Opportunity
Are you interested in engineering and working hands-on with aircraft? A career in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as an Aviation Systems Technician lets you handle, service and maintain CAF aircraft, ground equipment and associated support facilities.
OverviewAviation Systems Technicians are responsible for maintaining aircraft aviation systems, like propulsion, airframe, basic electrical and all related components, as well as:
Testing, inspecting and repairing aviation systems
Performing quality assurance checks
Preparing and maintaining aircraft forms and statistical data
Performing first-line servicing tasks such as marshalling, parking, towing, starting, refuelling, cleaning and de-icing
Operating aircraft support equipment
To be eligible to apply to the CAF, you must:
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada
Be at least 18 years old (17 years old with parental consent), except:
For the paid education programs you may be 16 years old (with parental consent)
For the Primary Reserve you may be 16 years old (with parental consent) and must be enrolled as a full-time student
Have completed at least Grade 10 or Secondaire IV in Quebec (some jobs need higher levels of education)
Paid Education Options
Non-commissioned Subsidized Training and Education Program
Because this position requires specialty training, the CAF will pay successful recruits to attend the diploma program at an approved Canadian college. Non-commissioned Subsidized Training and Education Program students attend Basic Training and on-the-job training during the summer months. They receive full-time salaries, including medical and dental care, along with full pay in exchange for working with the CAF for a period of time. If you choose to apply to this program, you must apply both to the CAF and the appropriate college.
Work Environment
Aviation Systems Technicians work at air bases in aircraft maintenance organizations, in maintenance hangers, in airborne aircraft and on the flight line. They may also work with tactical helicopter field units and on ships. Technicians will sometimes be required to work shifts and periods of overtime and can work in CAF wings and bases within Canada, the Arctic, and locations around the world in response to NATO and UN commitments.
Basic Military Qualification
The first stage of training is the Basic Military Qualification course, or Basic Training, held at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, or through various training establishments across Canada from Esquimalt, British Columbia, to Halifax, Nova Scotia. This training provides the basic core skills and knowledge common to all trades. One main goal of this course is to ensure all recruits maintain the CAF physical fitness standard; as a result, the training is physically demanding but achievable.
Aviation Systems Technicians
Training
Aviation Systems Technicians attend training at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering in Borden, Ontario, where they complete Common Core: eight weeks of common mechanical and aircraft servicing training. After some time at a squadron, they will return to Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering and take their Trade Training over 23 weeks. This includes:
Theory of flight (fixed and rotary wing)
Basic electrical
Aircraft structures
Propulsion systems
Wiring and soldering
Aircraft servicing
Aircraft instrumentation
Aircraft publications
Aircraft safety
Flight controls
Hydraulic, fuel, brake and de-icing systems
Environment control systems
Available Specialty Training
Aviation Systems Technicians may be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training for topics like:
Instructional Technique
Aircraft Specific Type Courses
Aircraft Engine Type Courses
Life Cycle Materiel Management
Aircraft Fluid Handling
Corrosion Identification and Control
Technical Writing
Technical Inspection and Quality Assurance
Flight Safety Investigators Course
Available Advanced Training
As they progress in their career, Aviation Systems Technicians who demonstrate the required ability and potential may be offered advanced training. Available courses include:
Technical Administration
Leadership and Management Courses
Required Education
The minimum required education to apply for this position is the completion of the provincial requirements for Grade 10 or Secondaire IV in Quebec, including: Grade 10 Applied Math (Mathématiques 416 or Cultural, Social and Technical 4)Foreign education may be accepted.
Direct Entry Officer Plan
Ideal candidates will already have a diploma or Red Seal for a related civilian trade. If you already have a university or college diploma, the CAF will decide if your academic program matches the criteria for this job and may optimize your progression following Basic Training. Basic Training is required before being assigned.
Join the CAF
To learn more about becoming an Aviation Systems Technician, visit
, talk to a recruiter at a
centre near you
or call 1-800-856-8488.
Explore over 100 different career opportunities at
.