WEBVTT

00:00:06.298 --> 00:00:09.551 line:90%,end
- I'm Corporal Tera Moussignac-Cimello
from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

00:00:09.676 --> 00:00:13.096 line:10%
I'm an Aviation Systems Technician
at 12 Wing Shearwater.

00:00:23.649 --> 00:00:27.819 line:90%,end
<i>- The modern fighter jet, long-range transport,</i>
<i>or ship-based helicopter</i>

00:00:27.861 --> 00:00:30.781 line:90%,end
<i>is one of the most complex</i>
<i>machines in the world.</i>

00:00:30.906 --> 00:00:34.034 line:90%,end
<i>Keeping those aircraft</i>
<i>in perfect flying condition</i>

00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:36.203 line:90%,end
<i>and keeping their flight crews safe and secure</i>

00:00:36.245 --> 00:00:39.915 line:90%,end
<i>is what Aviation Systems Technicians,</i>
<i>or AVN Techs for short,</i>

00:00:40.040 --> 00:00:42.543 line:90%,end
<i>are proud to do every day.</i>

00:00:42.668 --> 00:00:45.921 line:90%,end
<i>They are responsible for the maintenance</i>
<i>of aircraft aviation systems</i>

00:00:46.046 --> 00:00:50.050 line:90%,end
<i>including propulsion, airframe,</i>
<i>and all related components.</i>

00:00:50.175 --> 00:00:54.888 line:90%,end
- Generally speaking, we work
on all the mechanical components of an aircraft.

00:00:55.013 --> 00:00:58.475 line:90%,end
Wings and rotors, engines, transmissions.

00:01:00.644 --> 00:01:03.105 line:90%,end
<i>- In addition to their maintenance activities,</i>

00:01:03.146 --> 00:01:07.234 line:90%,end
<i>AVN Techs also have responsibilities</i>
<i>out on the flight line on servicing teams</i>

00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:12.197 line:90%,end
<i>alongside their Avionics Systems,</i>
<i>Aircraft Structures and Air Weapons colleagues,</i>

00:01:12.322 --> 00:01:14.992 line:90%,end
<i>marshalling, parking, towing, starting,</i>

00:01:15.117 --> 00:01:18.954 line:90%,end
<i>refuelling, cleaning and de-icing the aircraft.</i>

00:01:18.996 --> 00:01:22.708 line:90%,end
(Moussignac-Cimello): I think you very much
have to put your ego aside to be a good tech

00:01:22.749 --> 00:01:25.919 line:90%,end
because whether you have
mechanical background or not,

00:01:25.961 --> 00:01:29.548 line:90%,end
you have to realize that you're accountable
for people's lives

00:01:29.673 --> 00:01:31.175 line:90%,end
who are going to be flying this.

00:01:31.300 --> 00:01:34.970 line:90%,end
So you have to be willing
to do everything by the book.

00:01:35.095 --> 00:01:36.847 line:90%,end
Never be afraid to ask questions.

00:01:36.972 --> 00:01:38.849 line:90%,end
I've been in this trade for seven years.

00:01:38.974 --> 00:01:41.059 line:90%,end
I ask a million questions a day

00:01:41.185 --> 00:01:43.520 line:90%,end
because there are people who know more than I do.

00:01:43.645 --> 00:01:46.773 line:90%,end
So it's a fine line of confidence

00:01:46.815 --> 00:01:50.235 line:90%,end
and being humble about your skills.

00:01:50.360 --> 00:01:54.531 line:90%,end
<i>- AVN Techs are posted to every</i>
<i>RCAF squadron in Canada.</i>

00:01:54.573 --> 00:01:57.826 line:90%,end
<i>But you'll also find them aboard</i>
<i>Royal Canadian Navy ships,</i>

00:01:57.951 --> 00:02:00.120 line:90%,end
<i>supporting maritime helicopters.</i>

00:02:00.245 --> 00:02:02.039 line:90%,end
<i>And they go with the Army wherever</i>
<i>they're deployed</i>

00:02:02.080 --> 00:02:04.249 line:90%,end
<i>and need tactical helicopter support.</i>

00:02:04.917 --> 00:02:06.919 line:90%,end
<i>The missions are incredibly diverse.</i>

00:02:07.044 --> 00:02:09.129 line:90%,end
<i>But for Aviation Systems Technicians,</i>

00:02:09.254 --> 00:02:12.424 line:90%,end
<i>the thing that never changes</i>
<i>is their commitment to safety.</i>

00:02:22.851 --> 00:02:25.562 line:90%,end
(Moussignac-Cimello): I am proud
of what I do. Yeah.

