AVIATION TECHNOLOGY GRADE 10 COURSEBOOK
ESSENCE STATEMENT
Aviation Technology explores the dynamic world of flight, equipping learners with the
fundamental knowledge and skills to understand aircraft construction, flight, and
airport operations. It is designed to align a learner to the Technical Studies track in
line with the Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pathway.
Aviation technology is anchored on Kenya Vision 2030 and Sessional Papers No. 1 of
2015 and No. 1 of 2019, with the goal of equipping learners with the necessary skills
and knowledge to contribute to the growth and efficiency of the aviation industry.
This educational focus aims to foster economic development, enhance connectivity,
and support the tourism and trade sectors, which are vital to Kenya’s economic
growth. Through hands-on experiences, learners develop a comprehensive
understanding of the science and technology behind aviation.
This will enable them to analyze, design, and construct basic aircraft models,
comprehend the importance of aviation safety procedures, and appreciate aviation's
impact on society and the environment. The knowledge will promote the social,
economic, and industrial needs of the aviation industry. By engaging with real-world
applications and emerging technologies, learners gain the skills and knowledge
necessary to pursue diverse career opportunities, enhance the efficiency and safety of
the aviation industry and engage with a global community.
SUBJECT GENERAL LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of Senior School, the learner should be able to:
1. Develop understanding of Aviation Technology theories, concepts, principles, and
operations.
2. Acquire safety awareness and practices observed when working in the aviation
field.
3. Appreciate appropriate acceptable standards for weather, human and
environmental factors in flight operations.
4. Relate positively with members of the society when executing tasks related to
Aviation Technology.
5. Develop financial and consumer literacy skills in Aviation entrepreneurship.
6. Read, interpret, and apply aircraft related drawings.
7. Identify career opportunities available in the Aviation industry.
8. Understand and apply emerging technologies and environmentally sustainable
practices in the Aviation industry.
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4. STRAND 1_OCCUPATIONAL AND CAREER INFORMATION
Specific objectives
At the end of this strand, the learner should have acquired information on:
a) Range of occupational opportunities in the aviation field.
b) Entry qualifications for occupations in the aviation field.
c) Entry requirements for further training in the aviation field.
Sub-strands
a) Flight Crew careers.
b) Engineering careers.
c) Cabin crew careers.
d) Air traffic controllers.
e) Ground handling personnel.
Introduction
Definition of Aviation Technology
-It refers to the study of designing, manufacturing, maintaining and flying of an aircraft.
Roles of aviation to the Kenyan economy
Ø Transportation of passengers, mails and freight.
Ø Security purposes e.g. internal security forces and the military.
Ø Research by different organizations e.g. meteorological department, wildlife services.
Ø Aerial photography-mapping and surveying.
Ø Evacuation and medical services .i.e. In flooded areas
Ø Creation of employment opportunities e.g. Pilot, Flight dispatchers etc.
Ø Agricultural activities e.g. spraying.
Flight crew careers.
i) Pilot/captain/Pilot in command(PIC)
ii) Co-pilot/first officer.
iii) Flight engineer.
iv) Navigator.
Pilot
He/she seats at the port (left) side of the cockpit. Their roles include:
Ø Final decision maker during flight.
Ø In charge of take-off and landing.
Ø Carries out emergency drill in emergency situations.
Ø In charge of communication with the control tower.
Ø Ensures that necessary checks are done before take-off, during and after landing.
First officer
He acts as the co-pilot and seats at the right side (star board) of the flight deck. Their roles include:
u Assists the pilot(deputizes)
u Carries out the check list i.e takeoff check list, climb check list, cruise check list, approach checklist and landing checklist.
u Takes over command in case the pilot is incapacitated.
u Carries the petty cash.
u Monitors the working of navigational computers, communication radios and engine instruments.
Qualifications for piloting
Physical and health qualifications:
u One must be in an excellent state of health i.e. not asthmatic, high blood pressure etc.
u Must have good hearing and eye sight as mostly radio communication and instrument viewing is mandatory.
u Should have a minimum age of 17 years
Academic qualifications:
u Must have very good performance in Mathematics, Physics, English and Geography with at least C+ and above.
u Should have an aggregate grade of C+ and above.
Pilot license categories
1. Student Pilot License (SPL)
This is the license given to a student pilot.
2. Private Pilot License (PPL)
This the most basic license. Student must successfully complete a minimum of 45 flying hours in addition to ground school. This license does not permit one to fly for commercial purposes.
3. Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
To acquire this category of license, the pilot must have a PPL and a flight experience of not less than 200 flight hours. Must also have instrument rating. With this license, the pilot can fly for pay.4 Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
This is the highest level of license that a pilot can have. The pilot should already have a CPL before obtaining the ATPL. A pilot must have a flight experience of not less than 1500 hours including 200 hours as pilot in command (PIC)
Flight engineer
The flight engineer is carried on long range flights to supervise the working of the engines, instruments, electricals and mechanical systems and ensuring they function properly. Other roles may include:
Ø Advices the pilot in case of flight emergencies.
Ø He enters/fills the technical logbook e.g. oil uplifts, aircraft defects, position of the aircraft c.o.g, accumulated flight hours, flight number etc.
Ø Starts the engines before take-off.
Ø Responsible for supervising the aircraft’s speed and altitude.
Qualifications for a flight engineer:
Ø Be at least 18 years of age.
Ø Possess a valid Class 1 Medical Certificate.
Ø At least 3 years of practical experience in aircraft maintenance and at least 5 hours of flight training in the duties of a flight engineer.
Ø Possess a degree in aeronautical engineering from a college or engineering school acceptable by KCAA.
Navigator
He/she is a member of the flight crew and seats behind the captain in the flight deck. Their roles include:
Ø Monitors aircraft position at all times.
Ø Advices the captain on estimated time to destination and route.
Ø In charge of maintaining aeronautical charts and publications, navigational equipment, and communications.
Ø Assists in flight planning
Aircraft engineering careers.
Aircraft engineering can be categorized into two main groups namely:
-
- Aeronautical engineering.
b. Maintenance engineering
a) Aeronautical engineering/aerospace engineering.
It involves designing and testing of aircraft, and aircraft systems.
b) Aircraft maintenance engineering.
This requires a wide variety of skilled engineers who ensure the aircraft is airworthy through timely scheduled and unscheduled checks, servicing and system overhaul. It can be categorized into three:
i. Airframe maintenance engineer.
ii. Power plant maintenance engineer.
iii. Avionics engineer.
i. Airframe maintenance engineer.
They are responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft body and the fuselage. They should have at least a diploma level training in aeronautical engineering and a license from KCAA.
ii. Power plant maintenance engineer.
They are responsible for day to day maintenance of the aircraft engines and overhaul of engine components. They should have at least a diploma level training in aeronautical engineering and a license from KCAA.
iii. Avionics engineer.
Responsible for the maintenance of electrical and electronic systems, and instruments of the aircraft. They should have at least a diploma level training in aeronautical engineering and a license from KCAA.
Cabin crew careers
These careers involve taking care of passengers and ensuring their comfortability while the aircraft is in flight. The personnel in these careers include:
i) Hostesses and stewards.
ii) Purser.
i) Hostesses and stewards.
These are ladies and gentlemen who work in the passenger aircraft cabin and play the following roles:
Ø Serve food and drinks to passengers during flight.
Ø Brief passengers on flight safety and actions to take in case of an emergency.
Ø Assist in giving first aid in case of unfortunate incidents during flight.
Ø They take care of the passenger’s needs and ensure they are comfortable throughout the flight.
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They report any serious concerns in the cabin to the pilot for necessary action.
ii) Purser
He/she is the chief cabin crew member and has the following responsibilities:
Ø He/she ensures that the services provided to the passengers is of the highest standard.
Ø He/she keeps the aircraft’s flight accounts records.
Ø In charge of entertainment and ensures that the passengers are comfortable in the aircraft during flight.
Ø He/she orders for supplies before flight.
Ø He/she is in charge of all operations and logistics in the cabin during flight.
Ø He/she gives instructions to the cabin attendants before and during flight.
Air traffic control
These are personnel located at the control tower of every airport with a need to control the flow of aircraft. They can be put into two categories:
a) Air traffic controllers.
b) Ground controllers.
a) Air traffic controller.
Ø Air traffic controller gives instructions to the pilot on when to land and take-off. In case the aircraft needing to take off or land are many, he/she puts them on a waiting list.
Ø Ensures that aircraft in the controlled airspace are safely separated i.e. a vertical separation of 1000 feet is the standard.
Ø Ensures that the airport beacon transmitter and radar equipment are functioning properly.
Ø Responsible for collecting landing and take-off fees in the airport.
