Aviation Electronics Technican (United States Navy rating)
Encyclopedia
Aviation Electronics Technician (AT) is a US Navy enlisted rating
or job specialty (often called MOS
by other services). At the paygrade of E-9 (Master Chief Petty Officer
) ATs merge with the Aviation Electrician's Mate (AE) rating to become Avionics
Technicians (AV). There has been talk of completely merging the two ratings but as of yet no definite plans have been announced. Aviation Electronics Technicians wear the specialty mark of a winged helium
atom
.
Aviation Electronics Technicians (Intermediate) perform intermediate level maintenance on aviation electronic components supported by conventional and automatic test equipment, including repair of Weapons Replaceable Assemblies (WRA) and Shop Replaceable Assemblies (SRA) and perform test equipment calibration/repair and associated test bench maintenance.
Aviation Electronics Technicians (Organizational) perform organizational level maintenance on aviation electronics systems, to include: communications, radar, navigation, antisubmarine warfare sensors, electronic warfare, data link, fire control and tactical displays with associated equipment.
, when the rating of Aviation Radio Technician (ART) was established on 11 December 1942. This rating was redesignated Aviation Electronics Technician's Mate (AETM) on 31 October 1945. Effective 2 April 1948 the name of the rating became Aviation Electronics Technician (AET); the abbreviation was changed to (AT) on 9 June of the same year. A separate rating, Aviation Electronicsman (AL) was absorbed in 1955. The former ratings of Aviation Fire Control Technician (AQ) and Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician (AX) were absorbed into the AT rating effective 1 January 1991.
ATs were at one time further subdivided into ATA (Aircraft Equipment), ATG (Ground Equipment), ATN (Radio and Navigation Equipment), ATR (Radar and Navigation Equipment) and AO (Ordnance), and ATW (Airborne CIC Equipment). The duties of an ATG are now served by an AS (Aircraft Support Equipmentman). The duties of an AO remain a separate rating, and these personnel currently conduct far less electronics troubleshooting. Their training is more aligned with explosives-handling. All of the other subdivisions have since been re-merged back into the AT rating.
ATs, as well as the other members of the Navy's aviation community, are sometimes referred to as "airedales" by those in the surface or submarine
forces. They are sometimes referred to as "trons", "tron chasers", or "tweakers" within the aviation community.
Billy C. Sanders
, the fifth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
, served as an Aviation Electronics Technician throughout his pre-MCPON career.
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There are currently two types of AT's: Intermediate (I-level) and Organizational (O-level). These two levels do not affect their rate insignia or change how they are addressed (an AT3 is an AT3, regardless of I- or O-level). However, their duties are significantly different, and I-level and O-level ATs take different advancement exams, as if they were different rates.
I-level technicians work on the individual printed circuit board
s within an actual component such as a radio. They are the technicians that connect the component to a test bench to simulate an aircraft, and troubleshoot and repair the equipment. In some instances the technician will not repair specific circuit card assemblies (CCAs); these CCAs will either go to Depot level or back to the original manufacturer for repair. I-level AT's are usually assigned to Fleet Readiness Centers on shore or Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Departments aboard ships. I-level AT's are expected to have some electronics engineering knowledge, and are not generally expected to know much about aircraft-specific systems.
O-level technicians troubleshoot various discrepancies with the use of multimeters and avionics test equipment to locate faults within the aircraft. An O-level AT will determine if the discrepancy that the aircrew reported is an aircraft-wiring problem or a system problem. If the problem is aircraft wiring, the AT will coordinate with the Aviation Electrician's Mate
s to repair the wiring problem on the aircraft. If the problem is determined to be an assembled component of a system, the assembly will be removed and turned in to AIMD for repair. The assembly can be replaced with parts that the squadron may keep as spares in order to keep the aircraft operational. Keeping spare parts at the squadron-level is usually not Standard Operating Procedure, but these rules are frequently relaxed during intense operations due to the need for expedient turn-around. In addition to their separate duties as electronics technicians, O-level AT's are sometimes combined with AE's (Aviation Electrician's Mates) and AO's (Aviation Ordnancemen) into a work center called IWT (Integrated Weapons Team). As electronics have migrated into other aircraft systems (such as flight control and weapons control), the IWT team is given the duties of maintaining specifically the armament and weapons systems, whereas a separate AT workcenter is responsible for non-weapons based electronics such as communications and navigation. This is usually done at the organizational level, and is not Navy-wide. O-level AT's are assigned to squadrons and perform most of their work on the flight deck of carriers and in the aircraft hangars on land. These AT's are expected to have a detailed understanding of how the system interfaces with the aircraft.
The following ratings require the same general skills as Aviation Electronics Technician plus additional training for particular systems and equipment for the specialty.
Naval rating
A Naval Rating is an enlisted member of a country's Navy, subordinate to Warrant Officers and Officers hence not conferred by commission or warrant...
or job specialty (often called MOS
Military Occupational Specialty
A United States military occupation code, or a Military Occupational Specialty code , is a nine character code used in the United States Army and United States Marines to identify a specific job. In the U.S. Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes is used...
by other services). At the paygrade of E-9 (Master Chief Petty Officer
Master Chief Petty Officer
- Master Chief Petty Officer :U.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar deviceU.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaGood conductRating badgeMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar Insignia...
