- I'm Corporal Tera Moussignac-Cimello from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
I'm an Aviation Systems Technician at 12 Wing Shearwater.
- The modern fighter jet, long-range transport, or ship-based helicopter
is one of the most complex machines in the world.
Keeping those aircraft in perfect flying condition
and keeping their flight crews safe and secure
is what Aviation Systems Technicians, or AVN Techs for short,
are proud to do every day.
They are responsible for the maintenance of aircraft aviation systems
including propulsion, airframe, and all related components.
- Generally speaking, we work on all the mechanical components of an aircraft.
Wings and rotors, engines, transmissions.
- In addition to their maintenance activities,
AVN Techs also have responsibilities out on the flight line on servicing teams
alongside their Avionics Systems, Aircraft Structures and Air Weapons colleagues,
marshalling, parking, towing, starting,
refuelling, cleaning and de-icing the aircraft.
(Moussignac-Cimello): I think you very much have to put your ego aside to be a good tech
because whether you have mechanical background or not,
you have to realize that you're accountable for people's lives
who are going to be flying this.
So you have to be willing to do everything by the book.
Never be afraid to ask questions.
I've been in this trade for seven years.
I ask a million questions a day
because there are people who know more than I do.
So it's a fine line of confidence
and being humble about your skills.
- AVN Techs are posted to every RCAF squadron in Canada.
But you'll also find them aboard Royal Canadian Navy ships,
supporting maritime helicopters.
And they go with the Army wherever they're deployed
and need tactical helicopter support.
The missions are incredibly diverse.
But for Aviation Systems Technicians,
the thing that never changes is their commitment to safety.
(Moussignac-Cimello): I am proud of what I do. Yeah.
From where I started to where I am now is pretty unbelievable to me.
From slinging shoes 40 hours a week
to fixing transmissions and engines for maritime helicopters. It's pretty crazy.
I am learning new things every single day with this aircraft.
So we fly missions every day.
Jumping through all the hoops and getting over all the obstacles
to actually get your aircraft ready to go on the back of the boat
for its six-month sail is probably the coolest thing we do.
- On completion of their military and occupation training,
Aviation Systems Technicians get posted to an RCAF Wing in Canada
where they'll join the AVN team for a period of on-the-job training
followed by aircraft-specific training,
whether it's fixed or rotary-wing, jet or turbo-prop.
(Moussignac-Cimello): Coming to a new base
and you see everybody just working and going about their day,
you kind of think to yourself,
how am I ever going to know as much as I need to know to work on this aircraft?
But it's just about time and experience,
and we're pretty good with taking our new technicians around with us
at every single opportunity for them to see.
And then over time, you just learn what you need to know.
- Technicians can be assigned to first-line units that handle repairs and maintenance
that can be completed with the equipment still on the aircraft.
They can also be assigned to second-line units
that handle more complicated repairs in a shop environment.
(Moussignac-Cimello): I feel good.
It still seems like a crazy decision to me,
but at this point, seven, almost eight years later,
it makes the most sense. I'm glad I did it.
It's an interesting career.
There's a lot of opportunities that come up for us,
whether it's travel or even just opportunities
to do a rarely seen maintenance on our aircraft.
There's a lot of possibilities of where you can go as a tech.
So I'd recommend it.
I think it's a fun challenge.