that the aircraft and aeronautical product maintenance experience for
an Australian Part 66 licence be limited to only that gained on Australian registered aircraft.
There is no requirement that maintenance experience has to be gained on only serviceable or
in use aircraft and aeronautical product.
Purpose of a Schedule of Experience (SOE)
The purpose of a SOE is to provide evidence of specific practical experience in support of an
application for the initial grant of an aircraft systems based Part 66 licence (previously lower
groups), or for Part 66 licence and/or type rating exclusion removal, or for the grant of small
aircraft engine type ratings (previously Group 21 & 22).
For SOE purposes, the specified practical experience may comprise the performing of any
task relating to the aircraft/engine system of maintenance and shall include inspections,
servicing, maintenance, repairs and where applicable, overhaul.
In order to meet the practical experience requirements for grant of a licence, aircraft system
exclusion removal or engine ratings, applicants must document practical experience in each
relevant Group Task area or relevant ATA chapter.
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Using the MEA Aeroskills Training Package – Log of Industrial Experience and
Achievement – Section 3 - To Record Experience.
The recording of practical experience to satisfy the respective CAO 100.9 series paragraph
5.3 (b) policy was normally made within the CASA sponsored SOE. However, using section
3 of the Log of Industrial Experience and Achievement is also an approved method of
recording practical experience when compiled in accordance with the instructions for use of
the relevant CASA published SOE and applicable sections of the CAR’s, CAO’s and AAC’s.
Applicants need to tailor the use of the section 3 Work Experience History sheets from within
the Log of Industrial Experience and Achievement so that work experience is recorded as
follows:
•
for Part 66 licence and/or type rating exclusion removal, and the grant of small aircraft
engine (Group 21 & 22) type ratings, section 5 of the respective AAC 9-91 to 9-95
provides the ATA chapter headings and hour requirements.
•
for aircraft systems based Part 66 licences (previously covered by lower groups
categories electrical, instrument, radio, airframe, and engine) the Group Task areas for
the lower groups e.g. airframe Group 1 – scheduled maintenance, structures, flight
controls, landing gear etc. SOE requirements are documented within section 5 of the
respective AAC 9-91 to 9-95.
The ATA chapter references need to be at least annotated beside the Log of Industrial
Experience and Achievement records to assist CASA Airworthiness Inspector (AWI) staff
with the assessment of the Log of Industrial Experience and Achievement.
The submission of the Log of Industrial Experience and Achievement for assessment by an
AWI will involve submitting the Log in lieu of a CASA published SOE accompanied by the
appropriate Certification of Completion/Acceptance forms as listed below.
3. Schedule of Experience Compilation – Responsibilities of the
Applicant
One or more of the attachments (summaries of experience/ATA hour Requirements/
Certificate of Completion) below will be applicable to an individual’s situation. The aircraft
system exclusion removal and small aircraft engine type ratings (covered under Groups 21 &
22) summaries needs to be populated with data from the “Base Hours Requirement Table” of
the respective AAC 9-91 to 9-95. The aircraft systems based initial issue Part 66 licence
(previously covered by lower groups) summary of experience are pre-populated with this
information.
Applicants are required to document practical experience in all relevant ATA or Group Task
Areas. When compiling the SOE consider or take action in relation to the following:
•
for all relevant ATA chapter or Group Task area, enter a brief description of the work
carried out
•
the “type of work carried out” entered in the relevant ATA chapter or Group Task area
is to be as varied as possible
•
multiple recordings of the same task will not normally meet the total experience
requirements of each ATA chapter or Group Task area
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•
where an applicant claims a task which the applicant has performed with others, the
applicant must indicate in the SOE, that portion of the task that the applicant actually
performed
•
aircraft system exclusion removal and small aircraft engine type ratings (covered
under Groups 21 & 22) inspections and checks entered in the SOE shall not exceed
50% of the required ATA chapter hourly requirement
•
the appropriately licensed person has verified the applicable entry in the SOE.
Note: The submission of the SOE to CASA prior to the completion of all relevant ATA
chapter or Group Task chapter areas will normally result in rejection of the SOE and in
some cases may result in a further payment of the licence application fee being
required.
