RAF Recruitment | Aircraft Technician (Avionics)

ENGINEERING Aircraft Technician (Avionics) CURRENTLY RECRUITING

As an Aircraft Technician (Avionics) you will keep our aircraft airborne by carrying out maintenance and repair work on the sophisticated electronic and on board avionics.

Learn more about this role

Pay During First Six Months £16,840+ + Benefits

Pay Upon Completion Of Technical Training* £25,367+ + Benefits

* With a minimum 1 year's service from attestation

Apply as a Regular

Is this for you?

APPLICANTS MUST:

Be aged 16 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday) Applications can be submitted from age 15 years and 9 months
GCSE Grade C/4-5 or equivalent, or SCE Standard Grades at Grade 2/Scottish National 5 (Grade A – C) in English, Maths and an approved Science/Technology-based subject
You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or dual UK/Other nationality
Commit to minimum 3 years post Phase Two Training
Pass the Defence Aptitude Assessment
Pass a Fitness Test - Details below

GREAT FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN:

Aircraft
Building and Problem solving
Travelling the world

Apprenticeships available

Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering Technician

VIEW ALL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

TYPICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Advanced avionics furnish the pilot with real-time access to comprehensive battle-space information and the ability to share sensor data and actionable information
Ensure the high performance of aircraft radar, communication, reconnaissance and target acquisition equipment
Repair on-board technologies that select, arm and release weapons
Maintain the systems that generate and distribute electricity on aircraft

As an aircraft engineering specialist, Aircraft Technicians (Avionics) carry out maintenance and repair work on the sophisticated electronic and avionic on-board RAF aircraft such as:

Radar.
Communication and Identification systems.
Image and data acquisition including reconnaissance and target acquisition equipment.
Navigation.
Aircraft defensive aides systems.
Weapon aiming and delivery systems.
Aircraft flight control systems.

You will also maintain the aircraft electrical generation and distribution systems that provide power for the electronic systems on RAF aircraft. In addition, you will maintain on-board weapon management systems that allow aircrew to select, arm and release aircraft weapons. There are also opportunities to undertake instructional duties or work within a software development organisation.

Furthermore, you could form part of the aircraft flight crew to provide engineering support to aircraft systems that are operated whilst in flight or to provide aircraft engineering support when the aircraft is deployed. Like most people in the RAF, you will probably move jobs every few years, and each job is known as a ‘tour’. You will normally work at a flying station – an RAF base that is home to one or more squadrons of aircraft. You will also have opportunities for travel overseas when your skills are needed to support our aircraft and equipment around the world on operations and exercises.

WHY JOIN THE RAF?

Thanks to subsidised food, travel, accommodation and free gym you get more money in your pocket.

Salary

Benefits Salary

Civilian Role

RAF Role

Rent from £75p/m
Free gym
Subsidised food
Health care
World travel
6 weeks holiday

See All Benefits

TRAINING AND CAREER

TRAINING YOU'LL RECEIVE

Your career will start with 10 weeks of basic recruit training at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. The course is designed to help you adjust to military life. As well as fitness and military training, you will also learn about the RAF lifestyle.

SPECIALIST TRAINING

The next step is a specialist trade training course at the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering at Cosford (DSAE Cosford), near Wolverhampton, which lasts approximately 15 months. This course is designed to give you an understanding of your role as an Aircraft Avionics Technician, which includes aerodynamics, electronic and electrical fundamentals, digital fundamentals, hand skills, avionic maintenance practice, avionic systems and integrated avionics systems. In addition to this your training will include aircraft handling and safety procedures.

More Details +

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

During your specialist training you will be enrolled on a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering Technician, the Technical Certificate element of which is a Level 3 Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance (Military) and delivered entirely in training. You will be required to complete the portfolio element of the Level 3 Diploma in Aviation Maintenance competence qualification during your first tour when you leave specialist training and conduct an End Point Assessment to be awarded your Advanced Apprenticeship.

ONGOING TRAINING/DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

As your career progresses, you will continue to be trained in new skills and you will develop as a technician. You may be posted to a specialist area of employment, such as software development or working within a Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation. You could also have opportunities for management and leadership training. The qualifications and experience you will gain in your RAF career can be used as accreditation criteria for relevant engineering professional registration.

YOUR FIRST TOUR AS AN AIRCRAFT TECHNICIAN (AVIONICS)

For your first tour you will likely be posted to a flying station where, as a technician, you will use and further develop the skills you learnt during training as you carry out more complex tasks involved with aircraft and aircraft component servicing, maintenance and repair. Your expertise
will be used in the diagnosis and rectification of faults to ensure aircraft are fit to fly to meet the Station’s mission.

YOUR FUTURE CAREER PROSPECTS AND PROGRESSION

You will initially join the RAF for a period of 12 years on a Notice Engagement. After completing one years total service, you will be eligible for promotion to Senior Aircraftman, providing you pass a Trade Ability Test and Basic Trade Training. As you gain experience and complete your Level 3 Diploma in Aviation Maintenance competence qualification, you will achieve Technician status. Further promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is on merit by competitive selection. As you advance through the ranks, you will have the increased opportunity to lead and direct people, managing resources and manpower within your area of work to deliver the required outputs whilst maintaining and instilling the highest standards expected within the RAF.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

The Diplomas and Apprenticeship that you can earn are as valuable in the civilian world as they are in the RAF. Furthermore, as an aircraft engineer in the RAF, the skills and qualifications you will have gained will place you in good stead for a wide range of employment fields when you leave the RAF.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST:

You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or dual UK/Other nationality.

