Airlift/Special Mission Aircraft Maintenance

What does the Airlift/Special Mission Aircraft Maintenance career field do?

Maintains aircraft, support equipment, forms, and records. Performs and supervises flight chief, expediter, crew chief, repair and reclamation, quality assurance and maintenance support functions. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup: 160000.

Duties and responsibilities

• Performs sortie generation, ground handling, and servicing operations. Performs aircraft inspections such as preflight, thru-flight, postflight, hourly postflight, special inspections, and isochronal inspections. Advises on problems, maintenance, servicing, and inspection of aircraft and related aerospace equipment. Uses technical data to diagnose and solve maintenance problems on aircraft systems. Interprets and advises on maintenance procedures and policies to repair aircraft and related equipment.
• Inspects, troubleshoots, and maintains aircraft structures, engines, hydraulic, and other related systems, components, and equipment. Removes and installs aircraft and engine components. Conducts operational checks and repairs components and systems. Performs ground engine operation. Adjusts, aligns, and rigs aircraft systems. Accomplishes weight and balance functions. Supervises and performs aircraft jacking, lifting, and towing operations.
• Supervises and performs aircraft, engine, and component inspections. Interprets inspection findings and determines adequacy of corrective actions. Inspects and checks components for clearances, tolerances, proper installation, and operation. Performs pre-use inspections and operates powered and non-powered aerospace ground equipment. Inspects and identifies aircraft corrosion for prevention and repair. Reviews maintenance forms, aircraft records, automated maintenance data systems, and historical reports to ensure complete documentation. Inventories and maintains alternate mission equipment. Inventories and maintains aircraft equipment.
• Coordinates maintenance plans and schedules to meet operational requirements. Supervises and assists in launching and recovering aircraft. Reviews maintenance data collection summaries to determine trends and production effectiveness. Performs crash recovery duties. Performs staff and supervisory management functions.

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: principles applying to aircraft systems; flight theory; hydraulic principles; electrical theory; principles, concepts, and application of maintenance directives and data reporting; using technical data; Air Force supply and deficiency reporting procedures; and proper handling, use, and disposal of hazardous waste and materials.

Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school is mandatory. Completion of related vocational courses is highly desirable.

Training.

• For award of AFSC 2A531X, completion of a suffix specific basic aircraft maintenance course is mandatory.
• For award of AFSC 2A571, complete craftsman aircraft maintenance course, if applicable.

Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of AFSC indicated:

• 2A551. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2A531X or previous award of 2A338X.
• 2A571. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2A551 or previous award of 2A358X.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

• For entry into this specialty:
• Normal color vision as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards.
• See attachment 4 for additional entry requirements.
• 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.
• Specialty requires routine access to Tier 3 (T3) information, systems, or similar classified environment. For award and retention of AFSCs 2A5X1/X, completion of a current T3 Investigation required IAW DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 16-1405, Air Force Personnel Security Program, is mandatory. NOTE: Award of the entry level without a completed T3 Investigation is authorized provided an interim Secret security clearance has been granted according to DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 16-1405.

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $31,760–$108,790 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Administrative Services Managers: $98,890
• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians: $68,570
• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians: $66,440
• Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers: $53,160
• Aviation Inspectors: $78,400
• Avionics Technicians: $67,840
• Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary: $55,620
• Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers: $36,390
• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment: $62,010
• Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers: $36,390
• Electronics Engineers: $107,540
• Engine and Other Machine Assemblers: $45,770
• 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
• Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers: $31,760
• Industrial Machinery Mechanics: $55,490
• Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers: $40,460
• Maintenance and Repair Workers, General: $40,850
• Maintenance Workers, Machinery: $50,100
• Non-Destructive Testing Specialists: $64,190
• Quality Control Systems Managers: $108,790
• Tire Repairers and Changers: $30,060