Air Tech/Avionics Tech

Mainly aiming this at REME bod but what's it like being an Aircraft Technician or Avionics Technician in the REME? Just covering my options and doing a little background research.

Cheers :cool:

Reply 1

REME-Bod

TomInPortsmouth

Mainly aiming this at REME bod but what's it like being an Aircraft Technician or Avionics Technician in the REME? Just covering my options and doing a little background research.

Cheers :cool:

Can you be a bit more specific? If you mean what are the hours like, then it's the same as any equipment support role: 9-5 ish when in camp but non-stop, stay awake, and fix the kit when on exercise or deployment.

Postings are pretty much centred around Wattisham in Suffolk and Middle Wallop in Wilts, with the odd posting/deployment to NI or FI.

Kit supported is all those whirlygig things that Wzz likes so much :wink:

and maintenance procedures are governed by CAA and DEME(A) Engineering Regulations.

Career wise, both are tech jobs (avionics being electronic stuff, and air tech being a mechanic for helicopters ...I'm sure any air techs reading this will probably lynch me for calling them mere mechanics). Both offer career prospects up to commission with Av Techs getting a degree (BSc) upon completion of Artificer training (and rank of SSgt), whereas Air Tech gives HND. (I think this is now being changed to a foundation degree course). Both trades of course will give you these qualifications whilst earning a decent wage (about 30k pa), which beats paying off a student loan any day.

Both trades also offer the chance of advancing to test pilot, which is probably the most sought after and best paid job within the REME aircraft world. I don't know of any test pilots who haven't achieved the rank of WO1 first though, so it's potentially a long wait if that's your goal.

As for promotion... join up as a recruit. Phase two training gives you rank of Craftsman (Cfn) which is approx 2 yrs. Leave training as LCpl class 3, and gain Cpl and class 2 about a year later. 3 years after leaving training, return to training for Class 1 upgrading which is another 9 months to a year.
Another 3 years in the field as Cpl/Sgt before returning to do Artificer training and a further 2 years in the classroom. Walk away with a degree and SSgt (Chief Tech equivalent for the RAF) after about 10 - 12 years service. from then on it gets more competitive as the WO slots are fewer. However there is the possibility to commission as Late Entry (LE) upon being qualified for WO2. (No need to hold the rank as long as all the necessary boxes have been ticked)

Hope this lot helps.