CIB - 739 Aeroskills - apprenticeships and traineeship

Date of effect
27 July 2012

Updated
11 August 2023

Qualifications

MEA30118 Certificate III in Aircraft Surface Finishing

MEA40922 Certificate IV in Aircraft Surface Finishing

Terms of apprenticeships

Full-time:

MEA30118 Certificate III in Aircraft Surface Finishing

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

MEA40922 Certificate IV in Aircraft Surface Finishing

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
• 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved where the apprentice holds MEA30118 Certificate III in Aircraft Surface Finishing

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary periods

Where the nominal term is:

• up to and including 24 months - 2 months
• greater than 24 months - 3 months

Date of effect
27 July 2012

Updated
2 November 2018

Qualifications

MEA40618 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics)

MEA50118 Diploma of Aeroskills (Avionics)

Terms of apprenticeships

Full-time:

MEA40618 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics)

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

MEA50118 Diploma of Aeroskills (Avionics)

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
• 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved where the apprentice holds MEA40618 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics)

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

School based

• MEA40618 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics)

The term for a school based apprenticeship will be the school based component plus 36 months full-time post-school, or until the relevant competencies are achieved. The school based component will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During the school based component of the apprenticeship the school-based apprentice must undertake a minimum of 100 days of on-the-job training.

Probationary periods

Where the nominal term is:

• up to and including 24 months - 2 months
• greater than 24 months - 3 months

Date of effect
27 July 2012

Updated
2 September 2021

Qualifications

MEA40718 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical)

MEA50219 Diploma of Aeroskills (Mechanical)

Terms of apprenticeships

Full-time:

MEA40718 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical)

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

MEA50219 Diploma of Aeroskills (Mechanical)

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
• 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved where the apprentice holds MEA40718 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical)

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

School based

• MEA40718 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical)

The term for a school based apprenticeship will be the school based component plus 36 months full-time post-school, or until the relevant competencies are achieved. The school based component will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During the school based component of the apprenticeship the school-based apprentice must undertake a minimum of 100 days of on-the-job training.

Probationary periods

Where the nominal term is:

• up to and including 24 months - 2 months
• greater than 24 months - 3 months

Date of effect
27 July 2012

Updated
2 November 2018

Qualification

MEA41322 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Structures)

Terms of apprenticeship

Full-time:

MEA41322 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Structures)

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

School based

• MEA41322 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Structures)

The term for a school based apprenticeship will be the school based component plus 36 months full-time post-school, or until the relevant competencies are achieved. The school based component will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During the school based component of the apprenticeship the school-based apprentice must undertake a minimum of 100 days of on-the-job training.

Probationary periods

3 months

Date of effect
16 December 2022

Qualification

• MEA20418 Certificate II in Aeroskills

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

• 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

School based

• MEA20418 Certificate II in Aeroskills

The term for a school-based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 100 days of on-the-job training.

Probationary period

2 months

Jobs at Certificate III level are in aircraft maintenance organisations or specialist aircraft surface finishing organisations. Jobs are to prepare the surfaces of aircraft and aircraft components for the application of surface finishes, apply paint, specialist finishes and decals or stencils. They also apply aircraft registration markings, national markings and organisational logos.

Other tasks may include:

• performing basic hand skills, standard trade practices and fundamentals in aviation maintenance
• removing surface coatings from aircraft or aircraft components
• pre-treating aluminium alloy surfaces
• sealing aircraft and aircraft component structural seams
• removing light corrosion
• preparing spray painting materials and equipment.

Jobs at Certificate IV level are in aircraft surface finishing organisations or the Australian Defence Force. Jobs involve the supervision of aircraft surface finishing activities on State aircraft. This may involve painting, application of specialist finishes, and application of markings, logos and decals.

Other tasks may include:

• applying quality standards applicable to aviation maintenance processes
• applying air dry and polyurethane enamel refinishing materials
• applying occupational health and safety procedures at supervisor level in aviation maintenance
• removing and installing aircraft hydro-mechanical and landing gear system components
• supervising maintenance teams and performing maintenance quality inspections.

