QCAA Aerospace Systems case studies
QCAA Aerospace Systems · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Aerospace Systems is a General senior syllabus published by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) for Queensland senior secondary students. The current syllabus is Aerospace Systems 2025 v1.4, described by the QCAA as being for implementation with students who will complete their study of the course in 2026 or beyond. The subject sits within the Technologies learning area and is assessed through a combination of school-based internal assessment and a QCAA external assessment. The published external assessment materials show the examination is delivered through a multiple choice question book, a question and response book and a stimulus book, supported by a subject-specific formula and data book and a permitted scientific calculator. The QCAA Aerospace Systems case studies are 5 cases and about 2,150 words.
1Composite Repair Decision on a Wing Spar Cap
A light training aircraft has a delaminated carbon-fibre wing spar cap found during inspection. The damaged zone measures 42 mm along the span and lies 18 mm from the spar cap edge.
466 words, about 2 min2Navigation System Failure During a Charter Flight
A twin-engine charter aircraft is 40 minutes into a 90-minute flight when the primary GNSS receiver fails. The aircraft carries a secondary GNSS unit and a VOR/DME set.
422 words, about 2 min3Fatigue Inspection Interval for a Repeated Load Path
An engineering team is setting an inspection interval for a critical wing attachment fitting. Fatigue testing shows a crack initiates at 18,000 flight cycles and grows to the critical size at 26,000 cycles.
400 words, about 2 min4Unmanned Aircraft Lost Link Over a Populated Area
A remotely piloted aircraft is conducting a survey flight at 110 m above ground level near the edge of a suburban area. The command-and-control link fails.
417 words, about 2 min5Maintenance Release with an Open Defect
An aircraft is due for release after a scheduled inspection. The inspection found a small fuel leak at a hose fitting, classified by the maintenance manual as a 'minor seep' that may be deferred for up to 10 flight hours under a minimum equipment list (MEL) entry.
445 words, about 2 min