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Air Force AFSC · Aviation

2A5X1 Airlift/Special Mission Aircraft Maintenance

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

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Overview

Airlift and special mission aircraft maintenance specialists conduct inspections before and after flights and perform general maintenance to keep aircraft operational. They determine when repairs require attention from an individual systems specialist and refer that work accordingly.

Minimum clearance: Secret

Minimum ASVAB varies by shred

ASVAB policy: Not policy-reviewed · coverage unknown · as of 2026-10-19

Program scope has not been reviewed.

Policy applicability and coverage of the program's score routes have not been reviewed. Shown-route arithmetic is not an eligibility decision.

Source: dafecd-atch4-2025-10-31 (source date 2025-10). Policy applicability has not been established.

See if you would hit this score: free ASVAB practice test

Skill levels: 2A511 helper · 2A531 apprentice · 2A551 journeyman · 2A571 craftsman

Core Skills

  • Aircraft maintenance forms and records
  • Aircraft repair and reclamation operations
  • Aircraft maintenance quality assurance

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Aircraft maintenance, repair and reclamation, quality assurance, and maintenance-record duties transfer directly to civilian aircraft servicing and repair documentation.

How to prepare: Assemble documentary evidence of your military maintenance experience for FAA review toward Airframe and Powerplant ratings. Certification requires age 18 or older, English proficiency, written, oral, and practical tests, and either qualifying experience of 18 months for one rating or 30 months concurrently for both, graduation from an FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School, or completion of the military JSAMTCC course; air carriers often require certification for hiring, although it is not an FAA requirement for every airline mechanic job.

What the civilian work involves
  • Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance.
  • Read and interpret maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
  • Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Access Software AIRPAX

Training & Development

Choose credentials for your target role. COOL funding markers describe program listings, not a guarantee of eligibility or funding.

Getting Started

  • ASTM NCATT Foreign Object Elimination (FOE)

    Build foreign-object prevention knowledge in housekeeping, tool accountability, and material handling for aircraft maintenance work.

    Eligibility and preparation: The exam is open regardless of age, career field, training, education, or experience; AET certification is not required.

    For: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (6 documents)
  1. DAFECD, 30 Apr 26: AIRLIFT/SPECIAL MISSION AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE (2A5X1)

    [1] Specialty Summary section "AIRLIFT/SPECIAL MISSION AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE"; normalized cached text lines 6317-6337; explicit AFSC match for 2A5X1

    Supports: Aircraft maintenance forms and records, Aircraft repair and reclamation operations, Aircraft maintenance quality assurance, Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (O*NET 49-3011.00)

  2. O*NET: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (O*NET 49-3011.00)

  3. FAA: Become an Aviation Mechanic

    [3] Requirements and mechanic experience requirements

    Supports: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (O*NET 49-3011.00)

  4. COOL credential mapping: ASTM NCATT Foreign Object Elimination (FOE)

    [4] 2A5X1 cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: ASTM NCATT Foreign Object Elimination (FOE)

  5. SpaceTEC Partners, Inc.: ASTM NCATT certification information, exam list, and FAQ

    [5] Background; Exams Offered (Aircraft Electronics Technician, AET Endorsements, Other ASTM NCATT exams); Frequently Asked Questions; retrieved 2026-09-23

    Supports: ASTM NCATT Foreign Object Elimination (FOE)

  6. ASTM NCATT FOE Elements of Basic Awareness Study Guide (PDF, copyright 2022 ASTM International NCATT)

    [6] Scope (sec. 1) and Significance and Use (sec. 3); retrieved 2026-09-23

    Supports: ASTM NCATT Foreign Object Elimination (FOE)

Defense contractor jobs for 2A5X1

Predecessor codes

Historical codes with documented links to 2A5X1. Each history page explains the change.

454X4AAircraft Pneudraulic Systems Technician, MAC or SAC Aerospace Repair45732AApprentice Airlift Aircraft Maintenance Specialist45772Airlift Aircraft Maintenance Technician457X0Strategic Aircraft Maintenance457X2Airlift Aircraft Maintenance

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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