AIRCRAFT TECHNICIAN

The Job

Aircraft Technicians are responsible for the inspection, repair and servicing of airframes and gas turbine engines on the Army’s aircraft. These are mainly helicopters, but include fixed-wing aircraft. Technicians sign off aircraft as ready to fly after maintenance, so the role is key to flight safety. Responsibility extends to fitting weapons and pyrotechnics, and maintaining ground support equipment.

The Right Job For Me?

This is a job for someone who has an ability to focus for long periods of training in a technical subject. You’ll need to be good with your hands, because practical, technical skills are the bread and butter of this trade. With responsibility for deciding when an airframe is ready to fly, integrity and an honest nature are essential requirements for this job.

What Skills Will I Learn?

You will learn how to maintain and inspect the airframes and gas turbines of military helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, identifying repairs that need to be carried out, completing them and then passing the aircraft as fit to fly.Fitting aircraft weapons systems will form part of your responsibilities, and you will also become familiar with ground support equipment.The ability to deliver high standards of engineering and flight safety with complex documentation, while doing your job as a soldier in the field, will become an essential skill.

What Training Will I Do?

Initial training: Your military career will start with 23 weeks at the Army Technical Foundation College (ATFC) Winchester in Hampshire. You will learn military skills such as foot drill, how to handle and fire a weapon, how to live and work in the open and how to tackle an assault course, as well as developing your stamina and fitness. You will be stretched further than you thought possible and toughen up both physically and mentally. In addition to your military training you will take part in an education package, adventurous training (climbing, abseiling and similar activities) and sport. Although the training at ATFC is hard work, you will remember it for the rest of your career as a soldier, and at the end of it all you will take your place in the Passing Out parade in front of an invited audience of parents, relatives and friends. Further training: Your technical training begins at the School of Electronic and Aeronautical Engineering (SEAE) at Arborfield, near Reading in Berkshire, starting with 11 weeks of Foundation Modular Training, building up your knowledge of maths, science and other disciplines to confirm suitability for training as an Aircraft Technician. This is followed by 51 working weeks of trade training, not including time spent on recess duties, adventurous training or external leadership. This is a relatively long training period and will include intensive coursework in the classroom and practical assessments on helicopters. If you start the training and find difficulty with the standards required, or just feel you’ve made the wrong choice, you may be given a choice of alternative employment either within REME or with another Arm or Service that’s a better fit for you. Your specialist training will include: Specialist repair techniques: Extensive training in the mechanical and electrical skills required for the role. Engineering principles: Learning academic theory and aeronautical principles that underpin your work. Driving: The opportunity to train to LGV Cat C+E. On completion of initial trade training you will be awarded Class 3 Technician status, and depending on your leadership qualities you may be eligible for immediate promotion to Lance Corporal. Class 2 can be achieved after one year at your unit, and then you will start further trade training to upgrade to Class 1 Tradesman. Promotion from Lance Corporal to full Corporal can be achieved after one year in rank. This is gained on merit and reaching Class 2 Tradesman status. Your salary will increase with promotion and the completion of trade training.

What Qualifications Could I Get?

Once you’ve finished your Phase 2 training, you will be partly qualified in the BTEC National Certificate in Engineering and NVQ Level 2. Success in the up-grader course for Class 1 will lead to the full BTEC National Certificate in Engineering and NVQ Level 3. If you are selected to become an Artificer (see below), that course will bring you a BTEC Higher National Diploma.

Future Prospects

As well as having engineering skills and qualifications valued in the civilian world, your experience will be recognised by civilian trade unions and associations. While in the Army, promotion is dependent upon being suitably qualified at trade and being selected on merit by a promotion board. Selection for REME Artificer training means a fast track to promotion, and each receives Staff Sergeant rank on graduation day. Artificer Warrant Officers can apply to be commissioned officers. Any Aircraft Technician can also volunteer for Special Forces. But whatever your role, you will be gaining essential communication and leadership skills.