Aircraft Structures Technician

Canadian Armed Forces; Trenton; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Canadian Armed Forces are seeking Aircraft Structures Technicians to join their air maintenance team. These skilled professionals will be responsible for the inspection, maintenance, and repair of aircraft structures and related components. Candidates can expect a dynamic work environment supporting various military operations and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Responsible for aircraft structure maintenance and repair.
• Skilled in welding, machining, and composite repair.
• Trained in military and technical skills.

Responsibilities

• Inspect and maintain aircraft structures and components.
• Repair defects using specialized tools and materials.
• Conduct corrosion control inspections.

Skills

Metal and composite repair

Refinishing

Machining

Welding

Aircraft handling tasks

Education

Military and occupational training

Job description

Non-Commissioned Member | Full Time, Part Time

As a member of the military, Aircraft Structures Technicians are members of the air maintenance team who handle, service and maintain Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) aircraft and associated equipment.

As a member of the military, Aircraft Structures Technicians are members of the air maintenance team who handle, service and maintain Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) aircraft and associated equipment. They are responsible for the maintenance and repair of aviation life support equipment, aircraft structures and related components.

Aircraft Structures Technicians are skilled in metal and composite repair, refinishing, painting, machining and welding. They are integral members of the aircraft maintenance operation in the areas of aircraft servicing, supply, tool control and safety. Their primary responsibilities are to:

• Inspect aircraft structures and related components
• Restore or repair defects using unique aircraft fastening hardware, ferrous and non-ferrous materials, composite materials, chemicals, adhesives, paints and textiles
• Manufacture and install aircraft structural components for prototype projects
• Weld base metals, alloys and casting materials, using oxyacetylene, electrical arc, inert gas and resistance welding techniques and equipment
• Manufacture original aircraft equipment, components or replacement items from base metals using special cutting tools, engine lathe and milling machines
• Fabricate and repair aircraft structures using composite, fibreglass, textiles, leather, plastic and synthetic components
• Conduct corrosion control inspections of ferrous and non-ferrous materials
• Maintain life support equipment, ejection seats, fire suppression and oxygen systems
• Perform aircraft handling tasks, including parking, towing, marshalling, starting, refuelling, cleaning and de-icing.
• Prepare and maintain aircraft documentation and statistical data

Work environment

Aircraft Structures Technicians provide aircraft structural maintenance during Navy, Army and Air Force operations. Inspections and repairs are carried out on the aircraft; however, aircraft component maintenance is normally performed in a hangar or a shop. They are usually stationed at CAF wings and bases within Canada, including the Arctic, but may be deployed to locations throughout the world in response to NATO and UN commitments.

If you chose a career in theRegular 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.

CORPORAL MELISSA VAUTOUR: I’m Corporal Melissa Vautour originally from Dalhousie, New Brunswick, an Aircraft Structures Technician currently posted to 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario.

Aircraft Structures Technicians, or ACS Techs for short, are responsible for the repair, maintenance, and reconstruction of all the outer surfaces and interior structural components of Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft. If it’s part of an aircraft’s wings, fuselage, nose, tail or frame, it’s the job of ACS Techs to keep it in mission-ready condition. They also take care of the upholstery, seat belts, and safety equipment on board.

As part of the air maintenance team, ACS Techs work alongside Avionics Systems Technicians,AviationSystems Technicians and Air Weapons Systems Techniciansto make sure that every aircraft takes off with the ability to carry out its mission, and the firepower to back it up.

They work directly on the aircraft in between flights and servicing checks.They also work on more in-depth second-line maintenance where more extensive repairs are handled.

Aircraft Structures Technicians spend most of their careers in hangars and workshops on Air Force bases here in Canada, but they also serve aboard Royal Canadian Navy ships when they deploy with maritime helicopters. ACS Techs also deploy with the Air Force on missions overseas with Canada’s NATO allies.

CORPORAL MELISSA VAUTOUR: I’ve had the opportunity to work on some projects that aren’t your typical, normal projects. Within the past year or so, I had an opportunity to refurbish and repaint our unit plane. I had the time of my life! I had to come up with a design concept, and it’s something you don’t typically see every day. So I’m very proud of that work that I’ve done. This trade, specifically, allows you to be creative, right – you’re only limited by your imagination within this trade.

On completion of their military and occupational training, Aircraft Structures Technicians are assigned to a squadron on a Wing here in Canada, where they’ll continue with on-the-job training on specific airframes.

CORPORAL MELISSA VAUTOUR: If you’re on the flight line, you’re going to get training specific to the fleet that you’ll be working on, in addition to honing up on more of your ACS skills. If you go into more of a shop environment, usually what happens is you’re going to go on a rotational basis to the different shops for the key elements of the ACS trade.

ACS Techs have welding skills, advanced machining skills, sheet metal skills; they take care of painting, composite repair, and media blasting and they deal extensively with aircraft fasteners.

CORPORAL MELISSA VAUTOUR: Not every part of the trade appeals to everybody – that’s a given. But what you’ll find is you get the opportunity to try on many different hats and many different skillsets that you wouldn’t normally get to do. So in doing that, you can finesse and fine-tune the one that you’re most passionate about and make a good career of it. You can’t get that level of reward in a lot of the civilian trades out there. You have so many opportunities within the military to just kind of grow within your respective trade.

CORPORAL MELISSA VAUTOUR: When I was able to get into the ACS trade and I was able to kind of get my hands on some of those technician skills that weren’t available to me before, it was just mind-blowing. I was able to build, to fabricate, to do all of these types of things, and I wasn’t necessarily limited to sitting behind a computer screen in a more historical ‘female’ role. We’re seeing more women in the trade, and we’re seeing more women in non-traditional roles which is amazing and awesome.

Related Civilian Occupations

• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer – Structures
• Aircraft Structures Maintenance Technician