Ø Keep in constant communication with the pilot to update him on weather and direction/position of the aircraft.
Ø Advices the pilot on the action to be taken during an emergency in flight.
b) Ground Controllers.
These are airport personnel who are located at the airport control tower.
They are mostly concerned with aircraft that is on the ground especially at the ramp and on the taxiways, after landing or before take-off. These personnel have the following responsibilities:
Ø Guide the aircraft from the runway to the terminal gate.
Ø They ensure the aircraft remain on their taxiways and away from active runways to avoid ground collisions.
Ø They ensure the airports stay operational by keeping the aircraft moving within the airport to avoid delay.
Ø They clear the runway off any vehicles and personnel during take-off and landing
Ø They inform the pilot about the weather and are also responsible for adjusting runway lights incase visibility is poor.
Ø They call fire department or medical services in case of a fire emergency.
Ø They give permission for engine startup, pushback procedures, refueling and other ramp activities.
Ø They allocate terminal gates to the arriving aircrafts.
Ground handling
These are personnel concerned with the aircraft once it enters the terminal area either for passengers to disembark, off-loading of goods, refueling, etc.
The personnel include:
a) Marshallers.
b) Flight dispatchers.
c) Security officers.
a) MARSHALLER.
Ø This personnel is responsible for directing the pilot using standard hand signals during ground operations like engine start up prior to take-off, taxiing, parking etc. He has to dress up in easily identifiable clothing for him to be spotted easily. At night they use flash lights.
b) Flight dispatcher.
A flight dispatcher is positioned in the operations department of an airline and has the following responsibilities:
Ø Helps in scheduling flights.
Ø Ensures all civil aviation regulations are adhered to.
Ø Prepares flight plans.
Ø Supplies meteorological reports.
Ø Briefs the flight crew members before the flight commences.
Ø Provides flight and fuel information.
c) SECURITY OFFICERS.
These are Kenya Airports Authority employees who are assigned the roles of ensuring overall security of aircraft, passengers and other personnel. They carry out passenger, baggage and cargo screening to ensure that no illegal drugs and firearms enter or leave through the customs.
In case of any irregularities or non-compliance, they call the police.
AVIATION ORGANIZATIONS
Each country is responsible for regulating aviation operations for any aircraft within its airspace. Nevertheless, there are some regulations that govern international flights to ensure equitable treatment for all civil airline operators.
Aviation organizations hence can be categorized as either:
a) Local;
i) Kenya Airports Authority (KAA)
ii) Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA)
b) International;
i) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Ii) International Air Transport Association (IATA
I) Kenya Airports Authority (KAA)
This organization has the following responsibilities;
Ø It is responsible for the construction of civil airports and their maintenance.
Ø They approve construction and establishment of private airstrips.
Ø Provide security within the airport.
Ø They provide rescue and firefighting equipment at the airport.
Ø They charge airlines for the usage of the airport facilities.
Ø They maintain runways, taxiways and aprons.
ii) Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA)
KCAA is responsible for;
Ø Approval of aviation organizations based on their liquidity.
Ø Licensing of aviation personnel e.g pilots, maintenance engineers, air traffic controllers etc.
Ø Licensing of aircraft based on their airworthiness conditions.
Ø In charge of aircraft accident and incidents investigations.
Ø Calibrate airport beacons.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
i) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
This organization plays the following roles;
Ø Ensures safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation world over.
Ø Negotiates for freedoms of air e.g freedom to overfly a foreign state, freedom to land in a foreign state on emergency situations etc.
Ø Promote safety of flight in the international airspace.
Ø Encourage the art of aircraft design and operation for peaceful purposes.
Ø Adopted the phonetic alphabets for use in civil aviation. These alphabets are as follows:
A- Alpha B-Bravo C-Charlie D-Delta E-Echo F-Foxtrot G-Golf H-Hotel I- India J- Juliet K-Kilo L-Lima M-Mike N-Novembre O- Oscar P-Papa Q- Quebec R-Romeo S-Sierra T-Tango U-Uniform V-Victor W-Whiskey X- X-Ray
Y- Yankee Z- Zulu
ii) International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Ø Meet the needs of people around the world by ensuring a safe, regular, efficient and economical air transport.
Ø Regulating air transport charges to prevent unnecessary competitions among airlines.
Ø Training, examining and issuing certificates after qualification to cabin crew members and other aviation related hospitality personnel.