Introduction

The SIAEC Skills Challenge is a competition for all ages and gender. There are 3 parts in the

challenge; Lashing, Stripping and Assembly.

Lashing is an important skill in the avionics trade of aircraft maintenance work, primarily used

to organize wires and cables in avionics systems. Stripping and assembly are skills in the

mechanical trade. Engines and other equipment are often stripped from the aircraft for

troubleshooting or replacement. Assembly involves fitting parts onto the aircraft.

Objectives

Complete the challenge within 3 minutes. Successful participants will receive a gift.

Rules

Each participant will be issued two kits; one for lashing (Figure 1) and another for stripping

and assembly (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Lashing Kit

Figure 2: Stripping/Assembly Kit

Figure 3: Final Lash

Figure 4: Stripped Kit

First, the participant is to lash the wires in Figure 1 using a clove hitch knot followed by a

square knot (See Figure 3). Details of how clove hitch and square knots are tied can be found

in the Appendix.

Then, the participant take the kit in Figure 2 and using the tools provided, strip it to what is

shown in Figure 4.

Finally, the participant must assemble the kit to the original kit in Figure 2 to complete the

challenge.

Appendix

How to tie a clove hitch knot

Step 1

Loop the rope around the object you're tying to. Hold an end

in each hand.

Step 2

Cross the end in your right hand over the end in your left

hand, forming an X with your hands holding the pieces at the

top of the X.

Step 3

Wrap the end in your right hand around behind the object

again in the same direction as before, leaving the wrap loose.

When you bring it back around to the front, poke the end

under the piece of rope that you just wrapped around.

How to tie a square (reef) knot

Step 1

Start with two pieces of rope that are close in diameter. We'll call them rope A and rope B for ease

in describing this process.

Step 2

Hold the end of rope A in your left hand and the end of rope B in your right hand.

Step 3

Cross rope A over rope B to form an X.

Step 4

Wrap A once to the right around B, just like the first step in tying a

bow in your shoelace. A is now sticking out to the right and B is to

the left.

Step 5

Cross A over B again, forming another X.

Step 6

Wrap A once to the left around B.

Step 7

Pull on the free ends to tighten the knot.