Description
The Air Force employs hundreds of tactical aircraft to complete our missions, including fighters, strike-fighters and attack planes. It’s the responsibility of Tactical Aircraft Maintenance specialists to ensure that every component of these high-performance aircraft is maintained to the most exacting standards. These experts ensure that the aircraft in their care are ready to fly at a moment’s notice so that pilots can safely and effectively complete their mission.
Core Skills
- preventive and corrective maintenance
- technical troubleshooting and fault isolation
- reading and interpreting technical data
- aircraft systems knowledge (avionics, hydraulics, engines)
- use of electronic test equipment
- maintenance documentation and digital records
- configuration management and change control
- quality assurance and inspection
- safety and risk management
- time-critical problem solving
- team coordination on flightline
- logistics and parts management
- basic IT literacy for maintenance systems
Common Certifications
- FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Certificate
- Inspection Authorization (IA)
- Aircraft Type-Specific Training (Fighter/Attack Aircraft)
- OSHA 30-Hour General Industry (Aviation Safety)
Civilian Career Paths
- AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE
- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
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Data sourced from official Air Force publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.