) ATs merge with the Aviation Electrician's Mate (AE) rating to become Avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
Technicians (AV). There has been talk of completely merging the two ratings but as of yet no definite plans have been announced. Aviation Electronics Technicians wear the specialty mark of a winged helium
Helium
Helium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602, which is represented by the symbol He. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table...
atom
Atom
The atom is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. The atomic nucleus contains a mix of positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons...
.
Aviation Electronics Technicians (Intermediate) perform intermediate level maintenance on aviation electronic components supported by conventional and automatic test equipment, including repair of Weapons Replaceable Assemblies (WRA) and Shop Replaceable Assemblies (SRA) and perform test equipment calibration/repair and associated test bench maintenance.
Aviation Electronics Technicians (Organizational) perform organizational level maintenance on aviation electronics systems, to include: communications, radar, navigation, antisubmarine warfare sensors, electronic warfare, data link, fire control and tactical displays with associated equipment.
History
The rating now known as AT can trace its origin to World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when the rating of Aviation Radio Technician (ART) was established on 11 December 1942. This rating was redesignated Aviation Electronics Technician's Mate (AETM) on 31 October 1945. Effective 2 April 1948 the name of the rating became Aviation Electronics Technician (AET); the abbreviation was changed to (AT) on 9 June of the same year. A separate rating, Aviation Electronicsman (AL) was absorbed in 1955. The former ratings of Aviation Fire Control Technician (AQ) and Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician (AX) were absorbed into the AT rating effective 1 January 1991.
ATs were at one time further subdivided into ATA (Aircraft Equipment), ATG (Ground Equipment), ATN (Radio and Navigation Equipment), ATR (Radar and Navigation Equipment) and AO (Ordnance), and ATW (Airborne CIC Equipment). The duties of an ATG are now served by an AS (Aircraft Support Equipmentman). The duties of an AO remain a separate rating, and these personnel currently conduct far less electronics troubleshooting. Their training is more aligned with explosives-handling. All of the other subdivisions have since been re-merged back into the AT rating.
General information
ATs perform duties at sea and ashore all over the world. They may work indoors, outdoors, in a shop environment, in an aircraft squadron or on an aircraft carrier. They work closely with others, require little supervision, and do mental and physical work of a technical nature.ATs, as well as the other members of the Navy's aviation community, are sometimes referred to as "airedales" by those in the surface or submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
forces. They are sometimes referred to as "trons", "tron chasers", or "tweakers" within the aviation community.
Billy C. Sanders
Billy C. Sanders
Billy C. Sanders was the fifth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. After graduating from high school, he initially began his military career by joining the United States Air Force in February 1954. Upon being discharged in 1957, Master Chief Sanders joined the Air Force Reserve...
, the fifth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Navy, which has a paygrade of E-9. The holder of this rank and post is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S...
, served as an Aviation Electronics Technician throughout his pre-MCPON career.
Different types
I-level technicians work on the individual printed circuit board
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board, or PCB, is used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive pathways, tracks or signal traces etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. It is also referred to as printed wiring board or etched wiring...
s within an actual component such as a radio. They are the technicians that connect the component to a test bench to simulate an aircraft, and troubleshoot and repair the equipment. In some instances the technician will not repair specific circuit card assemblies (CCAs); these CCAs will either go to Depot level or back to the original manufacturer for repair. I-level AT's are usually assigned to Fleet Readiness Centers on shore or Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Departments aboard ships. I-level AT's are expected to have some electronics engineering knowledge, and are not generally expected to know much about aircraft-specific systems.
O-level technicians troubleshoot various discrepancies with the use of multimeters and avionics test equipment to locate faults within the aircraft. An O-level AT will determine if the discrepancy that the aircrew reported is an aircraft-wiring problem or a system problem. If the problem is aircraft wiring, the AT will coordinate with the Aviation Electrician's Mate
Aviation Electrician's Mate
Aviation Electrician's Mate is a United States Navy occupational rating.Aviation Electrician's Mates maintain electrical and instrument systems, including power generation, conversion, and distribution systems; aircraft batteries; interior and exterior lighting; electrical control of aircraft...
s to repair the wiring problem on the aircraft. If the problem is determined to be an assembled component of a system, the assembly will be removed and turned in to AIMD for repair. The assembly can be replaced with parts that the squadron may keep as spares in order to keep the aircraft operational. Keeping spare parts at the squadron-level is usually not Standard Operating Procedure, but these rules are frequently relaxed during intense operations due to the need for expedient turn-around. In addition to their separate duties as electronics technicians, O-level AT's are sometimes combined with AE's (Aviation Electrician's Mates) and AO's (Aviation Ordnancemen) into a work center called IWT (Integrated Weapons Team). As electronics have migrated into other aircraft systems (such as flight control and weapons control), the IWT team is given the duties of maintaining specifically the armament and weapons systems, whereas a separate AT workcenter is responsible for non-weapons based electronics such as communications and navigation. This is usually done at the organizational level, and is not Navy-wide. O-level AT's are assigned to squadrons and perform most of their work on the flight deck of carriers and in the aircraft hangars on land. These AT's are expected to have a detailed understanding of how the system interfaces with the aircraft.
Related ratings
- (See http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/APP14.PDF)
The following ratings require the same general skills as Aviation Electronics Technician plus additional training for particular systems and equipment for the specialty.
- Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician
- Aviation Fire Control Technician
- Aviation Guided Missileman