For each task entered in the SOE, the aircraft registration number and the reference number of
the applicable paperwork on which the task was certified by the LAME must be entered in the
column provided. Failure to correctly enter this information may result in the SOE being
rejected by the AWI evaluating the application.
Approved simulator training may be accepted as appropriate experience for the purpose of the
SOE.
Note: Acceptability of simulator experience will be determined by the AWI processing
the SOE. When a task has been conducted in a simulator, then an annotation to this
effect is to be made in the “Type and/or System” column.
An accurate record of the actual time spent carrying out each task should be entered in the
appropriate column (refer Section 4 of this AAC). SOE reductions are available for various
situations as per the respective AAC 9-91 to 9-95. If the SOE reductions are available to you,
enter these hours and the basis of the claim for a reduction onto the appropriate SOE
summary.
Note: The final decision to grant a standard reduction as set out in the respective AAC
9-91 to 9-95 rests with the AWI at the time of processing the licence application.
If an applicant believes that the hours for a particular ATA chapter or Group Task area
represent an onerous task, then the applicant may apply to CASA’s Maintenance Personnel
Licensing (MPL) Section to have the SOE experience requirements reduced. The applicant
should seek (by written means) to have the SOE experience requirements reduced prior to
submitting a SOE application for assessment.
Note: The applicant must be prepared to support this application with documents if
required. The decision of the AWI to grant or deny a reduction will be final.
The applicant should continue recording experience in all ATA chapter or Group Task areas
until they are ready to make the application for a licence or additional rating. This is
applicable even if you believe you have met the requirements of a particular ATA chapter or
Group Task area.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to complete the appropriate Certificate of Completion/
Acceptance of Experience Form and to present the completed SOE (Log of Industrial
Experience and Achievement) to CASA MPL when making application for a licence, aircraft
system exclusion removal and or small aircraft engine type rating (covered under Groups 21
& 22).
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Certification of Completion/Acceptance of Experience Forms are available for use in
combination with the Logs of Industrial Experience and Achievement.
Certificate of Completion/ Acceptance of Experience
Form - Electrical Groups 1, 2
Certificate of Completion/ Acceptance of Experience
Form - Instrument Groups 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10
Certificate of Completion/ Acceptance of Experience
Form - Radio Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Certificate of Completion/ Acceptance of Experience
Form - Engine Groups 1, 2, 3
Certificate of Completion/ Acceptance of Experience
Form - Airframe Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 19
Certificate of Completion/ Acceptance of Experience
Form - Electrical Group 20
Certificate of Completion/ Acceptance of Experience
Form - Instrument Group 20
Certificate of Completion/ Acceptance of Experience
Form - Radio Group 20
Certificate of Completion/ Acceptance of Experience
Form - Engine Group 21, 22
Certificate of Completion/ Acceptance of Experience
Form - Airframe Group 20
Form 216
Form 217
Form 218
Form 219
Form 220
Form 81
Form 82
Form 83
Form 84
Form 85
4. Schedule of Experience Task Entries - Time Taken
The time taken to complete a task entry (work completed or inspection) includes time for task
preparation, conduct and closure.
Task preparation can include activities such as reviewing (interpreting and analysing)
unserviceability and scheduled maintenance logbook and work package entries. It can also
encompass reading and interpreting the sections(s) of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (and
company procedures) relating to the unserviceability or scheduled maintenance entries. The
conduct of research and review of aviation legislation, Airworthiness Directives or a System
of Maintenance to determine applicability to task and thus meet regulatory requirements is all
relevant task time. Task preparation includes that time taken to gain access to the area related
to the task.
Task conduct includes using the illustrated parts catalogue or similar to find parts and
materials and may also involve obtaining tooling (specialist or otherwise) parts and materials
related to task (including paperwork). Task conduct may be a removal and installation,
servicing and related inspection and testing. Associated with the task conduct is that time
taken to carry out safety and preparation activities related to the task (including observation of
occupational health and safety requirements).
