Aviation Systems Technician

Canadian Armed Forces; Dartmouth; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading military organization is seeking Aviation Systems Technicians to handle, service, and maintain aircraft and equipment. The role involves testing, inspecting, and repairing aviation systems, along with responsibilities on the flight line. Candidates should meet educational requirements and possess mechanical aptitude. Opportunities for training and travel are included in this diverse and challenging position.

Benefits

Opportunity for travel

Diverse career opportunities

Structured training programs

Qualifications

• Must have completed grade 10 education or equivalent.
• A diploma in a related field is highly regarded.
• Ability to work on complex mechanical systems is essential.

Responsibilities

• Handle, service, and maintain aircraft and ground equipment.
• Test, inspect, and repair aviation systems.
• Perform aircraft handling tasks including refueling and de-icing.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Education

Completion of provincial requirements for Grade 10

College diploma or Red Seal for related civilian occupation

Job description

Non-Commissioned Member | Full Time, Part Time

As a member of the military, Aviation Systems Technicians handle, service, and maintain Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) aircraft, ground equipment and associated support facilities.

As a member of the military, Aviation Systems Technicians handle, service, and maintain Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) aircraft, ground equipment and associated support facilities.

Aviation Systems Technicians are responsible for the maintenance of aircraft aviation systems including propulsion, airframe, basic electrical, and their related components. They also perform the following duties:

• Test, inspect and repair aviation systems
• Perform quality assurance checks
• Prepare and maintain aircraft forms and statistical data
• Perform aircraft handling tasks which include:
  • Parking
  • Towing
  • Marshalling
  • Starting
  • Refueling
  • Cleaning
  • De-icing

Work environment

Aviation Systems Technicians work at air bases in aircraft maintenance organizations, in maintenance hangers, in airborne aircraft, and on the flight line. However, they may also work with tactical helicopter field units and on board ships. In the course of their career, Aviation Systems Technicians will be required to work shifts and periods of overtime. In geographic terms, employment can vary from CAF wings and bases within Canada, including the Arctic, 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 TERA MOUSSIGNAC-CIMELLO: I'm Corporal Tera Moussignac-Cimello from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. I'm an Aviation Systems Technician at 12 Wing Shearwater.

The modern fighter jet, long-range transport, or ship-based helicopter is one of the most complex machines in the world. Keeping those aircraft in perfect flying condition – and keeping their flight crews safe and secure – is what Aviation Systems Technicians, or AVN Techs for short, are proud to do every day.

They are responsible for the maintenance of aircraft aviation systems including propulsion, airframe and all related components.

CORPORAL TERA MOUSSIGNAC-CIMELLO: Generally speaking, we work on all the mechanical components of an aircraft – wings and rotors, engines, transmissions.

In addition to their maintenance activities, AVN Techs also have responsibilities out on the flight line on servicing teams alongside their Avionics Systems, Aircraft Structures and Air Weapons colleagues marshalling, parking, towing, starting, refuelling, cleaning and de-icing the aircraft.

CORPORAL TERA MOUSSIGNAC-CIMELLO: I think you very much have to put your ego aside to be a good tech because whether you have mechanical background or not, you have to realize that you're accountable for people's lives who are going to be flying this. So you have to be willing to do everything by the book. Never be afraid to ask questions. I've been in this trade for seven years. I ask a million questions a day because there are people who know more than I do. So it's a fine line of confidence and being humble about your skills.

AVN Techs are posted to every RCAF squadron in Canada. But you’ll also find them aboard Royal Canadian Navy ships, supporting maritime helicopters. And they go with the Army wherever they're deployed and need tactical helicopter support. The missions are incredibly diverse. But for Aviation Systems Technicians, the thing that never changes is their commitment to safety.

CORPORAL TERA MOUSSIGNAC-CIMELLO: I am proud of what I do. From where I started to where I am now is pretty unbelievable to me, from slinging shoes 40 hours a week to fixing transmissions and engines for maritime helicopters. It's pretty crazy. I am learning new things every single day with this aircraft.

So we fly missions every day – jumping through all the hoops and getting over all the obstacles to actually get your aircraft ready to go on the back of the boat for its six-month sail is probably the coolest thing we do.

On completion of their military and occupation training, Aviation Systems Technicians get posted to an RCAF Wing in Canada where they’ll join the AVN team for a period of on-the-job training followed by aircraft-specific training, whether it’s fixed or rotary-wing, jet or turbo-prop.

CORPORAL TERA MOUSSIGNAC-CIMELLO: Coming to a new base and you see everybody just working and going about their day, you kind of think to yourself, how am I ever going to know as much as I need to know to work on this aircraft? But it's just about time and experience, and we're pretty good with taking our new technicians around with us at every single opportunity for them to see. And then over time, you just learn what you need to know.

Technicians can be assigned to first-line units that handle repairs and maintenance that can be completed with the equipment still on the aircraft. They can also be assigned to second-line units that handle more complicated repairs in a shop environment.

CORPORAL TERA MOUSSIGNAC-CIMELLO: I feel good. It still seems like a crazy decision to me, but at this point, seven, almost eight years later, it makes the most sense. I'm glad I did it. It's an interesting career. There's a lot of opportunities that come up for us, whether it's travel or even just opportunities to do a rarely seen maintenance on our aircraft. There's a lot of possibilities of where you can go as a tech. So I'd recommend it. I think it's a fun challenge

The minimum required education to apply for this occupation is the completion of the provincial requirements for Grade 10 or Secondary 4 in Quebec including Gr 10 General Math or Math 416 / CST 4.

The ideal candidate will already have a college diploma or Red Seal for a related civilian occupation, the CAF will assess your training and experience and optimize your progression following basic training.