Be aged 16 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday)

* Minimum 1 years’ service from attestation and successful completion of Professional Workplace Training.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Have these minimum grades:

	GCSE	GCSE 2017	SNE
Mathematics	C	Grade 4	Grade 5
English Language	C	Grade 4	Grade 5
Science or Technology	C	Grade 4	Grade 5

find a list of the approved subjects here

You can see what the RAF accepts in lieu of GCSEs & A Levels here .

NATIONALITY & RESIDENCY

You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or dual UK/Other nationality.

Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should have resided there for the 5 years immediately preceding your application. However, candidates with a minimum of 3 years will be considered.

FITNESS REQUIREMENTS

You must be physically fit to complete both initial and specialist training, and to do your role effectively. To check your fitness levels, we put every candidate through at least two separate fitness tests as part of the application process.

The first of these is the Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) which takes place at a fitness centre local to you. This consists of the following:

2.4km (1.5m) run on a treadmill (set to zero incline)
Achieve the required number of press-ups - within 60 seconds
Achieve the required number of sit-ups - within 60 seconds

The second fitness test will take place at RAF Halton on day one of your initial training. This consists of the following:

Achieving the required score on the Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MSFT or Bleep test)
Achieve the required number of press-ups - within 60 seconds
Achieve the required number of sit-ups - within 60 seconds

How fit you need to be to pass these tests can vary depending on role, age and gender. The requirements are listed on the charts below (Male and Female).

MALES - 100% pass rates:
AGE	2.4 Km Run (PJFT)	Multi-Stage Fitness Test (PRTC)	Press-ups	Sit-ups
	(Mins)	(Score)	(No.)	(No.)
15-16	11.39	9.03	20	35
17-29	11.11	9.10	20	35
30-34	11.36	9.04	19	32
35-39	12	8.09	18	29
40-44	12.26	8.03	17	26
45-47	12.54	7.07	16	23

FEMALES - 100% pass rates:
AGE	2.4 Km Run (PJFT)	Multi-Stage Fitness Test (PRTC)	Press-ups	Sit-ups
	(Mins)	(Score)	(No.)	(No.)
15-16	13.54	6.07	10	32
17-29	13.23	7.02	10	32
30-34	13.47	6.08	9	29
35-39	14.13	6.04	8	26
40-44	14.48	5.08	7	23
45-47	15.19	5.04	6	20

To help you prepare for the RAF fitness tests there is information below.

You can see the protocols for Press Ups & Sit Ups here:

PJFT/PRFV Protocols

You can download an MP3 file of the Multi-Stage Fitness Test below, listen to the introduction file first:

RAF MSFT: Intro

RAF MSFT: Bleep Test

You can see a video demonstration of the PRFV Fitness Test here:

RAF PRFV Fitness Test

A 12-week fitness plan with detailed information to help you get ready for all of the fitness tests can be downloaded here.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

BEFORE YOUR APPLICATION:

There are health requirements that must be met by all applicants:

Body Mass Index requirements:

Age	Male and female minimum	Male and female maximum	Male maximum with additional assessment	Female maximum with additional assessment
18 +	18	28	32	30
16 to < 18	17	27	27	27

Calculate your BMI now, click here.

Eyesight requirements vary for different roles. A requirement to wear glasses or contact lenses may be allowed for aircrew.

Get in touch if you have any questions about the health criteria, or would like to find out if any additional health requirements apply to your role of interest.

DURING YOUR APPLICATION:

The Medical Risk Assessment that all candidates undergo is there to make sure that you are healthy enough for the intense training required by the RAF. Your application will be rejected if you fail to meet the minimum acceptable medical standard for entry. Your medical history is confidential and is not disclosed to those not authorised to hold this information.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

YOU MUST:

Declare any previous spent and unspent convictions
Check if you qualify under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 through this summary
Have a basic background check to get Security Check level clearance

DISQUALIFYING FACTORS

YOU CAN'T APPLY FOR THE RAF IF YOU:

Have been or are a member of a group that stirs up racial hatred and violence
Are waiting to appear in court, or have unspent convictions. You may also have to declare spent convictions for certain roles
Misuse drugs, solvents and anabolic steroids. But each case is considered upon its own merits
Have tattoos, brands or bead implants that are obscene or offensive.
Any permanent or temporary tattoos, whether ordinarily visible or not, must not be obscene or offensive (eg, racist, anti-religion or belief, crude, overtly sexist, homophobic, drug related or of an extreme political nature). Tattoos may be worn on the side and back of the neck but tattoos on the back of the neck must not extend above the natural hairline (scalp tattoos are not permitted). In addition, tattoos must not be visible below the sleeve cuff while wearing uniform, although a single finger (not thumb) tattoo that could be covered by a ring may be permitted
Have body piercing which causes holes that do not close up
Declare yourself to be an 'undischarged' bankrupt

Beard Policy: A revised facial hair policy has been agreed by the Air Force Board which will allow serving personnel to wear a smart, neatly-trimmed, full-set beard whilst maintaining high standards of appearance. The length of acceptable beards is between Grade 1 (2.5mm) and Grade 8 (25.5mm). The wearing of beards during Phase 1 and Phase 2 training is currently under consideration and details will be advised when available

If you don’t have any of the above, you might still be able to apply. For more information contact your local AFCO.

GOT WHAT IT TAKES?

Start your application here