| Aircraft Mechanics |
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MECH S101
Aircraft Mechanics
| Introduction |  |
Welcome to MECH S101 Aircraft Mechanics!
This Course Guide tells you briefly what the course is about and how you can work your way through the course material. It also tells you how much time you will probably need to spend in order to successfully complete the course. Finally, it provides you with a general guide to your tutor-marked assignments.
While much of the content of this Course Guide is similar to that of other OUHK courses, some information is specific to MECH S101 Aircraft Mechanics. Please read this Course Guide carefully.
About this course
MECH S101 Aircraft Mechanicsis a five-credit, one-semester, foundation-level course in the Certificate in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering programme. This programme aims to provide you with a suitable technical education and competence in trade-related skills up to the HKAR-66 B1 level, meeting the mechanical engineering component of the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department's (CAD) licencing requirement to be a line maintenance engineer in Hong Kong.
It is expected that you can finish the course in around 150 hours, or one semester. Since this course is for beginners, its coverage is limited to elementary concepts.
Course aims
MECH S101 aims to:
Develop your analytical skills for independent study on the top of aircraft maintenance engineering.
Provide you with a basic understanding of mechanical engineering principles, aerodynamics fundamental knowledge, as well as knowledge of human factors and their effects in aircraft maintenance engineering.
Equip you with the technical knowledge for modules 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9 of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Licence HKAR-66 Category B1 offered by the Civil Aviation Department
- Provide essential background knowledge for higher-level courses in the engineering discipline.
| Course learning outcomes | |
Upon the completion of MECH S101 Aircraft Mechanics, you should be able to:
Apply basic skills and knowledge of arithmetic, algebra and geometry.
Outline the foundational concepts of physics as they apply to aircraft maintenance engineering.
Identify the human factors affecting the aircraft industry, and recommend ways in which they can be managed.
Classify the properties of materials and various types of hardware as they apply to aircraft maintenance engineering.
- Outline the basic concepts of aircraft technology.
Course organization
The following table gives the general components of the course.
Unit
Weeks
Assessment
1
Mathematics
2
2
Physics
6
CMA 1
3
Human factors
2
TMA
4
Materials and hardware
6
5
Aerodynamics
2
CMA 2
Revision
2
Total
20
| Course materials | |
This section sets out all of the materials you will need to study this course.
Print materials
The printed materials for MECH S101 comprise this Course Guide and five print-based study units.
Study units
This course contains five units that cover mathematics, physics, human factors, materials and hardware, and aerodynamics. All of these topics are related to the aircraft maintenance engineering discipline in Hong Kong. The content of each unit will be very concise, and will focus on technical knowledge. These unit materials will help you to learn the basics of the aircraft maintenance engineering discipline, and serve as a reference for you in the future.
Unit 1 Mathematics provides you with the necessary foundation in arithmetic, algebra and geometry.
Unit 2 Physics covers units and measurements, matter, kinetics and dynamics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, optics, wave motion and sound.
Unit 3 Human factors is designed to equip you with knowledge of human factors and their effects in the aircraft industry. The unit will focus on general factors, human performance and limitations, social psychology, factors affecting performance, physical environment, tasks, communication, human error and hazards in the workplace.
Unit 4 Materials and hardware teaches you about the properties of materials and various types of hardware as applied to aircraft maintenance engineering.
Unit 5 Aerodynamics extends your knowledge of aerodynamics in aircraft flight technology by introducing you to the basic concepts of aircraft technology, including the concept of International Standard Atmosphere, the basic principles of aerodynamics, and the theory of flight and flight control.
Set textbook
There will be no set textbook for this course.
Supplementary readings
Excerpts from the following sources will be integrated into the Aircraft Mechanics course materials as core readings:
- Hong Kong CAD Airworthiness Notice 47
- Hong Kong CAD Airworthiness Notice 71
Assignment File
You will be required to complete and submit two computer-marked assignments (CMAs) and one tutor-marked assignment (TMA) according to the stated schedule you'll receive from the OUHK. More details are provided below in the section on assessment, and in your Assignment File.
Online and multimedia materials
OLE
The course is supported by the Online Learning Environment (OLE). You can find course materials and the latest course information from the OLE and use the discussion board to communicate with your tutor, the Course Coordinator, and your fellow students.
Other online resources
You will make use of the following two online sources:
- Federal Aviation Administration of the United States Department of Transportation (2008) Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook:
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/amt_handbook/
- Federal Aviation Administration of the United States Department of Transportation (2013) Aircraft maintenance sample examination:
https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/test_questions/media/AMGSampleExam.pdf
Equipment needed (IT resources)
You will need to have at least the following equipment for the course:
Hardware
- a PC (with the minimum requirements for accessing the OUHK website and the OLE)
Software
- a computer operating system and Web browser that meet the minimum requirements for accessing the OUHK website and the OLE.
| Course assessment | |
The formal assessment for MECH S101 includes two computer-marked assignments (CMAs), one tutor-marked assignment (TMA) and a final examination. The informal assessment includes self-assessed activities and self-tests spread throughout each unit.
