Topic: what to do to be FE

[Trunk Monkey]

For an AVS tech (who of course are all very smart people, see profile  ) I think a more natural move, with greater odds of success, would be to AES Op.

You said AVS, smart and AESOP in the same sentence....hahahahaha...sorry, too easy
 

[nickanick]

Are there any trades that contain both duty of loadmaster and FE?

[aesop081]

No.

[HeavyHooker]

Are there any trades that contain both duty of loadmaster and FE?

FE's are qualified and authorized to do most of the things that a LM can do but no hybrid trade as has been discussed before.  The problem with a hybrid trade is that only FE's have maintenance experience, whereas AESOps and LMs do not necessarily have that background.

HH

[aesop081]

whereas AESOps and LMs do not necessarily have that background.

Way back when, on arriving to Sqn, we were trained to do A/B/AB checks on a significant portion of the aircraf as part of our formal category upgrade.

I also loaded luggage & cargo and fixed systems while in flight so I guess you could say I incorporated stuff from LM and FE 

[nickanick]

I did a little research in becoming a FE, and many people believe this is a dying trade.
Is this really that worst time being a FE? Would CF eliminate the trade?

[HeavyHooker]

This, simply put, is not the case.  The Chief of Air Staff put out a memo in 2008 stating this and the case for FE's has only grown since.  The rumour was that with the retiring legacy fleets, the newer models would not need FEs so the trade would become defunct.  The C 17 and new C 130s do not have FE's on them and that was the beginning of the rumour.  The C 130J is now very close to bringing back the FE position as well, by the way.

Military choppers will always have Flt Engs aboard as well.  Ask any pilot the value of an FE and you will understand how necessary his FE is.  I can assure you that the FE position is not going anywhere!

HH

[aesop081]

I can assure you that the FE position is not going anywhere!

The trade certainly is changing though, with AM Sup, no ?

[HeavyHooker]

Sr NCOs are yes.  But our flying positions are still the same.  Essentially once you hit WO, you become more of an administrator and tied more into the AVN world to bridge that gap.  That also comes with us downranking several positions.  ie. MCpls have become D/Lds of Flts and Sgts as Flt Leads.

There is some questions as to how well AMSup will be worked in to our rank structure with our critical shortages too.  We simply need those WOs to fly as FICs, Stds, etc.  I believe 2015 it is supposed to be implemented...  The whole AMSup seems pretty fluid and flexible

[nickanick]

Thanks HeavyHooker, this is very assuring!

What is AMSup??

[HeavyHooker]

Air Maintenance Supervisor

AVN WO's and FE WO's will all become AMSups.  Not sure about AVS/ACS though.  The intent is to bring all maintenance and maintenance related trades on to the same page I believe.

[Trunk Monkey]

Air Maintenance Supervisor

AVN WO's and FE WO's will all become AMSups.  Not sure about AVS/ACS though.  The intent is to bring all maintenance and maintenance related trades on to the same page I believe.

The only smart folks staying out of that mess are NDT, as far as I recall. Makes sense for them to do so anyways. Rest of the maintenance trades(and the best trade in the RCAF) are in.

[aesop081]

(and the best trade in the RCAF)

Incorrect. AES Op is not part of the AM Sup thingy.........

[mr peabody]

AVS/ACS WO's are in as well.  (Ah, sorry I didn't read Trunk Monkey's post... it's early)