9.6 Tasks

Question 1

What is the consequence of failing to plan?

Answer 1

Planning to fail

Question 2

Before starting a task, what should an engineer ask themselves?

Answer 2

Questions about task clarity, skills, and resources

Question 3

What are the requisite resources needed to complete a task effectively?

Answer 3

• Personnel
• Equipment/spares
• Documentation, information, and guidance
• Facilities

Question 4

What type of information is detailed on job cards or task sheets?

Answer 4

Type of task, maintenance manual references, part numbers

Question 5

What should an engineer do if they are in doubt about the task?

Answer 5

Consult written guidance material

Question 6

Who is generally responsible for allocating sub-tasks?

Answer 6

The shift supervisor

Question 7

What might a supervisor encourage a team to do regarding tasks?

Answer 7

Take ownership of the tasks and manage their own workloads

Question 8

On what basis are tasks typically delegated to engineers?

Answer 8

Trade specialisation, experience, and similar factors

Question 9

Who is responsible for ensuring engineers are suitably trained?

Answer 9

Management

Question 10

What must engineers assess regarding their capabilities?

Answer 10

Whether they have the necessary skills, proficiency, and experience

Question 11

True or False: Engineers should ignore misgivings due to peer and management pressure.

Answer 11

False

Question 12

What is the primary focus of aircraft maintenance engineering?

Answer 12

It is a physically demanding job requiring fine motor control, precision, and strength.

Question 13

What are the two main factors that determine the force that can be applied in a given posture?

Answer 13

• The strength available from muscles
• The mechanical advantage from the relative positions of the load, muscle connections, and joints.

Question 14

What happens to the musculoskeletal system as a person ages?

Answer 14

It stiffens and muscles become weaker, increasing the likelihood of injuries and longer healing times.

Question 15

How can staying in shape affect the aging process?

Answer 15

It can minimize the effects of age but cannot prevent them.

Question 16

What tool do Boeing and Airbus use for ergonomic design?

Answer 16

A computerized tool based on human performance data, including body sizes, strengths, and pivots.

Question 17

Why is it important for engineers to know their physical limitations?

Answer 17

To avoid injuries from attempting to carry more weight than they can handle.

Question 18

How do tools assist engineers in their work?

Answer 18

They make tasks easier and can extend the range of capability, such as using a hoist to lift heavy objects.

Question 19

What is a consequence of extensive physical work without adequate rest?

Answer 19

Fatigue can lead to illness or injuries.

Question 20

What can missing a break during work lead to?

Answer 20

It can diminish motor skills, perception, awareness, and standards, slowing work pace and increasing mistakes.

Question 21

Fill in the blank: The case of ‘more haste less speed’ refers to the idea that _______.

Answer 21

[missing a break can be counterproductive]

Question 22

Fill in the blank: A danger of repetitive tasks is that engineers may become _______.

Answer 22

[complacent].

Question 23

What is a consequence of complacency during inspections?

Answer 23

Engineers may overlook issues that rarely happen.

Question 24

What is a main danger with repetitive tasks?

Answer 24

Engineers may stop referring to maintenance manuals or job cards

Question 25

What can happen if an engineer does not refer to maintenance manuals?

Answer 25

They may not be aware of changes to tasks

Question 26

What is complacency in the context of engineering tasks?

Answer 26

Skipping steps or devoting insufficient attention to tasks

Question 27

Why might engineers skip steps in their tasks?

Answer 27

Due to complacency, especially for checks on rare issues

Question 28

Which type of inspection is particularly affected by complacency?

Answer 28

Visual inspection

Question 29

Fill in the blank: The main danger with repetitive tasks is that they can become so familiar to the engineer that they stop referring to _______.

Answer 29

[maintenance manuals or job cards]

Question 30

True or False: Engineers are always aware of task changes due to repetitive familiarity.

Answer 30

False

Question 31

What is visual inspection in aircraft maintenance?

Answer 31

The process of using the eye and, in some cases, various aids to examine and evaluate the condition of an aircraft’s systems or components. ## Footnote Visual inspection is crucial for ensuring aircraft airworthiness.

