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Aircraft Technician (Mechanical)

Posted By: RAF
Address:
Contact: 0845 605 5555
Date Posted: 1st Dec 2008
Salary: Excellent
Location: Liverpool
Reference Code:
Views Since Posting: 8
Full Description:

Maintain and repair the airframes, engines and associated electrical equipment on our aircraft.

Your work
Overview
Aircraft Technicians (Mechanical) help to keep the RAF operational by carrying out important maintenance and repair work on the structure and engines of our aircraft.
From the start of your career, you could be helping prepare aircraft for take-off or checking for damage or wear after they return from a flight. You’ll work in hangars and workshops to diagnose and repair more serious faults, and carry out more complex maintenance.
All our aircraft get a full overhaul at regular intervals. When this happens, Aircraft Technicians (Mechanical) examine all the mechanical components, the structure of the aircraft, the engines and the associated electrical components that support these functions.

You’ll look after the complete range of aircraft mechanical systems, including:
• flying controls;
• landing gear;
• hydraulics;
• air conditioning;
• anti-icing; and
• fuel.

If you work on our helicopters, you’ll check rotor blades, rotor heads and transmission systems; and when you detect a fault, you’ll have to adjust, repair or replace the defective parts.
You could examine, test and repair engines and propulsion equipment on everything from fast jets to multi-engined aircraft and helicopters.
Like most people in the RAF, you’ll probably move jobs every few years, and each job is known as a tour. You will normally work at a flying station – an RAF base that is home to one or more squadrons of aircraft. You will also have opportunities to travel overseas when your skills are needed to support our aircraft around the world on operations and exercises.

Your first tour
For your first tour, you’ll be posted to a flying station where you’ll handle, refuel and maintain aircraft. You’ll also check for damage and wear, and may be called on to make minor repairs. You could also work in hangars or workshops with experienced technicians, where you’ll help with more complex maintenance tasks.
Aircraft Technician (Mechanical) 201B 1

Your training

Recruit training
Your career will start with nine weeks of recruit training at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. The course is designed to help you adjust to a military environment. As well as fitness and military training, you’ll also learn about the RAF lifestyle.

Specialist training
The next step is a specialist training course at RAF Cosford, near Wolverhampton, which lasts about five months. This course is designed to give you a basic understanding of your role, which includes aircraft handling and safety procedures. You’ll complete this course as an Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic (AMM) and then get your first posting, where you’ll remain for about two years to gain the necessary experience needed for the technician training course.

Ongoing development
After your first tour as an AMM and, providing you achieve the required specialist standards, you’ll return to RAF Cosford for a year-long technician training course. You’ll also be enrolled on an Advanced Apprenticeship in Aeronautical Engineering – the Key Skills element of which will be completed during training.
On successful completion of this part of your specialist training you will be qualified as an Aircraft Technician (Mechanical). In addition, once you’ve demonstrated your ability as a technician, you may be eligible for an NVQ Level 3 in Aeronautical Engineering. The award of this NVQ also signifies the completion of your Advanced Apprenticeship.

Your future

Prospects
You’ll initially join the RAF for a period of nine years. After a year you’ll be eligible for promotion to Senior Aircraftman/woman if you pass a trade ability test. Further promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is by competitive selection once you have successfully completed the technician training course.
There are two options for those who are not selected for, or fail, technician training: you could either transfer to another job in the RAF for which you have the necessary aptitude, if there is a vacancy available; or you could leave the RAF.

Transferable skills
The NVQ and Advanced Apprenticeship that you can earn are as valuable in the civilian world as they are in the RAF – which means that whenever you decide to leave the RAF, you’ll be well placed to find a job in engineering.
Aircraft Technician (Mechanical) 201B 2

Entry Qualifications

Age limits
16–29

Physical requirements
If you are colour blind, or have a history of asthma or skin sensitivity, you will not be able to join the RAF as an Aircraft Technician (Mechanical).

Academic qualifications
You need at least GCSEs/SCEs at Grade C/3 or equivalent in maths, English language and an approved science/technology-based subject. If you do not hold these qualifications, there may still be opportunities for you if you show the appropriate potential in the selection tests.

Entry test
You must pass a test at the Armed Forces Careers Office.

Nationality
You must have been a citizen of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland since birth.

Residency
Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should normally have resided there for the three years immediately preceding your application.

Equal opportunities
The RAF values every individual’s unique contribution, irrespective of race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or social background