Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Summer Semester 2026

Aviation Maintenance Technician Airframe (AMTA) 1

AMTA 1100-01

Course: AMTA 1100-01
Credits: 4
Term: Summer Semester 2026
Department: AVTN
CRN: 20088

Course Description


This Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) program is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under 14 CFR Part 147 and reflects the competency-based framework established by the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act.  The curriculum is aligned with the Aviation Mechanic Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and is not based on prescribed seat-time or minimum hour requirements. Students progress by demonstrating proficiency in required knowledge and practical skills across the General, Airframe, and Powerplant subject areas.

Program completion qualifies students to pursue FAA mechanic certification through required knowledge, oral, and practical examinations. A minimum score of 70% is required on all FAA knowledge tests.  This course is one of a group of Six Airframe courses that are designed to meet the regulatory and content requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation 14 CFR 147 for the Airframe portion of the A&P license.

Summary of Course Content:

This course introduces the operation, components, and maintenance of aircraft hydraulic and pneumatic systems, landing gear systems, and fuel systems. Students will study hydraulic power sources, valves, actuators, accumulators, and system servicing, along with basic pneumatic applications & components.  The course then covers landing gear systems, including fixed and retractable types, extension and retraction systems, wheels, brakes, and tires, with emphasis on operation, inspection, and maintenance practices.  Finally, students will examine fuel systems, including tanks, pumps, valves, lines, and filtration.  Throughout the course, students develop skills in inspection, troubleshooting, and safe maintenance procedures.



Required Texts


Reference #1 (Handbook Purchase): FAA-H-8083-31B FAA Airframe Handbook; ISBN-13: 978-1644253588  

Reference #1 (Free Online): Navigate to the FAA's Aviation Handbooks and Manuals page.  Select appropriate manual for class "FAA-H-8083-31B


Reference #2 (Handbook Purchase):  Advisory Circular (AC) 43.13-1B, Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices - ISBN 9798325579974

Reference #2 (Free Online): Navigate to FAA's Advisory Circular (ACs) webpage.  In search prompt input "AC 43.13-1B" then select product


Reference #3 (Handbook Purchase): Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Book; ISBN 978-1-64425-504-9

Reference #3: (Free Online):  Navigate to ecfr.gov to find entire list of Code of Federal Regulations online in searchable format 


Learning Outcomes


This course is aligned with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airman Certification Standards (ACS), FAA-S-ACS-1, and is structured to develop student competency in the areas of Knowledge, Risk Management, and Skills.

Knowledge:  Students will develop an understanding of aircraft hydraulic and pneumatic systems, including system principles, power sources, valves, actuators, accumulators, seals and gaskets, dampening and absorbing units, contamination control, and typical aircraft applications.  Students will also study landing gear systems—fixed and retractable gear, extension and retraction systems, wheels, tires, brakes, and anti-skid systems—as well as aircraft fuel systems, including fuel fundamentals, system types, tanks, pumps, valves, and filtration.

Risk Management:  Students will identify hazards and assess risks associated with hydraulic, pneumatic, landing gear, and fuel systems, including fluid contamination, leaks, component wear, improper servicing, and system malfunctions.  Emphasis is placed on safe maintenance practices, proper handling of fluids and components, and adherence to established procedures to prevent system failures and ensure operational safety.

Skills:  Students will demonstrate the ability to inspect, service, troubleshoot, and perform basic maintenance on hydraulic and pneumatic systems, landing gear components, and fuel systems. This includes identifying defects, verifying system operation, and applying appropriate maintenance practices in accordance with industry standards.


Course Requirements

Prerequisite(s):

  • Courses: AMTG 1200 and AMTG 1300 and AMTG 1400
  • Grade/GPA Requirement:  Prerequisite Min. Grade: C (70%)

Final grades assigned for this course will be based on the percentage of total points earned and are assigned as follows:Assignment Group | Percentage of Final GradeQuizzes | 30% Labs | 30% Midterm & Final | 30% Attendance | 10% Quizzes/Assignments |


Performance Indicators:
A | 90-100% | Excellent Work
B | 80-89% | Good Work
C | 70-79% | Average Work
D | 60-69% | Poor Work
F | 0-59% | Failing Work


Course Outline


Course Outline:


Week 1 | Hydraulic Systems Fundamentals
Demonstrates understanding of:

Basic principles of aircraft hydraulic systems, including fluid properties, system operation, and power transmission. Covers hydraulic power sources, reservoirs, pumps, and system layouts.

Demonstrates ability to:
Identify hydraulic system components and describe system operation.

Measurement:
Airframe Lab 1, Airframe Quiz 1


Week 2 | Hydraulic & Pneumatic Systems – Components and Applications
Demonstrates understanding of:

Hydraulic system components including valves, actuators, accumulators, seals and gaskets, dampening and absorbing units, and contamination control. Introduction to aircraft pneumatic systems and their applications.

Demonstrates ability to:
Inspect hydraulic and pneumatic components and identify signs of wear, leaks, and contamination.

