Air Weapons Systems Technician

Non-Commissioned Member | Full Time, Part Time

As a member of the military, Air Weapons Systems Technicians maintain aircraft air weapons systems. They also perform explosives storage and handling, and provide Explosive Ordnance Disposal duties for the Air Force.

Their primary responsibilities are to:

• Test, inspect and repair Air Weapons Systems
• Perform quality assurance checks
• Prepare and maintain aircraft forms and statistical data
• Perform aircraft handling tasks that include:
  • Parking
  • Towing
  • Marshalling
  • Starting
  • Refueling
  • Cleaning
  • De-icing
  • Loading/unloading weapons
  • Weapons systems

Work environment

Air Weapons Systems Technicians are employed primarily at air bases in aircraft maintenance organizations, in maintenance hangers, shop environments and on flight lines. They may also perform these same duties and responsibilities onboard a ship at sea or on an airfield at a deployed site. In geographic terms, employment can vary from Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) wings and bases within Canada, including the Arctic, to locations throughout the world in response to international commitments.

If you choose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part-time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Job Expectations

Air Weapons Systems Technicians, or AWS Techs, work in the hangar and on the flight line, installing, repairing and testing the complex weapons systems on Canada’s fighter jets, maritime helicopters and long-range patrol aircraft. They serve on bases across Canada, aboard ships with our maritime helicopters, and wherever our Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons deploy.

AWS Techs posted to a fighter squadron work either on the flight line or in a second-line shop. On the flight line, they do most of the loading of bombs, missiles and ammunition on the aircraft, as well as maintaining all of the systems on-board the aircraft that have to do with armament, including the gun system and the racks and launchers on the wings. In the shop, AWS Techs assemble and disassemble bombs and missiles and fill the ammunition karts that get delivered to the squadron. They also fill the chaff and flare pods.

As part of the air maintenance team, AWS Techs work alongside Avionics Systems Technicians, Aviation Systems Technicians and Aircraft Structures Technicians to ensure that every aircraft takes off with the ability to carry out its mission, and the firepower to back it up.

The expectation is perfection. The demands are high and perfection is the expectation.

Related Civilian Occupations

• Aircraft Mechanics and Aircraft Inspectors
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Explosives and ammunition magazine Supervisor