Task closure includes the carrying out restitution activities (aircraft, parts and consumables)
related to the task. Task closure includes the time taken to complete paperwork related to the
task (included defect reports as applicable).
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Note: Time associated with study required to re-learn aircraft systems knowledge is not
included in the time recorded to perform a task.
5. Schedule of Experience - Date Entries.
The maintenance certification date (the date the certification for completion of maintenance
was carried out) is to be recorded by the applicant in the same area as the Aircraft Type and
Registration or Workcard No. (first column of the SOE).
The date column in the verification section of the SOE is to be used for the actual date that the
appropriate licensed person verified the maintenance entry in the SOE. This date need not be
the same as the maintenance certification date.
6. Schedule of Experience - Verification
Appropriately licensed persons verifying entries in an SOE shall be the Aircraft Engineering
Licence (AEL) holders/simulator instructors who supervised and certified for the task or any
other person authorised by CASA for this purpose.
The signature, licence number/ Aviation Reference Number (ARN) and date recorded in the
verification column against each maintenance task entry shall only be made by the person
nominated as above.
Completion of the verification column by a person nominated as above indicates that the
applicant has:
•
satisfactorily performed the task in accordance with approved data; and
•
together with others, satisfactorily performed the task in accordance with approved
data; or received approved simulator training on the task.
Where there is not an appropriately licensed person to verify the work recorded in an SOE,
there are other options available.
A typical example would be in a CAR 30 maintenance organisation where there are three B1
Part 66 AEL holders and one holds a Maintenance Authority (MA) for avionics work. Whilst
the MA holder can certify for his own avionics work, they will not have anyone to verify
tasks recorded in an SOE which may be used to support an application for a B2 licence. In
cases like this, the AEL holder is to contact MPL and seek guidance as to who may verify the
SOE entries.
The AWI should nominate an individual in the LAME's organisation who would be
acceptable to verify the work recorded in the SOE. The nominee may be a different category
AEL holder, the organisation’s Quality Manager, organisation’s Chief Engineer or anyone
else considered responsible enough to be acceptable to CASA. Where the person most eligible
to verify SOE entries (appropriately licensed person) has left the organisation and is no longer
available to verify the SOE entries, it is acceptable for the organisation’s Maintenance
Manager/Chief Engineer to confirm the entries from maintenance certification documentation
and validate entries on that basis.
Where an appropriately licensed person is not available, the alternate approval must be gained
in writing from CASA (MPL) and the approval correspondence included with the SOE when
making the application for the licence, exclusion removal and or engine rating.
AEL holders must not verify their own work in their own SOE. With the exception of
nominated persons mentioned in the previous paragraphs, MA holders cannot verify work
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entered in any SOE. AEL holders who work by themselves in “one-man-band” organisations
and who hold an MA to perform work on an aircraft type on which they are not licensed and,
who are compiling an SOE with a view to gaining the rating will, possibly, not have an
appropriately licensed person to verify their SOE work. In cases like this, it would be
reasonable for the AEL holder to provide documentary evidence of the work performed
(maintenance certification records) to allow MPL AWI staff to verify the entries in the SOE.
7. Schedule of Experience - False Entries
The importance of the SOE documents should be appreciated by all AMEs/AEL holders. This
SOE document is required to itemise the practical experience related to the privileges of the
particular licence, exclusion removal and or engine type rating sought. Applicants, and those
verifying SOE entries, should note that all entries made in an SOE should be able to be
verified if requested by the assessing AWI. If an entry cannot be verified it will not be
considered as forming part of the applicant’s practical experience. Experience claimed may be
required to be verified by supporting documentation and or correspondence with the
applicant, verifying AEL holder or the AME’s/AEL holder’s supervisor.
AMEs/AEL holders involved in compiling and or verifying a SOE should be aware of the
Criminal Code Act 1995, Part 7.4 – False or misleading statements, Section 136.1 – False or
misleading statements in applications.
Below is an extract from the above reference.
1.