Measurement:
Airframe Lab 2, Airframe Quiz 2


Week 3 | Landing Gear Systems – Types, Functions, and Design
Demonstrates understanding of:

Basic landing gear configurations, including fixed and retractable systems, and their primary functions.  Covers design considerations, load absorption, and structural integration with the airframe.

Demonstrates ability to:
Identify landing gear types and major components, and describe system operation.

Measurement:
Airframe Lab 3, Airframe Quiz 3


Week 4 | Wheels and Tires
Demonstrates understanding of:

Aircraft wheels, tires, and tubes, including construction, materials, wear patterns, and servicing requirements.

Demonstrates ability to:
Inspect, service, and identify defects in wheels, tires, and tubes.

Measurement:
Airframe Lab 4, Airframe Quiz 4


Week 5 | Aircraft Braking Systems and Anti-Skid
Demonstrates understanding of:

Brake system types and operation, including hydraulic braking systems and anti-skid systems. Emphasizes system function, heat dissipation, and wear.

Demonstrates ability to:
Inspect and service brake components and identify common discrepancies.

Measurement:
Airframe Lab 5, Airframe Quiz 5


Week 6 | Nose Wheel Steering Systems
Demonstrates understanding of:

Nose/tail wheel steering system design and operation, including mechanical and hydraulic steering systems and their integration with landing gears.

Demonstrates ability to:
Identify steering system components and perform basic inspection procedures.

Measurement:
Airframe Lab 6, Airframe Quiz 6


Week 7 | Midterm Exam Week

Review of hydraulic, pneumatic, and landing gear systems.

Measurement:
Midterm Summative Assessment


Week 8 | Landing Gear Retraction Systems
Demonstrates understanding of:

Retraction and extension systems, including hydraulic, electric, and mechanical actuation methods, position indicators, and warning & emergency systems.

Demonstrates ability to:
Identify retraction system components and describe system operation.

Measurement:
Airframe Lab 7, Airframe Quiz 7


Week 9 | Landing Gear Fault Isolation and Troubleshooting
Demonstrates understanding of:

Common landing gear malfunctions, failure modes, and troubleshooting methodology.

Demonstrates ability to:
Diagnose landing gear system discrepancies and apply logical troubleshooting procedures.

Measurement:
Airframe Lab 8, Airframe Quiz 8


Week 10 | Fuel Systems – Fundamentals
Demonstrates understanding of:

Fuel system principles, fuel characteristics, safety considerations, and basic system operation.

Demonstrates ability to:
Identify major fuel system components and describe system operation.

Measurement:
Airframe Lab 9, Airframe Quiz 9


Week 11 | Fuel Systems – Components and System Types
Demonstrates understanding of:

Fuel system configurations (gravity-feed and pump-feed), tanks, pumps, valves, lines, vents, and filtration.
Demonstrates ability to:
Identify and inspect fuel system components and distinguish between system types.


Measurement:

Airframe Lab 10, Airframe Quiz 10


Week 12 | Fuel Systems – Inspection, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting
Demonstrates understanding of:

Inspection procedures, contamination control, common malfunctions, and maintenance practices.

Demonstrates ability to:
Perform inspections, identify contamination, and apply troubleshooting and corrective actions.

Measurement:
Airframe Lab 11, Airframe Quiz 11


Week 13 | Flex Week

Reserved for institutional breaks, schedule adjustments, or additional instruction/review as needed. This week provides flexibility to accommodate academic terms that are one week shorter (e.g., summer semester).

Measurement:
Airframe Quiz 12


Week 15 | Final Exam Week

Comprehensive review of all systems.

Measurement:
Final Summative Assessment


Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work


ALL COURSE WORK MUST BE COMPLETED.

Late submissions are strongly discouraged and must still be completed if missed. Assignments submitted after the due date will receive a 5% deduction per day late. After three weeks (21 days), the maximum possible score that may be earned on the assignment is 70% of the total available points. Any assignment not submitted by the due date may automatically receive a grade of zero in the Canvas gradebook until the work is submitted and graded.

Grades for all assessed activities will be recorded in the Canvas gradebook. To view your current score, select Grades from the Course Navigation menu on the left side of the screen. Final course grades are determined by the total percentage of points earned across all graded assignments and are assigned according to the established grading scale.

Letter Grade | Percentage | Performance:

A | 90-100% | Excellent Work
B | 80-89% | Good Work
C | 70-79% | Average Work
D | 60-69% | Poor Work
F | 0-59% | Failing Work

Important note: For more information about grading at Southern Utah University, visit the academic and grading policies of the university catalog.

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend all lectures and labs, with up to three absences permitted. Any missed instruction or lab time must be made up before the end of the semester to receive course credit; exceeding the absence limit or failing to complete make-up work will require retaking the course.  All assignments must be submitted to earn credit, and submissions are due by the stated deadlines in Canvas unless prior approval is granted.  Late work may impact your grade, and discussion assignments must be completed on time.

At the same time, unforeseen circumstances do arise—timely communication with the instructor is essential to work through those situations and determine appropriate options.

*Being more than 15 minutes late will count as an absence.

Course Fees

Please see Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) Program Pricing website located here: https://www.suu.edu/aviation/amt-pricing.html

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.