Avionics Systems Technician Course

The aim of this program is to train technicians to perform all tasks required of an Avionics Systems Technician, Apprentice Level. Avionics Systems Technicians are aircraft electronic technicians. They are responsible for maintaining all pitot-static systems, flight instrument systems, automatic flight control systems, navigation systems, compass systems, airborne communications systems, radar systems, electronic warfare systems, data processing systems, digital display systems, aircraft software and storage and handling media, solid state devices and printed circuit boards, built-in-test equipment, general and special purpose test equipment (GPTE and SPTE), avionics related weapons delivery, aiming and control systems and aircraft related photo systems.

The Avionics Systems Technician course is designed to take unskilled junior ranks, introduce them to basic tools and the aircraft maintenance environment and develop them in the full range of their trade duties. By the end of training the apprentice will be able to assess a technical problem and determine a plan to make the repairs. Instruction is provided by a combination of lectures, demonstrations and practical exercises using the school’s equipment and facilities. Major subject areas covered in the course are:

• technical administration
• tools and equipment
• aircraft servicing
• aircraft instrument systems
• automatic flight control systems
• aircraft navigation systems
• radar and communications systems
• data processing and software storage systems
• aircraft wiring, cables, and connectors
• discrete components

The course is preceded by a separate training phase of nine months called Performance Oriented Electronic Training (POET). POET covers much of the technological background theory for this trade and includes:

• Mathematics(including general technical maths and intro to calculus)
• Physics (motion, forces, energy, heat, light and sound)
• Computer Programming (introduction and electronics applications)
• Electricity (circuits and electro-mechanical devices)
• Electronics (electronic devices, assembly methods, digital circuits, integrated circuits, electronic communications and discrete circuits)
• Technological Skills (measurement, technical communication, technical drafting, electronic drafting, systems troubleshooting)
• Communications Systems
• Microcomputer Systems
• Electric Power and Machines

The course load is normally 12 students. Candidates are normally of the rank of Private or other Junior Non-Commissioned Members.

• Candidates must be capable of communicating and taking all instruction in English or French;
• Candidates must have completed a secondary school level education including mathematics in senior year. It is also recommended that candidates have secondary level physics and chemistry; and
• Candidates must possess a basic knowledge of electronics equivalent to graduates of the Performance Oriented Electronic Training (POET) course (approximately 119 training days).

The Course is conducted 10 times a year and the duration of this course is approximately 191 training days (nine months).

The Avionics System Technician training 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.

Avionics Systems Technician video