Helicopter Airframe Technician
As a Navy Helicopter Airframe Technician, you’ll enjoy the satisfaction of keeping advanced military helicopters in peak working order.
What you'll do
You’ll be responsible for maintaining, diagnosing and repairing military helicopter systems, equipment and components, making sure they continue to operate safely and efficiently onboard ships and ashore. You'll initially work with Seahawk Romeo helicopters and may also work with unmanned aerial vehicles.
Your duties may include maintaining:
- helicopter transmissions
- fluid power systems
- monitoring systems
- engine systems and controls
- auxiliary systems
- flight control systems
- environmental systems
- aircraft structures and aircraft finishes
- ground support equipment
- landing gear
- aviation safety equipment.
You'll also perform additional general duties that support the whole ship, including:
- ship security, firefighting and replenishment at sea
- boarding party, first aid, flood repair and flight deck
- assisting with medical, ammunitioning or ceremonial duties
- shift work, or on-call duties as required.
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career. As you progress, the Navy will provide you with development opportunities to assist you with your increasing leadership responsibility, as well as further education and specialised training within your chosen role. This will set you up to run a highly skilled team of sailors in a variety of tasks, both at sea and ashore.
You’ll be eligible to receive a Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical), which is a nationally recognised qualification, upon completing four years of service and the On-the-Job task book at the Nowra squadrons.
Following training, you’ll be posted primarily to HMAS Albatross in Nowra, NSW, as well as serving in fleet units and shore establishments around Australia when needed. Your location posting preferences will be taken into account where possible.
Discover where the Navy operates across Australia on our base locations map.
Requirements and training
You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.
You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 57 years.
You don’t need a driver’s licence for this role but if you have one, it can’t be suspended or cancelled.
All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.
For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.
Completion of Year 10 (or equivalent) education required with passes in English, Maths and Science.
Please note that Consumer Maths, Maths in Society and similarly 'modified' maths are not suitable for this job.
Qualified entrants
Entry to this career is also open if you’re qualified or partially qualified.
Suitable trade qualifications include:
- Certificate II in Aeroskills
- Certificate III in Mechatronics
- Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical)
- Diploma of Aeroskills (Mechanical)
- Advanced Diploma of Aviation Maintenance Management (Mechanical)
- variety of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) endorsed licences.
You should present your trade paperwork at the recruiting interview to ensure the Recognition of Prior Learning/Recognition of Current Competencies process can commence prior to entry.
Due to the unique nature of naval aviation maintenance in the maritime environment, most qualified applicants will require additional training to gain specific Units of Competency (UOC) required for this trade. You should also be prepared to provide any trade journal work history to provide evidence of industry experience.
The Recognition of Prior Learning/Recognition of Current Competencies process will be completed prior to a Letter of Offer (LOO) being sent to you. The LOO will detail any competency gap training required, which will then be undertaken as part of your initial trade training.
To join the Navy, it's important that you meet the necessary medical and physical requirements. Regular exercise prior to joining will set you up for success as it is an important part of training and service life.
Once you join, Navy will support your physical conditioning to ensure you're prepared to serve. You'll also have access to chef-made meals, gyms, sports and fitness sessions run by physical training instructors. Throughout your Navy career, you’ll be expected to conduct an annual fitness test which includes a plank as well as either a beep test or run/walk or swim.
During the application process you’ll be assessed through a questionnaire about your medical history and a physical examination.
The Navy swim test
During Navy Military Training, whether heading to the New Entry Sailor Course (Recruit School) or the New Entry Officer Course, you'll need to pass a swim test wearing your uniform to graduate. This includes:
- safety jump off a 3m tower
- 10m underwater swim
- 50m swim using survival strokes
- treading water or floating for 15 minutes.
For further details on medical and physical fitness standards, refer to physical fitness standards for entry into the ADF and medical process for entry into the ADF.
You’ll be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 3 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.
You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation.
Course: New Entry Sailor Course (NESC)
Duration: 10 weeks
Location: Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus, Vic
You’ll conduct your initial sailor training at the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Recruit School prior to commencing specific category training. The NESC course is designed to prepare you to conduct basic duties as a sailor.
NESC Course
- Physical fitness: General fitness and the Navy swim test.
- Military life: General service knowledge, including drill and ceremonial procedures.
- Specialty skills: Weapons training, workplace safety, first aid and sailing.
- Navy skills: Seamanship, corrosion control, survival at sea and fire and flood control.
After successfully completing all components of the course, you’ll participate in a Graduation Parade to mark the occasion. You’ll have the opportunity to invite family and friends to view the parade.
On completion of your NESC course, you’ll proceed to your respective employment training.
Course: Helicopter Airframe Technician Training
Duration: 60 weeks
Location: RAAF Base Wagga, NSW
Following completion of your Initial Military Training (IMT), and a Sea Survival and Ship Safety Course of one week, you’ll commence aviation technicians training.
The Helicopter Airframe Technicians training component of the apprenticeship is conducted at the Air Force's Technical Training Facility (RAAF Base Wagga, NSW) and consists of theory and practical instruction in workshops and laboratories.
The course content has been designed to meet the Naval requirements for a Helicopter Airframe Technicians sailor, equivalent to a civilian Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical), who is capable of commencing aircraft equipment application courses for employment in an operational squadron at the Naval Air Station at HMAS Albatross (Nowra, NSW).
Naval training fully embraces the National Aerospace curriculum and some Navy specific modules where appropriate.
As a graduate, you’ll have received academic training encompassing:
- the full range of competencies to obtain a Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical)
- a number of competencies (not the full range) from the Aircraft Mechanic (AM) 'workshop' stream
- a number of competencies (not the full range) from the Aircraft 'Structures' stream and
- a number of competencies (not the full range) from the Avionics stream as cross training.
You’ll be eligible for an equivalent B1.3 A/C licence to that provided by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).