CAAP AMT Knowledge Exam key terms

An official document confirming that an aircraft conforms to its approved type design and is safe to operate. In the Philippines it is issued or renewed by CAAP after inspections and continued airworthiness requirements are satisfied.

A mandatory corrective instruction issued by the state of design and adopted by the importing authority, requiring inspection, modification, or replacement to correct an unsafe condition. Compliance is compulsory and must be recorded in the aircraft's maintenance records.

The set of processes, inspections, and records that keep an aircraft in a condition meeting its type design and safe operating limits throughout its service life. It includes scheduled maintenance, defect control, and mandatory modifications.

A certification signed by an appropriately authorized person confirming that specified maintenance has been completed satisfactorily and the aircraft or component is fit for return to service within stated limitations.

An organization holding a CAAP-issued approval to perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations on aircraft and components, meeting facility, personnel, tooling, and quality-system requirements defined in the regulations.

A licensed technician or engineer authorized to sign maintenance releases and certify that work has been performed to required standards. Authority is typically limited by ratings and type endorsements held.

A manufacturer-issued document recommending inspection, modification, or part replacement to improve reliability or safety. Unlike an airworthiness directive, it is generally advisory unless the authority mandates compliance.

The determination and control of an aircraft's empty weight, total loaded weight, and center of gravity position so that all limits are respected. It is essential for controllability, performance, and structural safety.

The point at which the aircraft's total weight is considered concentrated. Its position along the longitudinal axis must remain within a certified forward and aft range for safe handling and structural loading.

An imaginary reference plane, usually perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, from which horizontal distances are measured for weight and balance calculations. Its location is fixed by the manufacturer and never changes.

The horizontal distance from the datum to the location of an item's weight. Multiplying weight by moment arm yields the moment used to locate the loaded center of gravity.

A measure of a weight's turning effect about the datum, calculated as weight multiplied by its moment arm. Summing moments and dividing by total weight gives the loaded center of gravity position.

The weight of the aircraft including structure, powerplant, fixed equipment, unusable fuel, and undrainable oil, but excluding crew, passengers, payload, and usable fuel. It is established by weighing and recorded in the weight report.

The highest weight at which the aircraft is certified to begin takeoff, accounting for structural and performance limits. Exceeding it invalidates performance assumptions and may overstress structure.

The difference between maximum allowable gross weight and empty weight, representing the capacity available for fuel, crew, passengers, and cargo. It decreases whenever empty weight increases through equipment additions.

A copper-bearing aluminum alloy known for high strength and fatigue resistance, widely used in aircraft skins and tension members. It has lower corrosion resistance than 7075 and is commonly clad with pure aluminum.

A zinc-bearing aluminum alloy with very high strength, used in highly stressed structures such as wing spars and fittings. It is less weldable and more susceptible to stress corrosion than other common alloys.

A composite sheet material in which a core alloy is roll-bonded with a thin layer of commercially pure aluminum. The cladding provides sacrificial corrosion protection while the core carries structural loads.

Corrosion caused when two dissimilar metals are in electrical contact in the presence of an electrolyte, causing the more active metal to corrode. Prevention includes isolation, sealants, and compatible fastener selection.

Cracking that develops when a susceptible alloy is subjected simultaneously to tensile stress and a corrosive environment. It often occurs in high-strength aluminum and steel parts and can propagate rapidly with little visible warning.

Standardized specifications for aircraft bolts, nuts, washers, and pins ensuring dimensional and material interchangeability. AN parts are older Army-Navy standards; MS parts are later military standards with similar intent.

A calibrated tool that applies and indicates a specific twisting force to a fastener. Correct use requires setting the value from maintenance data, applying steady force, and recalibrating periodically.

A locking method in which twisted wire is routed through drilled fastener heads to prevent loosening from vibration. The wire must be installed so that any tendency to loosen tightens the wire.

