Currently recruiting
Building & fixing things Aircraft Travelling the world
INITIAL ANNUAL PAY
£27,200+
+ Benefits
SALARY IF PROMOTED TO CORPORAL
£40,000+
+ Benefits
Aircraft Technicians Survival Equipment maintain systems designed to save and preserve life; in flight, during emergencies, and in survival situations. This role is key in supporting aircrew and the operation of aircraft.
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RAF Aircraft Technician - Survival Equipment on operations
AS1 (Tech) Holder explains his role in looking after RAF Pilots' survival Equipment, on deployment in Abu Dhabi in support of air warfare training.
What will you do?
As an Aircraft Technician Survival Equipment, your role will involve maintaining and servicing essential equipment to ensure the safety and functionality of aircrew and passengers during flights. This includes tasks such as inspecting and repairing items like helmets, oxygen systems, life preservers, and night vision devices.
- You will also be responsible for the upkeep of survival equipment crucial for sustaining life in emergencies, such as personal locator beacons, emergency life rafts, survival packs, parachute assemblies, and restraint harnesses.
- You will support military parachute operations and airborne forces training globally by maintaining parachute systems for personnel and equipment.
- You will provide survival equipment for training, assist in trials, and offer engineering support to survival instructors on the proper handling, operation, and transportation of equipment.
- Your responsibilities may also include evaluating, testing, and integrating new clothing and equipment, assessing modifications, and reviewing equipment upgrades before their implementation.
Requirements at a glance
Be aged 16 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday)
GCSE grade C/4 or Scottish National 5 grade C in English language and Mathematics.
You will need to meet specific Nationality and Residency criteria. Please see full details in the Entry Requirements section below
Commit to minimum 3 years post specialist training
Pass the Defence Aptitude Assessment
Pass a Fitness test
View all entry requirements below
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
You must be aged 16 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday)
Applicants must also read all of the sections below and make sure they meet all entry requirements before submitting an application.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Have these minimum grades:
GCSE pre-2017
GCSE 2017 onwards
Scottish National 5
Mathematics
C
Grade 4
C
English Language
C
Grade 4
C
If your qualifications are not listed, or you do not have any qualifications, please Contact Us to learn more about how you can join the Royal Air Force.
NATIONALITY & RESIDENCY
NATIONALITY
You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, holder of dual UK/other nationality or have been a Commonwealth citizen since birth (with ‘right to work’ immigration status).
RESIDENCY
Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should have resided there for the 5 years immediately preceding your application, but candidates with a minimum of 3 years may be considered.If you have resided abroad for a period due to work or study, you may still be eligible on a case by case basis. This will be established during the selection process.
The Nationality and Residency requirements are the foundation of obtaining the necessary security clearance. The nationalities of your spouse or partner, and parents, are also taken into account among other factors.
There will be further pre-employment checks and you will be expected to achieve the security clearance of Security Check (SC).
Employment restrictions may be imposed in the future if you are unable to achieve an increased security clearance requirement for selected placements.
Security Vetting and Nationality Considerations
RAF security policies are subject to ongoing review, which may impact the eligibility of individuals with dual nationality or direct connections to certain countries to obtain the minimum required level of security vetting. Security vetting is a mandatory requirement for all RAF personnel.
Applicants are welcome to proceed with their application to join the RAF; however, it is important to understand that permanent employment is contingent upon successfully obtaining the appropriate level of security vetting for the chosen role.
If it is determined that an applicant’s nationality or connections may prevent the granting of the required clearance, this could result in the rejection of the application. Additionally, restrictions may apply to the roles available to individuals based on nationality or dual nationality concerns, as outlined by UK government policy.
FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
You must be physically fit to complete both initial and specialist training, and to do your role effectively. Every candidate's fitness levels are tested as part of the application process.
The first of these is the Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) which takes place at a fitness centre local to you. This consists of a 2.4km (1.5m) run on a treadmill (set to zero incline)
How fit you need to be to pass this test varies on age and gender. The PJFT requirements are listed on the charts below (Male and Female).
