European Military Aviation Requirements forward step for RNZAF

The RNZAF is moving its engineering aviation regulations, technical workforce trade structure and Quality Management System to an internationally recognised military aviation system (EMARS), writes GPCAPT Peter E C Johnson MBE, RNZAF Chief Engineer and Technical Airworthiness Authority.

Why are we adopting EMARS?

We are adopting EMARs to align our organisation to a universally recognised system in order to enhance operability with our international partners, provide an easier system to ‘do business’ with and become a more attractive employer.

What is EMARS?

The European Military Aviation Requirements (EMARS) are military adaptations of the proven European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) airworthiness rules.

EMARs is a well-established system to design, repair, maintain and support an aircraft; all very relevant to the RNZAF as it keeps its aircraft flying safely to support operations wherever they occur. It also provides a framework for maintenance training (i.e. which trade is responsible for which part of the aircraft) and the rules around operating a training establishment.

EMARS has been adopted by more than 30 militaries around the world, predominantly in Europe but, most importantly for New Zealand, by the Australian Defence Force.

Source: RNZAF

What are we doing?

As the RNZAF adopts EMARS, it has given us the opportunity to look at our maintenance training and technical trade structure to ensure that our mechanics and technicians are able to deliver appropriate support to flying operations, now and in the future. The RNZAF has about 980 technicians currently spread across eight separate technical trades (Aircraft, Avionics, Composites, Armament, Safety Equipment and Surface Finish, Ground Support Equipment, Metalwork and Machinist).

While EMARS is quite detailed in the training required and responsibilities of the Aircraft, Avionics and Armament tasks, it does not deal with the responsibilities of the other technical trades.

The RNZAF has thus taken the opportunity to align as much of its training and trade structure with civilian qualifications whilst still ensuring they are able to do what we need of them. In addition, we have amalgamated some of the trades to provide a more autonomous utility in a deployed environment where there may not be the ability to use local facilities or personnel – for example, in a disaster response.

More details on each of the new trades can be found at the end of this article.

The technical training has been designed, as far as possible, to meet a nationally – and in some cases internationally – recognised standard. This will ensure that our highly skilled and experienced maintenance workforce are aligned with other military and civilian organisations that we are likely to work with and their qualifications are recognised.

Finally, the RNZAF is updating its Quality Management System to align with EMARS, so that continual improvement is embedded.

By taking the opportunity of making these changes now, we will have the time to ‘bed-in’ the transformation ahead of new capabilities the RNZAF will have in the future and to better support those that they currently have.

Source: RNZAF

Aircraft systems Aircraft systems personnel will be responsible for all the mechanical systems on an aircraft, such as flying controls, hydraulic, fuel and air systems, engines, propellers, helicopter rotors and drive shafts, landing gear and internal cabin furnishings.

Following successful completion of recruit training, a trainee will start mechanic training (at RNZAF Base Woodborne) aligned with EMAR 66, Category A (flight line operations). On successful completion of the training, the mechanic will graduate with a New Zealand Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering (Workplace Introductory skills) – Level 4.

This will allow the mechanic to support aircraft flight operations (such as refuelling, routine servicing, fault rectification minor repairs and modifications) both at home and away from NZ.

The mechanic will be posted to one of a number of positions at RNZAF Base Ohakea or RNZAF Base Auckland, either on a flying Squadron, or in one of the aircraft supporting maintenance facilities to support aircraft operations and gain experience. This should culminate in the awarding of a New Zealand Certificate in Aircraft Servicing – Level 3.

Once the aircraft systems mechanic has gained some experience and has been selected for Advanced Trade Training, he/she will return to RNZAF Base Woodborne to receive more specialised training in aircraft systems and some limited avionics training (EMAR 66, Category B1). The technician will then be qualified to carry out fault diagnosis, more complex repairs and direct the activities of the mechanics. This should culminate in the awarding of a New Zealand Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering (Applied Skills) –Level 4.

Avionics systems Avionics systems personnel will be responsible for all the electrical and electronic systems on an aircraft, such as sensors, communications, aeronautical software, power generation and distribution, flight control systems and navigation equipment.

Initial recruit and mechanic training, qualifications and experience are the same as Aircraft Systems described in the paragraphs above.

Once the avionics systems mechanic has gained some experience and has been selected for Advanced Trade Training, he/she will return to RNZAF Base Woodborne to receive more specialised training in avionics and some aircraft training (EMAR 66, Category B2). The technician will then be qualified to carry out fault diagnosis, more complex repairs, and direct the activities of the mechanics.

Aeronautical structures Aeronautical Structures is a new trade for the RNZAF. Aeronautical structures personnel will be responsible for repair and fabrication of aircraft structures using metal and composite materials. Aeronautical structures mechanics will initially start their RNZAF career in the same way as the Aircraft Systems and Avionics Systems trades.

Once an aeronautical structures mechanic has gained some experience, and he/she has been selected for Advanced Trade Training, they will conduct their specialist Aeronautical Structures training. This will include such skills as welding, milling and lathe turning, grinding/honing, heat treating, hardness testing, design of jigs and fixtures and use of specialist tooling.

The Advanced Trade Training will take the form of an apprenticeship model at either RNZAF Base Ohakea or RNZAF Base Auckland. Once the training has been completed, the Aeronautical Systems technicians will be authorised to carry out repairs in-situ, in the aircraft as well as off-aircraft fabrication and manufacture.

This should culminate in the awarding of a New Zealand Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering (Specialist Support) – Level 4.

Source: RNZAF

Ground support equipment Ground Support Equipment personnel provide support to deployed operations by providing temporary airfield infrastructure such as aviation fuel, power and water treatment. Domestically, the responsibilities also include specialist vehicle maintenance, maintenance of the deployable equipment and other maintenance and repair functions.

Following successful completion of recruit training, initial mechanic trainees will be enrolled as apprentices in the New Zealand Certificate of Automotive Engineering (NZCAE) Level 3 programme through the Motor Industry Training Organisation (MITO).

While gaining their qualifications, trainees will work at either RNZAF Base Ohakea or RNZAF Auckland and also complete some of the training and assessments at technical training institutes. On successful completion, they will be able to operate, maintain, service and repair the RNZAF’s support equipment, specialist vehicles and cargo loading equipment.

Once they have gained some experience, they will go on to complete selected modules of the New Zealand Certificate of Automotive Engineering (NZCAE) – Level 4.

Safety and surface Safety and Surface personnel will be responsible for all the Safety equipment, such as parachutes (cargo and personnel, packing and maintaining), life rafts, survival packs, aircrew helmets and clothing. They are also responsible for the removal and application of surface finish coatings on aircraft and vehicles (aerospace coatings, markings and placards and vehicle paint).

Following successful completion of recruit training, initial Safety and Surface mechanic training will be conducted at the training base (RNZAF Base Woodborne), followed by training at both RNZAF Base Ohakea and RNZAF Base Auckland. Once all modules have been completed, trainees will be Safety and Surface technicians.

This should culminate in the awarding of a National Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering (Specialist Support) Aircraft Furnishings and Equipment – Level 4, and a National Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering (Specialist Support) Aircraft Painting – Level 4.