You must submit all of your assignments to your tutor on time. The standard TMA extension policy of The Open University of Hong Kong applies to the CMAs and TMA in this course.
| Assessment | |
The formal assessment in this course will consist of two CMAs, one TMA and a final examination. As the examination for aircraft maintenance licence HKAR-66 is mainly based on multiple choice questions, the CMAs will be in the form of multiple choice questions, but the TMA and the final examination will be in the form of short-answer questions. This arrangement is designed to cope with the multiple-choice style of the HKAR-66 examination, and the essay style of the OUHK examination.
To pass the course, students are required to obtain at least 40% in OCAS and the final examination, which is in line with the examination for Aircraft Maintenance Licence HKAR-66. Course marks shall be expressed as a percentage, rounded up to the nearest integer value.
Tutor-marked assignments and computer-marked assignments
The CMAs and TMA serve as the overall continuous assessment score during this course's study period, and account for 50% of the overall course score. Each CMA will count for 15%, and the TMA will count for 20%, of the total marks for the course.
You are required to complete all three assignments according to the stated schedule provided to you by the Open University of Hong Kong.
Final examination and grading
A final two-hour examination to be conducted at the end of the course accounts for 50% of the overall course score. Students will be tested on all the materials studied in the course.
You must take and pass this internal examination according to the schedule stated by the Open University of Hong Kong.
Course marking scheme
The assessment items are outlined in the following table.
Assessment
Course area covered
Weighting
CMA 1
Units 1–2
15%
TMA
Units 1–3
20%
CMA 2
Units 4–5
15%
Final examination
All units
50%
Total
100%
| Student support | |
This course provides both face-to-face and electronic means of support, including tutorials, surgeries, email support and the Online Learning Environment.
You will be assigned a tutor to support you throughout the course. Your tutor will mark and comment on your assignments, review your progress and help you if you encounter problems during the course, and mark and return your assignments to you.
Direct personal contact support
Direct personal contact support includes telephone tutoring, tutorials and surgeries. Five tutorial sessions and one surgery session will be allocated for the course. Attendance at tutorials and surgeries is optional.
Tutorials
In this course's tutorials, your tutorwill organize a number of interactive learning activities to assist you in your learning process. Tutorials will be based on the major course units, and your tutor may also provide further explanation, examples and readings.
The tutorials will be in small groups of not more than 20 students or so, providing a good opportunity for you to meet other distance learners on the course and get to know the tutor.
Surgeries
For this course's surgery session, you can bring along your questions and your tutor will help you in finding and understanding the answers.
Electronic support
Electronic mail and the OLE discussion board give you open channels to post your questions and problems to your tutor -- and your fellow students. You can also easily access the E-Library and reference materials via the OLE.
| Summary | |
Engineering is the art of applying scientific knowledge in our daily lives. We use our knowledge of science to invent new things and use them to improve our living standards or solve the problems we face. Although MECH S101 Aircraft Mechanicsonly covers conceptual ideas and applications related to aircraft maintenance engineering, we hope this course can benefit your career and even other areas in your life.
As you saw in the course aims, this course is tailored to people who want a basic understanding of engineering mathematics, physics, the properties of materials, various types of hardware, and the basic concepts of aerodynamics and the knowledge of human factors as they are applied to aircraft maintenance engineering. Remember, however, that the course materials cover only elementary concepts. To master the topic of Aircraft Mechanics, you will need to undertake your own continuing professional development in this ever-changing world of technology.
| A note about the developers of this course | |
Mr Chow Wing-chuen is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the IEE and HKIE. He holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a BEng (Hon) in Electronic Engineering from City University of Hong Kong, and a Higher Diploma in Electrical Engineering from Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Mr Chow has worked in electrical and electronic engineering disciplines in well-known contracting firms and utility companies for nearly 18 years, and has taken the lead in handling challenging projects such as the design and commissioning of communication systems for a transportation system and a power transmission substation. Mr Chow has also been a Training Manager at HKIE.
Mr Cheung Wai-kit holds an HKAR-66 B1.1 licence, a Bachelor's Degree (Honours) in Mechatronic Engineering and Engineering Management from City University, and a Higher Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering from IVE Tsing Yi. He is presently completing a Master's Degree in Engineering Management.
Mr Cheung has worked in aircraft maintenance organizations as a technical trainer. His job responsibilities have included handling training courses in Human Factors, Safety Management Systems, Critical Design Configuration Control Limitation, and airline procedures.