MEN
AGE
2.4 Km Run
(Mins)
15-16
13.52
17-29
13.20
30-34
13.49
35-39
14.14
40-44
14.46
45-49
15.17
50-54
15.53
WOMEN
AGE
2.4 Km Run
(Mins)
15-16
16.22
17-29
15.48
30-34
16.14
35-39
16.44
40-44
17.22
45-49
17.57
50-54
18.34
See here for more information about a training plan
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Candidates joining the RAF must be medically fully fit, both physically and psychologically, to meet the challenges of military service, during which they will be expected to deploy, potentially at short notice, to locations world-wide that are remote from established medical care.
Certain medical conditions could preclude entry to the RAF. Further details can be found in this document.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Information
Why is BMI important?
One of the most common medical causes of delay to candidate’s applications, is falling outside the selection BMI limits. Candidates with a BMI outside the selection limitations are statistically at increased risk of injury during basic training and long-term ill health.
What is BMI?
BMI is calculated using your height and weight. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) classify a healthy BMI as being between 18.5 and 24.9. Some individuals have an elevated BMI due to a high muscle mass. To accommodate individuals with an elevated BMI (up to a maximum of 32) caused by high muscle mass, waist circumference measurements are used.
How to measure your waist circumference
Breathe normally and the waist measurement is to be taken at the end of a normal breath out. Position the tape measure midway between the bottom of the ribcage and the top of the pelvis. The tape should be snug but not compress the skin. If there is difficulty finding the bony landmarks, place the tape at the level of the tummy button.
Calculating your BMI
Calculate your BMI here
BMI Limitations for RAF Selection
Age
BMI minimum
BMI maximum
Male maximum BMI (with additional assessment)
Female maximum BMI (with additional assessment)
18 or over
18
30
32 (waist circumference less than 94cm)
32 (waist circumference less than 80cm)
16 to 17
17
27
27
27
Eyesight
Eyesight standards vary for different roles. Wearing glasses or contact lenses may be allowed.
Health Criteria
If you are unsure about any health criteria, please continue your application and your eligibility will be assessed at the medical examination stage.
During your application, the Medical Risk Assessment that all candidates undergo is there to make sure that you are healthy enough for the intense training required by the RAF. Your application will be rejected if you fail to meet the minimum acceptable medical standard for entry. Your medical history is confidential and is not disclosed to those not authorised to hold this information.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
YOU MUST:
Declare any previous spent and unspent convictions
Check if you qualify under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 through this summary
Achieve the minimum security clearance of Security Check (SC) for this role
DISQUALIFYING FACTORS
YOU CAN'T APPLY FOR THE RAF IF YOU:
Have been or are a member of a group that stirs up racial hatred and violence
Are waiting to appear in court, or have unspent convictions. You may also have to declare spent convictions for certain roles
Misuse drugs, solvents and anabolic steroids. But each case is considered upon its own merits
Have tattoos, brands or bead implants that are obscene or offensive.
Any permanent or temporary tattoos, whether ordinarily visible or not, must not be obscene or offensive (eg, racist, anti-religion or belief, crude, overtly sexist, homophobic, drug related or of an extreme political nature). Tattoos may be worn on the side and back of the neck but tattoos on the back of the neck must not extend above the natural hairline (scalp tattoos are not permitted).
Have body piercing which causes holes that do not close up
Declare yourself to be an 'undischarged' bankrupt
Beard Policy
Serving personnel can wear a smart, neatly-trimmed, full-set beard. The length of acceptable beards is between Grade 1 (2.5mm) and Grade 8 (25.5mm).
Usually, candidates are to be clean shaven when being fitted for their respirators in Phase One training, however other methods of creating a clean seal can be advised if this is not possible due to religious reasons.
If you don’t have any of the above, you might still be able to apply. For more information please contact us .
Apprenticeships available
The RAF is one of the largest providers of diverse apprenticeships in the UK. We offer these apprenticeships for this role:
Level 3 Survival Equipment Fitter Apprenticeship
Doing an RAF apprenticeship means you can gain a professional qualification that’s recognised in the civilian world, and you’ll also have a guaranteed job in your chosen role once you’ve completed it.
