Aerospace Engineering Officer Basic Course
Aerospace Engineering Officers are responsible for all aspects of the maintenance and management of military aircraft (whether associated with the Air Force, Army or Navy) and all of their support equipment and facilities during military operations in peacetime and war. Aerospace Engineers are called upon to manage and supervise the personnel and resources required for servicing, inspection and repair of aircraft. They may be in charge of the design, development and testing of new systems, and the modifications to existing ones conduct the life cycle management of aircraft and air weapon systems. They participate in the formulation of plans, standards, and specifications of military aircraft and their support equipment and facilities. They also provide technical advice on aircraft operations. The Canadian Forces Aerospace Engineering Officer Basic Course (AOBC) provides the basic skills and knowledge to prepare Aerospace Engineers for their initial employment.
The AOBC will then provide the knowledge and basic experience required to commence their duties using theoretical and practical exercises (conducted either individually or in syndicates). Subjects covered include:
- Aircraft Behaviour
- Electrical and Mechanical Systems
- Avionics Systems
- Safety and Security Programs
- Basic Management Tools
- Oral Communications
- Written Communications
- Leadership
- Interviewing and Counselling
- National Defence Headquarters
- Plan Aircraft Maintenance in Routine and Contingency Operations
As an Aircraft Servicing Officer, Aircraft Repair Officer, Avionics Support Officer or Engineering Projects Officer, Aerospace Engineers would be involved with supporting the air operations by organising, directing and planning the maintenance of aircraft and associated systems and equipment. They could also be employed in fields such as project or flight test engineering, software development or developmental and support engineering.
The course is normally run with approximately 45 candidates. Candidates are normally commissioned Officers or Officer-Cadets.
Canadian Forces (CF) Aerospace Engineering Officers are normally required to have a baccalaureate degree in engineering or science. The preferred degree options are Mechanical, Electrical or Computer Engineering, Aerospace Systems, Industrial Engineering, or Engineering Physics. Most engineering and science degrees and engineering technologist designations are also acceptable. The specific degree path is not a definite requirement for international students however, without the basic science and engineering educational background, students can expect to have difficulty with the course. Candidates must have completed a national equivalent of Basic Officer Training prior to the AOBC.
The AOBC consists of 144 days of training. The course is conducted once per year and presented in two parts. AOBC Part 1 runs for 12 weeks from June to August and AOBC Part 2 runs for 18 weeks from January to May.
The AOBC is conducted at 16 Wing at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering (CFSATE) located at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden, just north of Toronto, Ontario.
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