simandflight

This course offers the introduction to the aircraft systems like hydraulics system, landing gear, fuel system, electrical systems, 50,100,200,500 hours inspection, etc

Organization : onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in

Start Date : Feb 05, 2018

Duration : 4 weeks

Course Instructor : A K Ghosh is a faculty of Aerospace Engg. Department of IIT Kanpur. He is also the in-charge of the flight laboratory and unmanned aerial vehicle of IIT Kanpur.

Pre-Requisites :  Introduction to Airplane Performance (Online Courses Portal / NPTEL)

Exam : The Certification examen is optionnal, Rs 1000, needs to be paid. Exam dates : 28 & 29 April (2 sessions on both days: FN-9am to 12 noon; AN-2pm to 5pm)

Content :

Week 1  : Indian aircraft rules, Civil aviation requirement, CAR 66, Aircraft System
Week 2  : Hydraulic system, Fuel system, Electrical system, Landing gear
Week 3  : Aircraft structure, Aircraft Inspection, Special Inspection, Daily Inspection
Week 4  : 50 hours inspection, 100 hours inspection, 200 hours inspection, 500 hours inspection, 5 year inspection

Review

About NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) :

NPTEL is a joint initiative of several Indian Institutes of Technology who offer (free) online courses and certifications in various topics. Course duration is between 4 and 12 weeks (commitment is about 4 -6 hours /week). To get a certification you have to pass weekly online assignments which count for 25% in the final score and a final on site exam in one of the listed Indian exam centers, counting for 75%.

The course is about maintenance of general (small) aircraft. It is presented in form of video lectures. After a short introduction of rules and regulations for civil aviation in India, the lecturer describes the different aircraft components and systems: hydraulic system, fuel system, electrical system and a detailed description of the landing gear mechanism and the brake system. You learn facts and recommendations about maintenance scheduling and maintenance responsibilities. The Mooc contains also 2 interesting videos of real inspections of small airplanes: control surface, fuel, engine ground run up,… Otherwise, there aren’t lots of external resources or links.

To pass successfully the online assignments, you have to make some Internet researches for more detailed information. Each test is composed of 10, most technical multiple choice questions (good to high level). My personal average score for the best three required assignments was 100% (print screen of the progress page). I couldn’t pass the final exam and get a certification, as exam centers are only located in India.

The platform gives the possibility to discuss (“Ask a question”). There are only few interesting discussions, and most of the posted questions are about the assignments and stay without answer from the instructors.

An interesting course which covers a part of the maintenance topic. In following also other maintenance-related Moocs which are about other aspects such as safety culture and airliner maintenance (-> Aviation Maintenance ERAU, Technical maintenance of aircraft and aircraft engines, Samara University) you can get a good overview of this topic.

VdN – Reinhard Finke