Careers

Career Description

Helicopters play a larger role in the Air Force mission than most people suspect, and that's why having first-rate Helicopter Maintenance specialists is so vital. From rescue operations to special forces insertions, our helicopters do it all, and they need to be able to do it at a moment's notice. Specialists need to be good with their hands, quick with their problem-solving and have a superb attention to detail because the smallest mistake can be the difference between mission success and failure.

Career Tasks

• Perform preventive maintenance by inspecting the helicopter airframe and its various systems
• Repair and maintain (remove, install, adjust) and perform operational checks of systems such as rotor, transmission and drive, landing gear, fuel, hydraulic and electrical
• Adjust, align and calibrate aircraft systems
• Service various helicopter systems, ground handling, launch and recovery and disassembly and reassembly of the helicopter
• Prepare aircraft for movement to and from storage
• Request and assist engine mechanic and electrician specialists as required

Relevant Interests & Skills

• Electronics
• Problem-solving
• Engineering
• Maintenance and Repair
• Physics

Training

After eight-and-a-half weeks of Basic Military Training, every Airman goes to technical training to learn their career. Here's the basic information about Helicopter Maintenance technical training:

School locations: Kirtland AFB [NM], Ft. Eustis [VA]

Length of course: 73 days

College degree earned: Aviation Maintenance Technology

College credits earned: 26