CAA NZ AME Aeroplanes 1 (Subject 4) study plan
CAA NZ AME Aeroplanes 1 (Subject 4) · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Aeroplane airframe structures and systems & Maintenance practices, inspection and airworthiness for aeroplanes
Map the aeroplane structure taxonomy (fuselage, wing, empennage, nacelle) and label load paths and principal structural members on a hand-drawn diagram
Distinguish primary, secondary and tertiary structure and explain how fail-safe, safe-life and damage-tolerant design philosophies affect inspection intervals
Identify standard structural fasteners, splices and repairs and state the inspection method used to detect each defect type
Explain how corrosion, fatigue and stress corrosion cracking initiate and where on an aeroplane each is most likely to be found
Your checkpoint
A one-page annotated structural load-path diagram plus a 20-row defect-to-inspection-method table, self-marked against the subject syllabus
Aeroplane airframe structures and systems & Aeroplane systems - hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel and ice and rain protection
Describe the construction and inspection points of pressurised fuselage skin, frames, stringers and pressure bulkheads
Trace a typical hydraulic system from reservoir through pump, filter, pressure relief, selector and actuator, and explain the purpose of each component
Compare open-centre, closed-centre and power-by-wire hydraulic architectures and state the failure characteristics of each
Explain hydraulic fluid selection, contamination control and the checks performed after servicing
Your checkpoint
A labelled hydraulic system schematic with a written 150-word explanation of what happens downstream of a pump failure, plus 15 self-written recall questions with answers
Aeroplane systems - hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel and ice and rain protection & Aeroplane airframe structures and systems
Trace the fuel system from tank through booster pump, shut-off valve, crossfeed and engine feed, and explain venting, refuelling and defuelling procedures
Explain pneumatic system sources and uses (engine bleed, APU, ground cart) and the function of pressure regulation, precoolers and leak detection
Describe ice and rain protection systems for wings, intakes, propellers and windshields, including the difference between anti-ice and de-ice operation
State the inspection and functional checks required for fuel, pneumatic and ice protection systems after maintenance
Your checkpoint
A comparison table of fuel, pneumatic and ice/rain protection systems covering source, control, indication, failure mode and post-maintenance check
Aeroplane systems - electrical power, avionics and instruments & Aeroplane systems - hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel and ice and rain protection
Explain DC and AC generation, paralleling, bus distribution and the function of contactors, relays and circuit breakers in a typical light aeroplane and a transport aeroplane
Describe battery types, capacity ratings, charging and the checks performed during a battery condition assessment
Explain pitot-static and gyroscopic instrument principles and how static port blockage and pitot blockage present on each instrument
Outline avionics data buses and the maintenance precautions taken when handling avionics line-replaceable units
Your checkpoint
A timed 40-question mock test covering Domains 1-3 with a written review of every wrong answer, scoring at least 70 per cent
Aeroplane systems - flight controls, landing gear and cabin & Aeroplane systems - electrical power, avionics and instruments
Describe primary and secondary flight control surfaces, their actuation (cable, push-pull, fly-by-wire) and the rigging and adjustment checks applied to each
Explain landing gear configuration, retraction systems, shock absorption, wheels, tyres and brakes, including brake wear limits and tyre inspection criteria
Outline cabin systems relevant to airworthiness: pressurisation control, oxygen, cabin safety equipment and emergency lighting
Explain how flight control and landing gear defects are recorded, deferred and cleared within a maintenance control system
Your checkpoint
A flight controls and landing gear fault-finding flow chart for three common defects, each ending in a documented maintenance action
Aeroplane powerplant installation and propellers & Aeroplane airframe structures and systems
Describe reciprocating engine installation features: mounts, firewalls, cowlings, cooling baffles and exhaust systems, and the inspection points for each
Explain turbine engine installation features including mounts, bleed ports, thrust reversers and fire detection and suppression in the nacelle
Describe propeller construction, tracking, balancing and the checks applied after blade damage or replacement
Explain engine and propeller control rigging checks and how powerplant indications are verified during ground runs
Your checkpoint
A powerplant installation inspection checklist of at least 25 items, grouped by engine type and propeller, with the acceptance criterion for each
Maintenance practices, inspection and airworthiness for aeroplanes & Aeroplane powerplant installation and propellers
Apply the airworthiness framework: continuing airworthiness, maintenance programmes, airworthiness directives, service bulletins and their embodiment recording
Explain the purpose and content of a maintenance release, certificate of release to service and the role of approved organisations and certifying staff
Describe scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, defect deferral, minimum equipment list use and the documentation trail for each
Explain weight and balance control, mass and balance checks and the effect of modifications on the approved data
Your checkpoint
A worked scenario in which a defect is found, deferred, rectified and released, with every document named and correctly sequenced
Maintenance practices, inspection and airworthiness for aeroplanes & Aeroplane airframe structures and systems & Aeroplane systems - hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel and ice and rain protection & Aeroplane systems - electrical power, avionics and instruments & Aeroplane systems - flight controls, landing gear and cabin & Aeroplane powerplant installation and propellers
Revisit every domain using the week-by-week deliverables and close out each weak area with targeted revision
Complete two full-length timed mock exams under exam conditions and record the score by domain
Write and answer 30 rapid-recall questions drawn from the lowest-scoring domain areas
Confirm familiarity with all syllabus reference material and note any topics still needing review before sitting the examination
Your checkpoint
Two completed mock exams with domain score breakdowns and a final one-page revision sheet of the ten weakest points
Milestones
Week 2: Can draw the structural load path and the hydraulic system schematic from memory and explain each component's function without notes
Week 4: Scores at least 70 per cent on the 40-question mock covering Domains 1-3, with every error reviewed in writing
Week 6: Can state the inspection points, acceptance criteria and failure consequences for airframe, systems and powerplant installations without reference
Week 8: Scores at least 80 per cent on both full-length mocks with no single domain below 70 per cent