WEBVTT 00:00:05.588 --> 00:00:08.758 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% I'm Corporal Melissa Vautour originally from Dalhousie, New Brunswick, 00:00:08.758 --> 00:00:12.178 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% an Aircraft Structures Technician currently posted to 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario. 00:00:17.517 --> 00:00:22.897 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:113% Aircraft Structures Technicians, or ACS Techs for short, are responsible for the repair, 00:00:22.897 --> 00:00:27.652 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% maintenance, and reconstruction of all the outer surfaces and interior structural components 00:00:27.652 --> 00:00:30.572 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:93% of Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft. 00:00:30.572 --> 00:00:35.452 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% If it's part of an aircraft's wings, fuselage, nose, tail or frame, 00:00:35.452 --> 00:00:39.164 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% it's the job of ACS Techs to keep it in mission-ready condition. 00:00:39.164 --> 00:00:44.002 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% They also take care of the upholstery, seat belts, and safety equipment on board. 00:00:44.002 --> 00:00:50.091 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% As part of the air maintenance team, ACS Techs work alongside Avionics Systems Technicians, 00:00:50.091 --> 00:00:52.093 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:70% Aviation Systems Technicians 00:00:52.093 --> 00:00:54.304 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:88% and Air Weapons Systems Technicians 00:00:54.304 --> 00:00:58.516 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% to make sure that every aircraft takes off with the ability to carry out its mission, 00:00:58.516 --> 00:01:00.643 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:80% and the firepower to back it up. 00:01:01.895 --> 00:01:05.982 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:100% They work directly on the aircraft in between flights and servicing checks. 00:01:05.982 --> 00:01:08.610 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% They also work on more in-depth second-line maintenance 00:01:08.610 --> 00:01:10.653 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:103% where more extensive repairs are handled. 00:01:11.321 --> 00:01:14.741 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% The front-line units, they have a bit of a different ACS feel to them, 00:01:14.741 --> 00:01:16.910 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% and they might be doing stuff hands-on the aircraft, 00:01:16.910 --> 00:01:22.207 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% such as servicing and inspections and changing configurations in the layouts of the plane, 00:01:22.207 --> 00:01:25.043 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% whereas you have other people within the trade that are shop-based, 00:01:25.043 --> 00:01:28.421 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% and they might be doing fabricating, they might be prototyping. 00:01:28.421 --> 00:01:31.424 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:78% So there's so much versatility within this trade specifically, 00:01:31.424 --> 00:01:36.846 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% that each day is completely different and you're not going to find yourself within this trade 00:01:36.846 --> 00:01:40.099 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% in a very monotonous, cookie-cutter kind of a work environment. 00:01:40.558 --> 00:01:44.479 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% Aircraft Structures Technicians spend most of their careers in hangars and workshops 00:01:44.479 --> 00:01:49.484 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% on Air Force bases here in Canada, but they also serve aboard Royal Canadian Navy ships 00:01:49.484 --> 00:01:52.445 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:108% when they deploy with maritime helicopters. 00:01:52.445 --> 00:01:57.534 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:118% ACS Techs also deploy with the Air Force on missions overseas with Canada's NATO allies. 00:02:04.749 --> 00:02:09.671 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% I've had the opportunity to work on some projects that aren't your typical, normal projects. 00:02:09.671 --> 00:02:12.799 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:83% Within the past year or so, I had an opportunity to refurbish 00:02:12.799 --> 00:02:15.844 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:68% and repaint our unit plane. I had the time of my life! 00:02:15.844 --> 00:02:21.182 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% I had to come up with a design concept, and it's something you don't typically see every day. 00:02:21.182 --> 00:02:23.434 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:115% So I'm very proud of that work that I've done. 00:02:23.434 --> 00:02:26.896 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:85% This trade, specifically, allows you to be creative, right - 00:02:26.896 --> 00:02:29.440 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% you're only limited by your imagination within this trade. 00:02:36.322 --> 00:02:40.660 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% On completion of their military and occupational training, Aircraft Structures Technicians 00:02:40.660 --> 00:02:43.621 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% are assigned to a squadron on a Wing here in Canada, 00:02:43.621 --> 00:02:47.375 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% where they'll continue with on-the-job training on specific airframes. 00:02:47.542 --> 00:02:50.753 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:125% If you're on the flight line, you're going to get training specific to the fleet 00:02:50.753 --> 00:02:54.465 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:100% that you'll be working on, in addition to honing up on more of your ACS skills. 00:02:54.465 --> 00:02:58.595 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:113% If you go into more of a shop environment, usually what happens is you're going to go on 00:02:58.595 --> 00:03:04.350 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% a rotational basis to the different shops for the key elements of the ACS trade. 00:03:04.350 --> 00:03:09.564 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% ACS Techs have welding skills, advanced machining skills, sheet metal skills; 00:03:09.564 --> 00:03:13.735 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% they take care of painting, composite repair, and media blasting 00:03:13.735 --> 00:03:16.571 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% and they deal extensively with aircraft fasteners. 00:03:16.946 --> 00:03:20.325 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:88% Not every part of the trade appeals to everybody - that's a given. 00:03:20.325 --> 00:03:24.412 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:113% But what you'll find is you get the opportunity to try on many different hats 00:03:24.412 --> 00:03:27.707 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% and many different skillsets that you wouldn't normally get to do. 00:03:27.707 --> 00:03:30.543 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% So in doing that, you can finesse and fine-tune the one 00:03:30.543 --> 00:03:34.005 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:83% that you're most passionate about and make a good career of it. 00:03:34.005 --> 00:03:37.842 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% You can't get that level of reward in a lot of the civilian trades out there. 00:03:37.842 --> 00:03:40.053 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:75% You have so many opportunities within the military 00:03:40.053 --> 00:03:42.680 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:73% to just kind of grow within your respective trade. 00:03:53.691 --> 00:03:57.612 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% When I was able to get into the ACS trade and I was able to kind of get my hands 00:03:57.612 --> 00:04:01.366 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% on some of those technician skills that weren't available to me before, 00:04:01.366 --> 00:04:02.951 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:63% it was just mind-blowing. 00:04:02.951 --> 00:04:06.496 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:88% I was able to build, to fabricate, to do all of these types of things, 00:04:06.496 --> 00:04:09.415 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:88% and I wasn't necessarily limited to sitting behind a computer screen 00:04:09.415 --> 00:04:12.585 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:88% in a more historical 'female' role. 00:04:12.585 --> 00:04:17.507 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% We're seeing more women in the trade, and we're seeing more women in non-traditional roles 00:04:17.507 --> 00:04:19.258 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:73% which is amazing and awesome.