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airborne technician

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As an ex GE (Nimrod) GE is so different with each fleet. I was a mobile rects controller at ISK, with the pleasure of being the liney as well. My job changed as soon as we took off on det where you took on all the engine decisions required. I've friends that have done GE on every fleet except RJ and the workers are the Herc boys followed by the C 17 the rest have been retired like myself. If you want to keep close to the jets GE is the place to be.
 
The big thing about promotion is that we don't have subordinates so man management is a tough one to get in your SJAR. We recently picked up the MPA Rects controllers job so that helps. Also depends on who sits on the promotion board and whether or not they fully understand the GE role. It's a fixed 5 year tour so if you're picked up you stay put. There are options for extending for another 3 years.
 
Thanks for the info. It's really useful.
Please could you tell me what the selection process involves for GE and airborne tech. Thanks.
 
For GE apply to remuster. Form 4477? Your name goes to Manning (Sgt M*** M*****) and they decide your eligibility. Our WO sits down with Manning and selects names. I think the Herc trawl may be extended this year as we are short on volunteers but you'd need to speak to Manning to confirm this.

Personally I've spent about 5 months away from home this year, some do more, some do less but it's mainly in short stints. 2 months is the max in MPA which in theory should come round every 3 years, other dets are between 1 & 3 weeks and a lot of weekend EuroTrainers. You would have to do the extended aircrew CCS which is a week long plus other bits and bobs. Training is about 6-7 months of Q courses and 3-6 months route flying depending how busy we are and how many to get through training. This is only the Herc perspective. I believe C17 take a lot longer to go through training and A400 is still in its infancy.
 
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Thanks.

Hyperthetical question but if you had a place on IOT to become an Officer in a non aviation branch, would you turn it down to do GE/Airborne tech?
 
That's a question only you can answer. I think GE is the pinnacle of any aircraft engineers career, officer branch is a whole new ball game. If you like staying hands on and pretty much being your own boss then GE is the way ahead. If you're more interested in the managerial side of things and the perks that a commission brings then go officer.
 
Airborne techs - no idea how they are selected but it must follow a similar pattern to other types for GE.

All I can comment on is the OCU phase of their training as that is when I first came into contact with them...tons of classroom theory and cardboard simulators (the E3D if you're not familiar is complex beast) then constant theory and practical in the air. I would say the display tech seemed the most difficult closely followed by the radar tech. They get beasted on the in-flight emergencies then once qualified they become the instigator and assessor of them for the crew they are on that day. Crews on E3's are non-constituted.

You join the techy part of the office on the squadron and as such are part of a pool of resource. You will fly when required (Comms ops get to go on pilot trainers as well as ops flights) and the dets/ops get carved up as fairly as the techy leader (normally a WO) sees fit...the trips can be really good on E3's (Flags both in Vegas and Alaska, Sicily, Greece and so on) and any ops we have left are normally out of reasonable locations with decents facilities...you will never be based too near anything remotely dangerous on E3's due to their value, rarity and fragility.
 
No OASC involved for GEs. Requirement is that you have been a SNCO for a year and completed TMT and IMLC
 
Currently no OASC involved in AT selection. Criteria is in the AP 3392 and is Cpls on the PSL or Sgt's with less than 2 years Seniority. CT's can be taken to fill certain roles. Selection is by 3 days at MOB and ends with an interview panel of 3 senior AT's and an Officer Chairperson.
 
Last time I was on a Voyager, there were more 10 Sqn techies on the voyager than passengers. Also on the voyager were a mover and a ridiculous amount of aircrew types including a Nav and Air Eng. It's amazing what manpower materialise when it's a nice jolly :)

Last time I flew civvy airlines there were just a Captain and first officer.



Vim said:
you will never be based too near anything remotely dangerous on E3's due to their value, rarity and fragility.
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I remember hearing that the E-3 is the only thing in the RAF that's not expendable.
 
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Vim_Fuego said:
They bring up the radar and display systems and maintain them as much as spares and access will allow during flight...the third one helps the comms op run up and maintain the communications suite including crypto loads then assists the comms op in tuning the 23 radios on board...an added bonus is spelling the comms op and operating the radios in his absence once he had got some time under his belt. They also lead the emergency and fire fighting efforts in flight which means crawling into some fairly tight and unpleasant spaces under the floor whilst wearing BA...not nice.
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Vim,

All of the above was part of our job when on Nimrods anyway...including the BA bit ...what do you/we need them for? :PDT_Xtremez_14:
 
PingDit said:
Vim,

All of the above was part of our job when on Nimrods anyway...including the BA bit ...what do you/we need them for? :PDT_Xtremez_14:
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Oh but the APY 2 is a beast Ping...scary great big thing that you'd want somebody else to touch first or it'll sting you!
 
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