Aircraft Fabrication
1. Specialty Summary. Manages activities to accomplish aircraft structural maintenance, metals technology, survival equipment maintenance, and nondestructive inspection. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup: 170000.
2. Duties and Responsibilities:
2.1. Plans, organizes, and directs aircraft fabrication maintenance activities. Interprets and implements directives and publications pertaining to fabrication and airframe maintenance, including environmentally safe practices. Establishes production controls and standards. Analyzes maintenance management reports. Determines resource requirements, including personnel, equipment, facilities, and supplies. Coordinates with other activities to improve procedures and resolve problems.
2.2. Directs maintenance personnel employed in removing, disassembling, inspecting, repairing, treating corrosion, reassembling, installing, testing, and modifying aircraft structural components, survival equipment, and local manufacture activities. Solves fabrication, airframe, maintenance, local manufacture, and support equipment repair problems.
2.3. Inspects and evaluates fabrication maintenance activities. Evaluates completed work to determine operational status and compliance with directives, policies, and work standards. Manages resources, interprets inspection findings, and recommends corrective action. Manages the oil analysis program.
3. Specialty Qualifications:
3.1. Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: aircraft structural maintenance, metals technology, survival equipment, and nondestructive inspection methods; characteristics and identification of aerospace and non-aerospace materials; concepts and application of maintenance directives; maintenance data reporting; and proper handling, storage, use, and disposal of hazardous waste and materials.
3.2. Education. Not used.
3.3. Training. Not used.
3.4. Experience. For award of AFSC 2A790, qualification in and possession of AFSC 2A771/72/73 or 74 is mandatory. Also, experience is mandatory managing structural maintenance, metals technology, survival equipment, or nondestructive inspection specialties and functions.
Aircraft Metals Technology
1. Specialty Summary. Designs, welds, heat treats, fabricates, and machines precision tools, components, and assemblies for aerospace weapon systems and related support equipment (SE). Related DoD Occupational Subgroup: 170000.
2. Duties and Responsibilities:
2.1. Advises on metals machining, welding, designing, and production problems. Designs, manufactures, or modifies special precision tools, gauges, dies, and fixtures to facilitate metal working operations. Performs metals technology shop calculations such as determining cutting speeds and settings, welding processes, and preheat and postheat requirements. Welds, brazes, solders, and heat treats metals. Uses manual and computer numerical controlled (CNC) metal working machines, mills, and lathes to manufacture and repair cams, gears, slots, and keyways for aircraft components and SE. Writes programs for CNC machines using manual and Computer Aided Design-Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD-CAM) methods. Checks completed components and determines serviceability in accordance with drawings and specifications.
2.2. Disassembles, assembles, and fits component parts using machine screws, bolts, rivets, press fits, and welding techniques. Uses metal working equipment, tools, and supplies to produce surface finishing specifications for components. Extracts broken or damaged hardware. Checks components for wear tolerances using precision measuring devices.
2.3. Maintains and inspects hand tools and metal working machinery. Performs operator maintenance and service inspections on shop equipment and tools. Ensures lock out and tag out procedures are accomplished prior to maintenance on all equipment. Uses and disposes of hazardous waste and materials according to environmental standards.
3. Specialty Qualifications:
3.1. Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: metal repair and fabrication processes; composition of metals and machinable materials; weld specifications; metal tempering; forging; mechanical drawings; use of precision measuring devices and tools; metal fabricating by oxyacetylene, metallic arc, and inert gas shielded arc; operation and capacity of metal working and welding equipment; use and fabrication of layout and fixture devices; safety codes and practices regarding equipment and supplies; hazards of explosive gasses, hazardous rays, and fumes; and proper handling, use, and disposal of hazardous waste and materials.
3.2. Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school with courses in shop mathematics, metal working, or mechanical drawing is desirable.
3.3. Training.
3.3.1. For award of AFSC 2A731, completion of a basic aircraft metals technology course is mandatory.
3.3.2. For award of AFSC 2A771, completion of the craftsman aircraft metals technology course is mandatory.
3.4. Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
3.4.1. 2A751. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2A731. Also, experience in functions such as gas and electric welding, boring, milling, shaping, grinding metal, or using precision measuring devices.
3.4.2. 2A771. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2A751. Also, experience performing or supervising functions dealing with welding, using precision measuring devices, and machining.
3.5. Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:
3.5.1. The following are mandatory for entry:
3.5.1.1. See attachment 4 for entry requirements.
3.5.2. For entry, award, and retention of AFSCs 2A711/31/51/71, normal depth perception as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examination and Standards.
For more information regarding opportunities in the Aircraft Fabrication or the Aircraft Metal Technology Career Field, please contact a recruiter at 1-800-972-8825.