Jobs at Certificate IV level are in civil aviation maintenance organisations or in the Australian Defence Force. Jobs involve performing scheduled inspections, fault diagnosis and repair and modification of fixed wing aircraft electrical, instrument and radio systems and system components.

Other tasks may include:

• fabricating and repairing aircraft electrical hardware or parts
• testing and troubleshooting aircraft pulse systems and components
• testing and troubleshooting fixed wing aircraft automatic flight control systems and components
• testing and troubleshooting aircraft radio frequency navigation and communications systems and components
• testing and troubleshooting aircraft instrument systems and components
• testing and troubleshooting aircraft electrical systems and components.

Jobs at Diploma level are for holders of a Civil Aviation Safety Authority B2 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence. Jobs involve supervising, performing and certifying avionic maintenance on fixed wing aircraft that are type-rated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for maintenance purposes.

Other tasks may include:

• planning and organising aviation maintenance work activities
• supervising civil aircraft maintenance activities and managing human resources in the workplace
• testing and troubleshooting aircraft electrical systems and components
• testing and troubleshooting aircraft instrument systems and components
• testing and troubleshooting aircraft radio frequency navigation and communications systems and components
• testing and troubleshooting fixed wing aircraft automatic flight control systems and components
• testing and troubleshooting aircraft pulse systems and components.

Jobs at Certificate IV level are to inspect and undertake fault diagnosis of airframe and engine systems, components and accessories on aircraft. Components may include landing gears, wheels and brakes, pressurisation, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, flight control systems, environmental control systems, fire detection and preventions systems, undercarriage and ice and rain protection systems.

Other tasks may include:

• interpreting and using industry manuals and specifications
• planning and organising work activities
• fabricating and repairing aircraft mechanical components or parts
• repairing and overhauling aircraft hydro-mechanical systems and components
• repairing and overhauling gas turbine engine components and modules.

Jobs at Diploma level are for holders of a Civil Aviation Safety Authority B1.1 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence. Jobs involve supervising, performing and certifying avionic maintenance on fixed wing jet aircraft that are type-rated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for maintenance purposes.

Other tasks may include:

• supervising civil aircraft maintenance activities and managing human resources in the workplace
• planning and implementing civil aircraft maintenance activities
• inspecting, testing and troubleshooting pressurisation control systems and components
• maintaining and repairing aircraft mechanical components or parts
• testing and troubleshooting gas turbine engine systems and components
• performing advanced troubleshooting in aircraft mechanical maintenance
• inspecting, repairing and maintaining aircraft structures.

Jobs in Aeroskills - Structures are in aviation maintenance organisations or the Australian Defence Force. The work involves repairing and modifying aircraft structures.

Other tasks may include:

• removing and installing aircraft hydro-mechanical and landing gear system components
• removing and installing aircraft pneumatic system components
• removing and installing pressurised aircraft structural and non-structural components
• removing and installing aircraft fixed wing flight control system components
• disassembling and reassembling aircraft structure for major repair or modification
• repairing and modifying aircraft composite material structure/components.

Jobs at Certificate II level are in aviation maintenance workshops. Jobs involve assisting with maintenance, inspection and fault diagnosis on a limited range of electrical, electronic, instrument and radio systems, components and parts on aircraft.

Other tasks may include:

• performing basic hand skills, standard trade practices and fundamentals in aviation maintenance
• performing routine removal and installation of miscellaneous aircraft electrical hardware and components
• fabricating aircraft electrical looms and harnesses
• using electrical test equipment to perform basic electrical tests
• dismantling, inspecting, maintaining and assembling aircraft non-primary structural removable components or parts and internal fittings.

MEAr5.0 Aeroskills Training Package includes the following qualifications that support apprenticeship and traineeship pathways:

Apprenticeships

• MEA30118 Certificate III in Aircraft Surface Finishing
• MEA40618 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics)
• MEA40718 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical)
• MEA40922 Certificate IV in Aircraft Surface Finishing
• MEA41322 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Structures)
• MEA50118 Diploma of Aeroskills (Avionics)
• MEA50219 Diploma of Aeroskills (Mechanical)

Traineeship

• MEA20418 Certificate II in Aeroskills

Apprentices employed under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 are able to progress through the apprenticeship on the achievement of competencies rather than time served.

