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AS7489:
ACAS Certifications
There are five levels of certification for aerospace coatings application specialists.
Overview
Course 1 is a prerequisite for all subsequent courses. Course 1 certification is a written exam only.
Courses 2-5 consist of a written exam as well as a practical exam for complete certification.
Courses 2, 3 and 4 may be taken in any order after completion of course 1.
Successful completion of the written and practical exams for courses 1-4 are required before taking course 5.
Please contact us via the form at the bottom of the page for all practical examination inquires.
Content and a practice exam for courses 1-5 are available via the aci-tech website. Official Certifying exams must be scheduled through CertTEC.
What to Expect
These self-paced online courses meet or exceed the functional requirements outlined in SAE AS7489. Students who successfully complete courses with an 80% or higher grade will be eligible to schedule and take the corresponding ACAS Course practical exam to achieve full credentialing at the given level.
01
Fundamentals
The certified level 1 technician will have a basic understanding of aircraft preparation, safety, and work related hazards. They will be familiar with the concept of engineering documents and their importance. They will be introduced to the fundamentals of the aircraft preparation and paint process. Level 1 technicians will be able to identify all major parts of an aircraft and will be proficient in solvent wiping, and surface preparation requirements.
02
Surface Prep and Depainting
SAE AS7489 Course 2 is designed to enlighten students regarding arguably the most important processes in aerospace coatings application, the surface preparation. In this online course students will learn:
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How surface prep directly affects the Safety-of-Flight, and how ACAS personnel affect these critical outcomes in regards to corrosion, lightning strike, and other important influencers when the aircraft is in flight.
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The various substrates used in aerospace manufacturing, their associated surface preparation precautions, and how to remediate the process when Technical Deficits occur. Alloy and various Composite substrates will be explored in depth.
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Relevant primers, specialty coatings, and pretreatments (both Hexavalent chromium and non-chrome chemistries) - how they work and process precautions.
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Best practices for masking, sanding, surface cleaning, filler & coatings application.
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The "De-painting" process - paint stripping chemicals & best practices
03
Corrosion Inhibitors
The certified level 3 technician will have a fundamental understanding of corrosion causes, prevention and treatment. They will be able to recognize and identify types of corrosion along with their corresponding mitigation procedures. Technicians will also have a thorough knowledge of pretreatments and primers (both hex and tri chrome). They will also have a thorough understanding of hazardous material labeling and safety best practices/requirements. Level 3 technicians will have the knowledge to ensure the aircraft will be processed to ensure maximum corrosion prevention using legacy and emerging technologies.
04
Topcoats and Basecoat/Clearcoat Application
The certified level 4 technician will have a robust understanding of paint gun operation, compliance, and best practices. Students will be instructed on a survey of spray equipment commonly used in aerospace applications. Technology evaluated will include HVLP, electrostatic, airless air assisted, etc. They will be able to ensure correct mixing of coatings packages, and understand the importance of coatings & spray equipment characteristics that are observable and measurable, prior to final topcoat application. The technician will be familiar with various curing mechanisms and paint defects. They will be able to identify the major coating defects and trace their root causes, as well as, identify various environmental impacts on the final coating.
05
Master ACAS Paint Detail and Defect Repair
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