Composites Technician

As an Aeronautical Composites Technician, you’ll be a member of the ground crew responsible for all aspects of maintenance required to support RNZAF aircraft operations. You’ll be specifically responsible for the manufacture and repair of aircraft and aircraft support equipment, and composite and metal-bonded components. When you reach technician level, you’ll be responsible for the programming and operation of computer controlled heat process ovens and portable hot bonding controllers.
 
As your career progresses, you’ll be given greater responsibilities encompassing the management of aircraft support equipment. As an Aeronautical Composites Technician you’ll be required to perform military command and leadership duties as a team leader and may also be appointed as an instructor.

Expect opportunities to broaden your range of skills as your career develops. You will have the opportunity to travel and be able to experience first class training in this developing trade. These could include taking on more challenging roles in management or training positions.

Aeronautical Engineering Course

 

As a first step you will need to complete the full-time 17 week Aeronautical Engineering Course with NMIT.  This is undertaken privately and is a prerequisite to joining the RNZAF. Areas covered on the Aeronautical Course include:

• Aircraft construction materials
• Aeronautical drawing interpretation
• Sketching and mathematics
• Aeronautical workplace safety
• Quality management principles
• Aeronautical spare parts
• Hand and machine tool use
• Maintenance documentation and publication use
• Component removal and installation
• Aircraft systems and principles of flight

Your NMIT Course fees will be reimbursed to you when you commence your RNZAF Aircraft Mechanic Training Course.

 

Recruit Course

 

Upon successful completion of the Aeronautical Engineering course you will then join the Air Force. You’ll be posted to RNZAF Base Woodbourne (near Blenheim). Here you’ll do 12 weeks of basic military training to find out if you’ve got what it takes to be in the Air Force, and learn various
subjects including:

• Organisation and Administration
• RNZAF Customs and Protocol
• Drill and Parades
• Military Field Skills and Weapon Training
• First Aid, and Search and Rescue Techniques
• Physical Fitness

 

RNZAF Composites Mechanic Training

 

After completing recruit course you’ll complete two primary trade training modules. The first is a five-and-a-half week module on aircraft structure repair designed to give you theoretical and practical training in the repair of metallic aircraft structures. The second module provides nine weeks of theoretical and practical training in entry-level composites, including component design, manufacture and repair.

 

On-the-Job Training

 

After graduating from the RNZAF Composite Mechanic Course, you will be employed for approximately 18 months on an RNZAF base, carrying out  duties and gaining experience. This training is designed to consolidate and extend your trade training.

 

RNZAF Composites Technician Course

Advanced trade training consists of two modules and a subsequent period of workplace experience to consolidate the formal training. After graduating as an Aeronautical Composites Technician, you may be selected to undertake specialist postgraduate training in the use of heat-curing equipment and associated processes.

You must be 17 years or older and have a minimum of 12 NCEA Level 1 credits in English, Mathematics and Science or Design Technology.