A person commits an offence if:
(a)
the person makes a statement (whether orally, in a document or in any other way);
and
(b)
the person does so knowing that the statement:
(i) is false or misleading; or
(ii) omits any matter or thing without which the statement is misleading; and
(c)
the statement is made in, or in connection with:
(i) an application for a licence, permit or authority; or
(ii) an application for registration; or
(iii) an application or claim for a benefit; and
(d)
any of the following subparagraphs applies:
(i) the statement is made to a Commonwealth entity;
(ii) the statement is made to a person who is exercising powers or performing
functions under, or in connection with, a law of the Commonwealth;
(iii) the statement is made in compliance or purported compliance with a law of
the Commonwealth.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months.
AEL holders who verify/certify for a particular entry in an SOE should ensure that they are
satisfying the requirements of the SOE fully. Surveillance of SOE continues to be a CASA
function.
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8. Schedule of Experience - Assessment
All relevant ATA chapters or Group Task areas must be accepted by an AWI and the SOE
“acceptance of experience” page completed before the applicant qualifies for the experience
requirements of the Part 66 licence, aircraft system exclusion removal and or small aircraft
engine type rating (covered under Groups 21 & 22) being sought. To accept satisfactory
completion of sufficient experience in an ATA chapter or Group Task area, the assessing
AWI is to ensure that:
•
the “work carried out” and entered in the ATA chapter or Group Task area of the SOE
is of sufficient scope and depth to meet the experience requirements for that ATA
chapter or Group Task area; and
•
each entry of practical experience entered in the SOE has been verified by the
signature and an identification number (ARN) of a person as specified in section 6 of
this AAC.
If an AWI rejects the SOE because of insufficient experience in a particular ATA chapter or
Group Task area(s), the AWI will correspond with the applicant, detailing any additional
hours or tasks the AWI requires the applicant to complete before the SOE can be resubmitted.
9. Schedule of Experience - Composite Training Course In-Lieu of
Airframe Group 7
Changes to Part 66 licensing regulations in 2011 has meant composite maintenance is no
longer a Part 66 licensing privilege, althought AEL holders could still undertake the necessary
CASA basic exam and submit SOE applications to have their practical maintenance
experience recognised toward a “specially qualified person” under the transitional regulations.
Changes made to Section 66.A.45 (k) the Part 66 MOS have removed the ability to apply for
a Group 7 SOE due to it no longer leading to a Part 66 licence privilege. All training and
qualification requirements for composite maintenance are now set or described by CAO 100.5
Section 7A or AC 66-4.
10. Reissue of Expired AME Licences
Changes to regulations prevent CASA (MPL) from reissuing an expired CAR31 licence. The
Part 66 licensing system released in June 2011 introduced a perpetual licence. If CAR31
expired licence holders wish to gain a Part 66 licence they will need to contact a CASA
approved Part 147 Maintenance Training Organisation (MTO) and be assessed for a Part 66
licensing outcome.
11. Recognition of Licence Without Type Ratings (LWTR)
All assessments for the grant of Part 66 licences are conducted by CASA approved Part 147
Maintenance Training Organisations (MTO). Part 1 of Advisory Circular AC147-2 provides a
list of and contact details for CASA approved MTOs.
12. United States of America A & P Mechanic Certificates
All assessments for the grant of Part 66 licences are conducted by CASA approved Part 147
Maintenance Training Organisations (MTO). Part 1 of Advisory Circular AC147-2 provides a
list of and contact details for CASA approved MTOs.
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13. Use of Aviation Reference Numbers (ARN'S)
The Aviation Reference Number (ARN) is important key information used by the CASA
computer records system. To issue an ARN the following details are required:
1.
your full name
2.
date of birth
3.
residential and communication address.
All applicants wishing to seek a Part 66 licence and or commence gaining an aviation history
file with CASA need to apply (CASA form 1162) and be granted an ARN.
After the issue of an ARN, all correspondence to CASA (including email inquiries) should
include this ARN number.
14. Specific Type Training Course Attendance Pre-Requisites
The prerequisites to undertake CASA approved type training form part of the course approval.
In order to identify course prerequisites, individuals need to contact the respective course
providers. All CASA approved aircraft type training courses are documented within Part 2 of
Advisory Circular AC147-2.
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