00:02:25.687 --> 00:02:29.858 line:90%,end
From where I started to where I am now
is pretty unbelievable to me.

00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:32.486 line:90%,end
From slinging shoes 40 hours a week

00:02:32.528 --> 00:02:37.824 line:90%,end
to fixing transmissions and engines
for maritime helicopters. It's pretty crazy.

00:02:37.950 --> 00:02:41.995 line:90%,end
I am learning new things
every single day with this aircraft.

00:02:43.580 --> 00:02:45.958 line:90%,end
So we fly missions every day.

00:02:46.083 --> 00:02:49.545 line:90%,end
Jumping through all the hoops
and getting over all the obstacles

00:02:49.586 --> 00:02:53.006 line:90%,end
to actually get your aircraft ready to go
on the back of the boat

00:02:53.048 --> 00:02:56.718 line:90%,end
for its six-month sail is probably
the coolest thing we do.

00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:09.356 line:90%,end
<i>- On completion of their military</i>
<i>and occupation training,</i>

00:03:09.481 --> 00:03:13.735 line:90%,end
<i>Aviation Systems Technicians</i>
<i>get posted to an RCAF Wing in Canada</i>

00:03:13.861 --> 00:03:17.447 line:90%,end
<i>where they'll join the AVN team for a period</i>
<i>of on-the-job training</i>

00:03:17.573 --> 00:03:19.700 line:90%,end
<i>followed by aircraft-specific training,</i>

00:03:19.825 --> 00:03:23.370 line:90%,end
<i>whether it's fixed or rotary-wing,</i>
<i>jet or turbo-prop.</i>

00:03:23.495 --> 00:03:25.038 line:90%,end
(Moussignac-Cimello): Coming to a new base

00:03:25.163 --> 00:03:28.792 line:90%,end
and you see everybody just working
and going about their day,

00:03:28.917 --> 00:03:30.502 line:90%,end
you kind of think to yourself,

00:03:30.627 --> 00:03:35.549 line:90%,end
how am I ever going to know as much
as I need to know to work on this aircraft?

00:03:35.674 --> 00:03:38.427 line:90%,end
But it's just about time and experience,

00:03:38.552 --> 00:03:41.889 line:90%,end
and we're pretty good with taking
our new technicians around with us

00:03:42.014 --> 00:03:44.933 line:90%,end
at every single opportunity for them to see.

00:03:45.058 --> 00:03:48.270 line:90%,end
And then over time,
you just learn what you need to know.

00:03:49.188 --> 00:03:53.400 line:90%,end
<i>- Technicians can be assigned to first-line units</i>
<i>that handle repairs and maintenance</i>

00:03:53.525 --> 00:03:56.153 line:90%,end
<i>that can be completed with the equipment</i>
<i>still on the aircraft.</i>

00:03:56.737 --> 00:03:58.864 line:90%,end
<i>They can also be assigned to second-line units</i>

00:03:58.989 --> 00:04:01.825 line:90%,end
<i>that handle more complicated repairs</i>
<i>in a shop environment.</i>

00:04:15.088 --> 00:04:16.381 line:90%,end
(Moussignac-Cimello): I feel good.

00:04:16.423 --> 00:04:18.842 line:90%,end
It still seems like a crazy decision to me,

00:04:18.967 --> 00:04:22.513 line:90%,end
but at this point, seven,
almost eight years later,

00:04:22.554 --> 00:04:25.599 line:90%,end
it makes the most sense.
I'm glad I did it.

00:04:26.808 --> 00:04:28.393 line:90%,end
It's an interesting career.

00:04:28.435 --> 00:04:30.604 line:90%,end
There's a lot of opportunities
that come up for us,

00:04:30.646 --> 00:04:33.857 line:90%,end
whether it's travel or even just opportunities

00:04:33.982 --> 00:04:37.402 line:90%,end
to do a rarely seen maintenance on our aircraft.

00:04:37.528 --> 00:04:40.614 line:90%,end
There's a lot of possibilities
of where you can go as a tech.

00:04:40.739 --> 00:04:42.574 line:90%,end
So I'd recommend it.

00:04:42.616 --> 00:04:44.451 line:90%,end
I think it's a fun challenge.