The Army's aircraft fleet has increased to become the second largest aircraft fleet operator and the largest helicopter operator in Australia. The Aeronautical Engineering stream in the Army is arguably the most exciting area of employment in the Defence Force for professional engineers.

For Army Aviation operations to succeed, they depend upon timely and responsive technical support. Aeronautical Engineering Officers and technical tradespeople, working together as an engineering team, provide that support by ensuring the airworthiness, operational readiness and availability of the Army helicopter fleet.

Army Aeronautical Engineering Officers are engaged in a range of maintenance, logistics and engineering management functions relating to our fleet of helicopters – consisting of the Black Hawk, Chinook, Armed Reconnaissance and Multi-Role helicopters. Throughout your career you will receive helicopter specific training and be responsible for all mechanical, electrical, software and armament systems on the aircraft.

Your initial employment in the Army would usually be as a junior engineer within a helicopter squadron. In addition to gaining hands on experience with the aircraft you will play an important role in managing the maintenance team and ensuring helicopter airworthiness and availability. Working as an engineer in an aviation squadron, you may also have the opportunity to lead a maintenance team in support of international aviation operations.

Our Aeronautical Engineers also perform logistic management and design engineering roles within the Army Aviation Systems Program Office. Opportunities within this area may include the implementation of a modification program for Army helicopters or approving structural repair designs.

Furthermore, the recent acquisition of the Armed Reconnaissance and Multi-Role Helicopters has required many Army Aeronautical Engineers to work as project managers both within Australia and as part of our resident team in France.

Additional employment opportunities lie in the field of engineering and maintenance planning, flight test engineering and helicopter structural fatigue management. Army Aeronautical Engineers also have a range of opportunities for overseas travel and/or post-graduate study.

With new aircraft acquisitions and the constant demand for helicopters to support Army operations, your career as an Aeronautical Engineering Officer promises to be challenging and extremely rewarding.