A REPORT OF THE STUDENT INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE

SCHEME (SIWES)

BY

OMOTAYO YINKA

AME/ND/2019/055
 INTRODUCTION

SIWES (STUDENT INDUSTRIAL WORKING EXPERIENCE SCHEME)

DEFINITION OF SIWES

The student industrial work experience scheme is a skill is a

training program designed to expose and prepare students of
universities, polytechnics/colleges of technology/college of
agriculture and colleges of education for the industrial work
situation they are likely to meet after graduation. It is a
cooperative industrial internship program that involves
institutions of higher learning, industries, the federal government
of Nigeria, industrial training fund (ITF), and Nigerian universities
commission (NUC).

PURPOSE OF SIWES

The student industrial work experience scheme was established

by the industrial training fund (ITF) IN 1973 to enable students of
tertiary institutions have basic technical knowledge of industrial
work base on the respective institutions. The scheme also affords
students the opportunity of familiarizing and exposing themselves
to the needed experience in handling equipment and machinery
that are usually not available in the institution.

OBJECTIVE OF SIWES

1. Provide avenues for students to acquire industrial skills

and experience during their course of study.
2. Prepare students for industrial work situation they are
likely to meet after graduation.
 3. Expose student to work methods and techniques in
handling equipment and machineries.
4. Provide students with opportunities to apply their
knowledge in real work situations, thereby bridging the
gap between theory and practice.
5. To make the transition from the schooling to world of
work easier through enhancing students contact for later
job placement.

CHAPTER 1

I did my SIWES at Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria limited,

known as aero contractors or simply aero. It is stated-controlled
Nigerian airline company based at Murtala Muhammed airport in
Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria. Furthermore, it operates helicopter services
and fixed wing domestic and international scheduled passenger
services, air chartered and third party aircraft operations, largely
in support of Nigeria’s extensive oil and gas industry.

Aero contractors:

FOUNDED; 1957

HUBS: Murtala Muhammed airport Ikeja Lagos Nigeria

FLEET SIZE: 7

DESTINATIONS: 13

PARENT COMPANY: Asset management cooperation of Nigeria

(608)

HEADQUATERS: Murtala Muhammed airport Lagos

KEY PEOPLE: Abdullahi Mahmood (CEO)

WEBSITE: www.flyaero.com

Aero contractors of Nigeria (ACN) are the first MRO

(maintenance, repair and operations) to carry out C check on
B737 classic in West Africa.

I started my SIWES 12thof April 2021; on getting to aero we had a

safety induction. SAFETY comes first in all aircraft maintenance
work and so there are many signs in the hanger and workshops
e.g. fire extinguisher, no loose clothing’s, use air plugs, no phones
in the hanger, avoid spillage etc. safety is also observed in picking
of FOD (foreign object damage) like nylons, stones etc. after the
briefing and tour we were then taken to the hanger and was given
a supervisor who was going to show us around. Engr. Akaani
welcomed us and told us the various department s they had;

1. Avionics departments
2. Hanger floor( maintenance line)
3. Structural repairs ( sheet metal workshop)
4. Overhaul workshop
5. Stores

And we were told that we were each going to visit each

department as time goes on. I started with the hanger floor
(maintenance line)

1. MY EXPERIENCE AT THE HANGER FLOOR

( MAINTENANCE LINE)

Line maintenance include

1). Transit check

2). Weekly check

3). A check

4). B check

Be noted that those check is the routine checks and maintenance,

not including some additional – unscheduled maintenance –
either reported by flight crews or found during inspection or
routine check.

I met aero engineers working on a B737 DANA aircraft

which was due for C check, so I joined them in doing it. The
welcomed me and told me to observe for a while. I participated in
cleaning of the aircraft equipment and furnishing, equipment like
the galley sections, removal of worn out sealant etc. Cleaning is
very essential in aircraft maintenance. The DANA B737 is a
passenger economic aircraft, the wanted some seats to be
removed and changed to business class, in doing that some seats
were not aligned properly, so I participated in the adjustment of
the seats. I also had to check the passenger service unit (PSU) for
the oxygen bottle serial number, part number and due date, and
the life vest that were beneath the seats, I participated in writing
out the part number, serial number and due date.

Another aircraft had a crack on the fuselage, so I participated in

the removal of the wall panels, the PSU’s, the overhead baggage
compartments and the seats so that those carrying out structural
repair will have access to the crack. Most of the work I participate
in at the hanger were mostly cabin repairs. I also participated in
the passenger and emergency doors placards and markings.
Placards and markings are very important in the aircraft.

2. EXPERIENCED GAINED AT THE STRUCTURL REPAIRS

WORKSHOP( SHEET METAL)
Sheet metal workshop was my second place of attachment.
Aircraft Structural Repairs Structural repairs are made to aircraft
that have sustained damage to the structure (i.e., external skin,
stringers, formers, bulkheads, etc.) There are several ways an
aircraft structure can be damaged. It is usually caused by ground
service equipment, maintenance stands, bird strikes, or lightning
strikes.

