Army Aircraft Electrician 15F


T

he United States Army depends on aircrafts like airplanes and helicopters to transport various supplies, tools and equipment in and out of the country as well as to train personnel and patrol the skies.

In turn, these aircrafts are powered by electricity from their instruments, lights and parts to their ignition systems, weapons and landing gear. As such, the important roles played by Aircraft Army Electricians cannot be overemphasized.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Aircraft Army Electricians have the primary responsibility of ensuring that the aircraft electrical systems are running effectively and efficiently at all times. The lives of men and the success of the mission are in the hands of Aircraft Electricians in many instances.

Their primary responsibilities, thus, include the supervision, inspection and maintenance of aircraft electrical systems.

To be more specific, Aircraft Electricians perform the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Diagnose, troubleshoot and repair malfunctioning electrical and electronic parts including instrument systems

  • Clean, maintain and store the electronic and electrical components of aircrafts

  • Install, repair and remove the nickel-cadmium batteries

  • Use and maintain common and special tools related to their tasks

  • Fill out forms and records for aircraft maintenance procedures

The above mentioned tasks are usually performed by both entry-level and advanced-level Aircraft Army Electricians. However, advanced-level Aircraft Electricians also have the additional responsibilities of providing guidance, supervision and training for their entry-level counterparts as well as for active duty soldiers within the same discipline. In addition, they may be required to participate in maintenance test flights.

Training Information

Applicants for the position of entry-level Aircraft Electricians must comply with the following training requirements:

  • PULHES: 222221
  • Physical Demands Rating: Very Heavy
  • U.S. Citizenship: None
  • Security Clearance: None
  • Normal color vision

Even when an applicant passes all of the above mentioned requirements, certain factors will automatically disqualify him from the training program. These factors include:

  • Alcohol and drug abuse even when the applicant has completed the Army Alcohol or Drug Use Rehabilitation Program except under special circumstances

  • Experimental or recreational use of narcotics including marijuana after 18 years of age

  • Documented instance of the sale, transfer, possession use or manufacture of any narcotics, controlled substances or dangerous drugs

Additionally, Aircraft Army Electricians must have A2 (Aviation Safety) and A9 (CH-47F Helicopter or UH-60M Helicopter) as skill identifiers.

The training for qualified applicants span 18 weeks, which is divided into 9 weeks of Basic Training and 9 weeks of Advanced Individual Training coupled with on-the-job training.

The last part of training involves in-classroom and on-field instruction where applicants will be taught electrical theory, electrical system maintenance, soldering techniques and troubleshooting procedures. The training is administered by the U.S. Army Aviation War fighting Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama.

However, the formal training can be waived with compliance to ACASP qualification criteria. The criteria include 1 year of aircraft electrician experience coupled with the appropriate FCC certificate for the repair of aircraft electrical and electronic systems and components.

Applicants should also possess the efficient ability to work with tools, to solve problems and to work well within a team. Interests should also ideally veer toward math, shop mechanics and electricity.