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147.A.115 addresses the assessment of practical training elements, requiring that students demonstrate competence in hands-on maintenance tasks as part of their approved training course.
What it means in practice
Practical assessments evaluate whether students can perform maintenance tasks to the required standard, not just whether they understand the theory. This typically involves observed practical exercises where the student demonstrates skills such as safety wiring, torque loading, rigging, fault diagnosis, or use of specialist tooling. The assessment criteria must be clearly defined and applied consistently across all students.
Assessors must be qualified and authorised to conduct practical assessments. The assessment process must be documented, including the tasks assessed, the criteria applied, and the outcome. Students who do not meet the required standard must be given guidance on areas for improvement and an opportunity to be reassessed.
Key requirements
Practical assessments must cover the skills specified in the course syllabus. Assessment criteria must be objective and documented. Assessors must be competent and authorised. Results must be recorded and retained. Students must be given the opportunity to be reassessed if they do not initially meet the required standard.
Common compliance gaps
A common finding is practical assessments that are treated as a formality rather than a genuine evaluation of competence. Vague assessment criteria that allow subjective interpretation, and assessors who have not been formally authorised or trained in assessment techniques, are also frequently identified issues.
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