View full details
Meet Laura, apprentice RAF Aircraft Technician – Survival Equipment
Sgt Thomas Gardner explains how apprentice AS1 (Tech) Laura, an Aircraft Technician – Survival Equipment has learnt her trade on critical flight safety equipment and has gained an NVQ level 3 extended diploma in aeronautical engineering.
CAREER, TRAINING & EDUCATION
At any level or position your personal success is vital to make us succeed too. We are dedicated to your future, as it is essential to ours. You will receive basic and specialist training in your field and we even provide the option to pay for your education. The experience you gain with the RAF will equip you to work at the top of your field, both in the UK and overseas.
01
Phase one training
Basic Recruit Training
10 weeks
RAF Halton
You’ll complete the Basic Recruit Training Course at the RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire.
Read more
10 weeks
RAF Halton
Phase one training
This will help you to adjust to military life. Along with fitness and military training, you’ll learn about the RAF lifestyle.
02
Phase two training
Specialist training
29 weeks
DSAE Cosford
The next step is a specialist training course at the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering, Cosford, near Wolverhampton.
Read more
29 weeks
DSAE Cosford
Phase two training
You will be taught the basic skills of mechanical and electrical engineering and learn the principles of engineering and maintenance of parachutes, life rafts, and Aircrew Equipment Assemblies; including night vision devices, helmet mounted displays and oxygen systems.
On successful completion, you will be promoted to Air Specialist Class 1 (AS1) and assigned to your first unit.
03
Your first tour
Specialist training
Ongoing
As assigned
After your initial Recruit and Specialist Training, you will be assigned to a UK unit where, under supervision, you will apply your newly-gained skills in a live environment.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Your first tour
You will be adding immediate value to RAF and UK air operations.
You may work on a flying station providing direct support to the operation of fast jet, multi-engined aircraft or helicopters. Alternatively, you may work within the Airborne Forces environment, maintaining parachute equipment for UK military parachutists; this could involve working on active parachute drop zones both in the UK and overseas. You may support the delivery of Survival, Evasion, Resistance & Extraction training, providing assistance in the instruction of aircrew practising survival training on land, or at sea. With additional experience and when demonstrating the required competence levels, supervision will be reduced.
On completion of a Professional Workplace Assessment package and the level 3 Diploma, you will attain the rank of AS(1) Technician. This may afford the opportunity for further training, providing you with the skills to carry out additional and more complex tasks in your workplace.
04
Additional qualifications
Ongoing development
Ongoing
As assigned
During Recruit Training you will gain Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English, if required.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Additional qualifications
During Specialist Training you will gain a Level 2 Diploma in Aerospace & Aviation Engineering (Survival Equipment Maintenance) and a Level 3 Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance (Survival Equipment).
During your first tour you will complete the portfolio element of the Level 3 Diploma in Aviation Maintenance (Development Competence) and, where eligible and following an End Point Assessment, you will be awarded your Level 3 Survival Equipment Fitter Advanced Apprenticeship. As new equipment and aircraft enter Service, the aim is to accredit specialist training, to ensure that you hold recognised civilian qualifications as part of your career development.
05
Ongoing training
Ongoing development
Ongoing
As assigned
Throughout your career we will continue to train you and provide you with through-service career development.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Ongoing training
There are opportunities to undertake the management and leadership training required for promotion and to join relevant civilian professional associations and bodies; as an Air Specialist Class 1 (AS(1)) holding the Level 3 qualifications as part of your training, you meet the UK Engineering Council standard as an Engineering Technician and are able to apply for registration as such.
Furthermore, you will be able to employ your new-found military and leadership skills on adventure training expeditions in the UK and around the world.
06
Career progression
Ongoing development
Ongoing
As assigned
As an AS(1), you may be able to undertake a tour at an overseas location, such as RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and Brunei in South-East Asia.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Career progression
As your skill levels and leadership potential develop further, promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is judged on merit and by competitive selection. As you gain more experience you may be offered employment in areas such as at the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, undertaking the development, trials, testing and aircraft integration of new, often technologically advanced, airborne life support equipment and Aircrew Equipment Assemblies entering service, or providing expert advice in support of aircraft accident investigations and determining causes of equipment failure.
