Summary
Designs, repairs, modifies, and fabricates aircraft, metal, plastic, composite, advanced composite, low observables, and bonded structural parts and components. Applies preservative treatments to aircraft, missiles, and support equipment (SE).
Technical School
Days: 79
Locations: Pensacola NAS Che, Florida
Other Names
None
Bonus
4-Year Bonus: None
6-Year Bonus: $5,000
Badge
Aircraft Maintenance Badge
Duty Identifier
ASM Duty Identifier
Clearance
None
Open Aptitude Category
Mechanical
AFSC Entry Requirements
Demographics
Males: 2097
Females: 124
Total: 2221
Community College of the Air Force Degree
Aircraft Structural Maintenance Technology
CCAF Degree Plan
AFSC YouTube Videos
AFSC Reddit Posts
Duties and Responsibilities
Assembles structural parts and components to meet requirements for preserving structural integrity and low observable qualities. Assesses damage to aircraft structural components and low observable coatings.
Advises on structural and low observable repair, modification, and corrosion protection treatment with respect to original strength, weight, and contour to maintain structural and low observable integrity. Ensures aircraft component balance is maintained.
Assembles repairs using special fasteners and adhesives. Checks repairs for serviceability according to specifications and technical publications. Manufactures jigs, fixtures, forms, and molds.
Paints aircraft, missiles, and support equipment (SE). Identifies, removes, and treats corrosion using mechanical and chemical procedures. Applies corrosion protective and low observable coatings. Applies aircraft paint schemes and markings.
Uses metalworking equipment and tools to form, cut, bend, and fasten replacement or repair parts to damaged structures and components. Fabricates, repairs, and assembles tubing and cable assemblies for aerospace weapon systems and SE.
Maintains and inspects tools and equipment. Performs operator maintenance and service inspections on shop equipment and tools.
Ensures lockout and tagout procedures are accomplished prior to performing shop equipment maintenance. Stores, handles, and disposes of hazardous waste and materials according to environmental standards.
Inspects structures and components and determines operational status. Interprets inspection findings and determines corrective action adequacy.
Posts entries and maintains maintenance and inspection records. Recommends methods to improve equipment performance and maintenance procedures. Uses automated maintenance systems.
Inputs, validates, and analyzes data processed to automated systems. Clears and closes out completed maintenance discrepancies in automated maintenance systems.
Specialty Qualifications
Knowledge is mandatory of:
- Aircraft construction features.
- Identification and characteristics of aerospace materials.
- Repair of metal, tubing, cable, plastic, fiberglass, bonded honeycomb, and composite structural components.
- Shop drawing and sheet metal layout techniques.
- Shop mathematics.
- Corrosion identification, removal, repair, and prevention.
- Cleaning of metals.
- Application of protective coatings, low observable materials, and markings.
- Proper use, mixing, and storage of acids, solvents, alcohol, caustics, primers, and paints.
- Proper handling and disposal of hazardous waste and materials.
For entry into this specialty, completion of high school with courses in mathematics, algebra, chemistry, physics, mechanical drawing, and metal working is desirable.
Training-
The following training is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
- For award of AFSC 2A733, completion of a basic aircraft structural maintenance course is mandatory.
The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
- 2A753. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2A733.
- Experience in functions such as:
- Fabricating, repairing, assembling, or installing aircraft metals, plastics, fiberglass, composites, or honeycomb parts.
- Corrosion identification, removal, and applying coatings and markings.
- Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2A753.
- Corrosion identification, prevention, and repair.
- Applying protective coatings and markings.
- Fabricating, assembling, and repairing metal, fiberglass, composites, honeycomb, and plastics.
The following are mandatory as indicated:
For award and retention of these AFSCs:
- Must maintain local network access IAW AFI 17-130, Cybersecurity Program Management and AFMAN 17-1301, Computer Security.
Civilian Career Options
High Salary: $103,650
Low Salary: $33,550
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians: $66,440
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers: $53,160
- Aviation Inspectors: $78,400
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: $39,060
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:
- $36,980
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers: $70,240
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: $62,850
- General and Operations Managers: $103,650
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers: $40,460
- Machinists: $45,840
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, Genera: $40,850
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: $43,150
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: $34,850
- Sheet Metal Worker: $51,370
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters: $41,780
- Team Assemblers: $33,550
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: $44,190
***This information was retrieved from Veterans Job Matcher at CareerOneStop (www.careeronestop.org), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
Shreadouts
None