Section 12.6 in the Award states that "Apprenticeships under this award are competency based. The actual time taken to complete an apprenticeship will therefore vary depending upon factors such as the intensity of training and the variety of work experience."

The rate of progress is based on the nominal term of direct entry or advanced entry (where the apprentice holds a lower level qualification specified in the VTO) into the apprenticeship.

Note: Competency based progression (CBP) applies to apprentices employed under any award that incorporates CBP provisions - for more information see Industrial arrangements.

Apprenticeships with a full-time nominal term of 48 months - direct entry

The rate of progress will be determined as follows:

On successful completion of the relevant qualification

• parties may apply to the Commissioner for Vocational Training for completion of the apprenticeship prior to the nominal completion date of the training contract or;
• Training Services NSW may issue letters from the Commissioner to both parties inviting them to consider competency based completion if it has received advice from the training organisation that the apprentice or trainee is eligible to receive their qualification.

Download a Request for Competency Based Completion form.

Applications under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 to establish any training contract whether full-time, part-time or school based will not be approved unless the Commissioner for Vocational Training is satisfied that appropriate industrial arrangements are in place.

Apprentices may be employed under the following awards:

• Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020
• Airline Operations Ground Staff Award 2020

All private sector employers and employees in New South Wales are covered by the national industrial relations system administered by the Fair Work Commission. The industrial instrument that applies is a national (modern) award or a current enterprise agreement registered with the Fair Work Commission.

Further information is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman or phone 13 13 94.

Apprenticeships
The following qualifications are suitable for delivery in schools:

• MEA40618 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics)
• MEA40718 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical)
• MEA41322 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Structures)

Traineeship

• MEA20418 Certificate II in Aeroskills

The above four qualifications are suitable for delivery under school based arrangements.

Additional information

Eleven units of competency have been identified as suitable for delivery to school students.

The following seven core units of competency form part of the above four qualifications. They should be included in the training plan for SBT's and in the school based training component of the training plan for SBAs.

They are:

The following four units of competency form part of the three qualifications suitable for delivery as school based apprenticeships: MEA40718 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical), MEA40618 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics) and the MEA41322 Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Structures). These units of competency should also be included in the school based training component of the training plan for SBAs.

They are:

Successful completion of the school based component of the training plan and progress to Stage 2 of the apprenticeship after the HSC depends on successful completion of all eleven units.

For qualifications available for delivery in schools, click here.

For further information on the delivery of training for school based part-time apprenticeships and traineeships, refer to Training Arrangements.

Some Aeroskills qualifications result in CASA licensing. Apprentices are advised to confirm licence requirements via CASA's Licensing and Registration Centre prior to undertaking training.

For registered training providers which can deliver the qualifications go to training.gov.au.

A list of training organisations which are in contract with the NSW Department of Education to be paid for the delivery of the training is here.

When developing training plans, registered training organisations should ensure that the training program satisfies the qualification packaging requirements and, at the same time, reflects the nature of the business. Training plans should be customised so that the workplace activities support and align with the qualification units of competency.

From 1 January 2015 the NSW Government introduced new fee arrangements for government subsidised vocational education and training (VET). Under Smart and Skilled, all apprenticeship and most traineeship qualifications are subsidised. For a full list of all the qualifications refer to the current NSW Skills List. Information on the types and levels of subsidies can be found in the Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policy. Training for existing-worker trainees is not subsidised.

Training Services NSW and Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) transition arrangements are aligned and applied retrospectively from 1 September 2015.

Registered training organisations (RTOs) may commence training in either the new or superseded qualification but must meet the requirements of ASQA. For more information refer to ASQA's General Direction - Learner Transition.

A copy of each Vocational Training Order is available for inspection on this internet site below or at any Training Services NSW Regional Office of the NSW Department of Education.