I was shown different tools like the impact wrench, aviation

snips, die grinders, drilling machines, lazy tongue, pop plier etc. I
was taught how to rivet on different metal types, and also how to
put some types of rivets like pop rivet and blind rivet using the
lazy tongue and also the riveting gun. At the structural repair
workshop I learnt how templates were fabricated from Perspex
template to a metal template. I also observed the structural repair
that was carried out on the engine exhaust zone of the dash 8
series aircraft.

3. EXPERIENCED GAINED AT AVIONICS DEPARTMENT

In the avionics department I went to the battery workshop.

Aircraft batteries are of two types

1. Nickel cadmium
2. Lead acid
the nickel cadmium battery (NiCad battery) is a type of
rechargeable battery using nickel oxide hydroxide and
metallic cadmium as electrode

At the battery workshop I was briefed on the battery types

and asked to read the manual for better understanding. I
carried out different checks and maintenance on the batteries

1. Periodic check
2. Regular check
 3. Overhaul
4. Capacity check

Periodic check is performed based upon flight time, start

(discharge)/generator recharge cycle and battery age.

Regular check: suppose the voltage check from the periodical

check shows a great disparity in cell voltage, but the battery looks
ok visually. The battery should be removed from the aircraft and
put on a constant current top charge at the c/10 rate until the
cells have reached at least 1.55v each, and for the time specified
in the maintenance manual.

Overhaul: if found defective cells during the regular check, or if

the battery has failed the capacity check, or the overall visual
condition of the battery indicated that it’s time for some major
cleaning and inspection, it’s time for a general overhaul.

Capacity check: measure discharge versus time.

I went to the battery workshop. Aircraft batteries are of two types

3. Nickel cadmium
4. Lead acid
the nickel cadmium battery (NiCad battery) is a type of
rechargeable battery using nickel oxide hydroxide and
metallic cadmium as electrode

At the battery workshop I was briefed on the battery types

and asked to read the manual for better understanding. I
carried out different checks and maintenance on the batteries

5. Periodic check
6. Regular check
7. Overhaul
8. Capacity check
Periodic check is performed based upon flight time, start
(discharge)/generator recharge cycle and battery age.

Regular check: suppose the voltage check from the periodical

check shows a great disparity in cell voltage, but the battery looks
ok visually. The battery should be removed from the aircraft and
put on a constant current top charge at the c/10 rate until the
cells have reached at least 1.55v each, and for the time specified
in the maintenance manual.

Overhaul: if found defective cells during the regular check, or if

the battery has failed the capacity check, or the overall visual
condition of the battery indicated that it’s time for some major
cleaning and inspection, it’s time for a general overhaul.

Capacity check: measure discharge versus time.

5. EXPERIENCED GAINED AT THE OVERHAUL WORKSHOP

The overhaul workshop is a department where aircraft wheels

and brakes are being maintained, also NDT (non-destructive test)
and calibration checks are also carried out in the overhaul
workshop. I was introduced to different tools used in the
workshop e.g. torque wrench, eddy current tester, bead breaker,
magnetic bench tester etc.

I studied a wheel with an unserviceable tag and was able to

identify the extent of damage, wear and tear of a B737 class main
wheel and nose wheel. I also learnt how to interpret the brake
manual and identify various components on a B737 brake
assembly. I was then instructed to locate part numbers and serial
numbers of the wheels that were due for release.
 At the overhaul workshop I participated in the disassembling
and assembling of a B737 classic main wheel with the help of an
impact wrench, bead breaker and compressed air. Io took part in
the disassembly, inspection, and assembly of a B737 nose wheel
assembly all in accordance with the honey well manual.

I took part in several NDT (non-destructive test) such as;

1. The inspection carried out on a wheel assembly bolt using

a magnetic bench tester to ensure there are no
deformities such as cracks or corrosion.
2. Boroscope inspection carried out on a high pressure
turbine blade.
3. Eddy current test carried out on a B737 aircraft on the R/H
web for cracks.

I also participated in the calibration checks of torque wrenches

and washing and greasing of bolts, washing of nuts, bearings and
hubs.

CONCLUSION

The report has been able to x-ray an account of the entire work-
the SIWES programmer undergone at aero contractors Nigeria
which is a core scheme on IF and which is saddled with the
responsibility of strengthening the effective teaching and learning
of skilled based courses such as aircraft maintenance engineering.
I therefore conclude the SIWES is a great benefit to students in
tertiary institutions. It therefore implies that the proper and
effective administration of SIWES will go a long way in boosting
and enhancing the competence of the work force of the country.

RECOMMENDATION
Although SIWES undergone did achieve quite a lot of its stated
objectives, nevertheless, the following recommendations are
suggested to improve the qualitative context of the programme:

i. Participation of private corporate organization to minimize the

problem of low funding as recently complained by the director of
ITF.

ii. Participation of various professional, regulatory and statutory

bodies such as COREN (council for the regulation of engineering in
Nigeria), NSE (Nigerian society of engineers) in the supervision of
students.

iii. Sending students specifically to establishment where the

stipulated aims and objectives of SIWES would be achieved.

iv. Payment of befitting student allowance to assist in students

finances during the period of training.

REFRENCES

https://funai:edu.ng.siwesunit

https://helicoptermaintenancemagazine.com/article/
aircraftbattery

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_maintenance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_maintenance

www.aviation-safety-bureau.com/aircraft-repair.html
studyflying.com/a-b-c-d-check-airline-maintenance/