Question 32

What tools can aircraft maintenance engineers use to enhance their vision during inspections?

Answer 32

Magnifiers and borescopes. ## Footnote These tools help in examining hard-to-reach areas and enhance detail visibility.

Question 33

What additional senses might engineers use during visual inspections?

Answer 33

Touch, hearing, smell. ## Footnote These senses can provide more information about the condition of components.

Question 34

What might engineers do to assess the condition of the element being inspected?

Answer 34

Feel a surface for unevenness or push against it to check for uncharacteristic movement. ## Footnote Manipulating components can reveal issues not visible to the eye.

Question 35

What is the principal method for identifying degradation or defects in aircraft systems?

Answer 35

Visual inspection. ## Footnote It is the primary method used by engineers to ensure safety and functionality.

Question 36

Why is experience important in visual inspection?

Answer 36

Experience helps in recognizing defects and making judgements based on what is seen. ## Footnote Engineers can improve their skills through practice and mentorship.

Question 37

What role do technical bulletins play in aircraft maintenance?

Answer 37

They inform engineers about new and potential defects. ## Footnote Bulletins can alert engineers to issues that may not be immediately obvious.

Question 38

What might blue staining on an aircraft fuselage indicate?

Answer 38

It might be considered insignificant initially, but could be related to 'blue ice' and external toilet leaks. ## Footnote Technical bulletins can change the perceived significance of such observations.

Question 39

True or False: Reliable visual inspection is solely about seeing defects.

Answer 39

False. ## Footnote It also involves identifying and making judgements based on training and experience.

Question 40

Fill in the blank: Visual inspection is as much about _______ as it is about seeing a defect.

Answer 40

identifying it. ## Footnote This highlights the importance of judgement in inspections.

Question 41

What do complex systems involve?

Answer 41

A wide variety of inputs and complex modifications or responses to these inputs ## Footnote Complex systems can have one or many distributed outputs.

Question 42

Why is the purpose, composition, and function of a simple system easy for an aircraft maintenance engineer to understand?

Answer 42

The system is transparent to them and relatively easy to identify and diagnose faults ## Footnote Engineers may refer to technical data when necessary.

Question 43

What is a challenge faced by aircraft maintenance engineers when dealing with complex systems?

Answer 43

Struggling to conceptualise the system's composition and function ## Footnote Engineers must still understand the system's purpose.

Question 44

What does maintaining complex systems usually require from an engineer?

Answer 44

Completion of system-specific training ## Footnote This training helps engineers understand how the system works, how it can fail, and what components are involved.

Question 45

What balance must system-specific training strike for engineers?

Answer 45

Between detailed system knowledge and analytical troubleshooting skills ## Footnote Engineers should not be overwhelmed by the complexity.

Question 46

What is particularly important for engineers when working with complex systems?

Answer 46

Referring to written procedures and reference material for guidance ## Footnote These resources include details of maintenance procedures, inspections, adjustments, and tests.

Question 47

What can happen if an engineer deviates from set procedures in maintenance?

Answer 47

It can impact other maintenance activities without the engineer realizing it ## Footnote Following procedures as specified in the Aircraft Maintenance Manuals is crucial.

Question 48

How does guidance material aid aircraft maintenance engineers?

Answer 48

It breaks down the system conceptually or physically, facilitating understanding and maintenance ## Footnote This material is essential for dealing with complex systems.

Question 49

What is the role of category B1 and B2 engineers in maintaining complex systems?

Answer 49

They might need to work collaboratively on systems with interfaces to the cockpit ## Footnote Example: undercarriage controls and indications.

Question 50

Why is it important for engineers to stick to prescribed procedures?

Answer 50

They may be qualified in multiple aircraft types, limiting familiarity with any one type ## Footnote This is crucial to avoid confusion between similar tasks across different aircraft.

Question 51

Fill in the blank: Modern aircraft require different engineers with different _______.

Answer 51

specialities

Question 52

True or False: Engineers can rely solely on memory when maintaining complex aircraft systems.

Answer 52

False ## Footnote Reference manuals are critical for ensuring accurate maintenance.