The clamping force induced in a joint when a fastener is tightened. Proper preload keeps joint members in compression and reduces fatigue loading on the bolt under cyclic operating loads.

Any loose material that can enter an engine, control system, or structure and cause damage or malfunction. Prevention relies on tool control, housekeeping, and inspection before closing panels or cowlings.

A system of accountability in which every tool is inventoried, marked, and checked in and out of the work area. It prevents tools from being left in aircraft and supports rapid detection of missing items.

A safety procedure in which energy sources such as electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic systems are isolated and marked with warning tags before maintenance. It prevents accidental energization and injury to personnel.

A document describing a hazardous substance's composition, health effects, handling precautions, and emergency measures. Technicians must consult it before using chemicals, solvents, or paints.

A structural member running chordwise within a wing or stabilizer that shapes the airfoil, supports the skin, and transfers loads to the spar. Ribs also help maintain the wing's aerodynamic contour.

The main spanwise structural beam of a wing or stabilizer that carries bending and shear loads from the lifting surfaces to the fuselage. Spars are typically the strongest members of the wing structure.

A longitudinal stiffening member attached to skin or spar webs that carries axial loads and helps the skin resist buckling. Stringers are common in semi-monocoque structures.

A structural method in which the skin carries most loads, supported by frames, stringers, and bulkheads. It provides high strength-to-weight ratio and is typical of modern fuselage and wing structures.

A heavy transverse structural member that carries concentrated loads and maintains the fuselage cross-section shape. Bulkheads often support landing gear, engines, or pressure bulkhead boundaries.

The operating sequence of intake, compression, power, and exhaust strokes that completes one power event per two crankshaft revolutions. Aircraft reciprocating engines rely on this cycle for efficient fuel conversion.

The ratio of cylinder volume with the piston at bottom dead center to the volume at top dead center. Higher ratios improve thermal efficiency but raise detonation risk and require higher octane fuel.

Abnormally rapid, uncontrolled combustion that creates pressure spikes and can damage pistons, valves, and bearings. Causes include low octane fuel, excessive manifold pressure, and high cylinder temperature.

Ignition of the fuel-air mixture before the spark occurs, usually due to a hot spot such as a glowing carbon deposit or overheated spark plug. It can cause severe power loss and engine damage.

The precise opening and closing schedule of intake and exhaust valves relative to crankshaft position. Correct timing optimizes cylinder filling and scavenging and is set by camshaft design and gear alignment.

A powerplant in which air is compressed, mixed with fuel and burned, and the expanding gases drive a turbine that turns the compressor and produces thrust or shaft power. It operates on the Brayton cycle.

A key turbine engine parameter indicating combustion and turbine temperature. It is used to set power, monitor engine health, and avoid exceeding limits that could damage hot-section components.

Electrical components that connect the battery to the aircraft's distribution system and route power to multiple circuits. Relays control high-current loads; bus bars distribute power to individual circuit breakers.

A resettable protective device that opens an electrical circuit when current exceeds a rated value, preventing wire overheating. It must be reset only after the cause of the trip is identified.

The electrical connection of aircraft structure and components to a common reference to prevent static buildup, reduce radio interference, and provide a return path for current. It is essential for lightning and fault protection.

A pressure system supplying total pressure from the pitot tube and static pressure from static ports to airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed instruments. Blockages or leaks cause erroneous indications and must be tested.

The study of how human capabilities and limitations interact with maintenance tasks, tools, and environments. It aims to reduce errors through better design, procedures, communication, and awareness of fatigue and stress.

A widely used list of twelve common human error precursors in aviation maintenance, including fatigue, complacency, pressure, distraction, and lack of communication. Recognizing them helps technicians anticipate and mitigate mistakes.

A technician's accurate perception and understanding of the current work environment, task status, and potential hazards. Loss of it often precedes errors such as missed steps or unrecorded work.

A training and operational approach that improves teamwork, communication, and decision-making among maintenance personnel. It parallels crew resource management and targets error reduction in technical work.