There may well be opportunities to work outside your specialisation. As you advance through the ranks on merit, you will have an increased opportunity to lead and direct, managing resources and manpower within your work to deliver the required outputs whilst instilling the high standards expected within the RAF, maintaining excellence both within and outside your chosen specialisation of Air Technician Survival Equipment.
07
Transferable skills
Ongoing training
Ongoing
As assigned
Much of our in-house training is accredited or recognised by external awarding bodies.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Transferable skills
Your role with us will place you in good stead for a wide range of employment fields wherever your future path takes you.
WHY JOIN THE RAF?
Thanks to subsidised food, travel, accommodation and free gym you get more money in your pocket.
Rent from £75p/m
Free gym
Subsidised food
Health care
World travel
Training
View all benefits
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER APPLYING
Joining the RAF takes several steps. Below is an overview of the process. The purpose of this process is for us to gauge whether you’re the right person for the RAF and for you to show us all of your skills and experiences that have made you who you are.
1
Aptitude test
2
Selection Interview
3
Health Assessment
4
Fitness Test
5
Acceptance
6
Training
1
Aptitude test
Stage 1 of 6
The aptitude test has been designed to ensure you’re a good fit for the role you’re applying for. You’ll answer six multiple choice sections which each focus on a different skill:
Verbal reasoning - use and interpretation of written information
Numerical reasoning - ability with basic fractions, decimals and formulae
Work rate - speed and accuracy of tasks
Spatial reasoning - how shapes and objects work
Electrical comprehension - working with electrical concepts
Mechanical comprehension - grasp of mechanical concepts
Click here to find out more about the Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) and try the online practice test.
2
Selection Interview
Stage 2 of 6
Here’s where we get to know you a little better. You’ll get to showcase your skills and experience, and we’ll answer any questions you have about joining us. Your interview will take place at a local AFCO and cover the following topics:
Family life
Education
Work experience
Special interests and hobbies
Interest in the RAF
Training
The role you’ve applied for
The RAF
You’ll be asked a series of standard questions, and you’ll be able to ask your own questions during the debrief afterwards.
3
Health Assessment
Stage 3 of 6
You’re legally required to meet certain medical standards, and must pass an occupational health assessment to show you’re fit for military duty. As part of this assessment we will check your overall health, focusing on areas like hearing, eyesight and body mass index.
We’ll also investigate any past illnesses and screen for health issues that may prevent you from carrying out your role. Please refer to entry requirements below for more information about the health standards you’ll need to meet.
4
Fitness Test
Stage 4 of 6
A good level of fitness is critical to joining the RAF, it’s also something that must be maintained throughout your career. You’ll need to complete a Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT). This will take place at a local gym near to you, and is a 2.4km run.
The performance level you’ll need to meet differs by age and gender. You can also find help, and a training plan, to assist you in your preparation here .
5
Acceptance
Stage 5 of 6
Once you’ve successfully completed each phase of the application process you’ll be invited to a provisional offer of service interview at your nearest AFCO.
This is to ensure that you understand the terms and conditions of service in the RAF, are fully committed to joining, and prepared to commence training.
6
Training
Stage 6 of 6
Basic Recruit Training
This takes place over 10 weeks at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. It will make you fitter and more confident. It will challenge you mentally and physically, and it will prepare you for your career with us. There are 6 phases:
Arrival - You’ll be sworn into the RAF and be given a service number
General Service training - You’ll learn about marching, drills, core values and our code of conduct
Initial Force Protection training - Fighting and survival in a military environment
Exercise Blue Warrior - 4 days in the field with real battle conditions
Force development training - Apply your skills in new environments with adventurous training activities
Graduation - Learn about what’s required in your first post and display your new skills
What next?
Now you’re a fully-fledged member of the RAF you can receive role specific training.
APPLY NOW
Got what it takes? Start your application here.
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