106.1 Identify and explain the purpose of the following aviation community ratings:

1. AB- Aviation Boatswain Mate

  1. ABE- Aviation Boatswain's Mate, Launching and Recovery Equipment Operates, maintains, and performs organizational maintenance on hydraulic and steam catapults, barricades, arresting gear, arresting gear engines, and associated equipment ashore and afloat. Operates catapult launch and retract panels, consoles, firing panels, water brakes, chronographs, blast deflectors, and cooling panels. Rigs, inspects, and proof-loads cables and fittings, and pour wire rope sockets. Performs aircraft-handling duties related to the operation of aircraft launching and recovery equipment.

  2. ABF- Aviation Boatswain’s Mate, Fuels Operates, maintains, and performs organizational maintenance on aviation fueling and lubricating oil systems in CVs, LPHs, and LPDs, including aviation fuel and lubricating oil service stations and pump rooms, piping, valves, pumps, tanks, and portable equipment related to the fuel system. Operates, maintains, and repairs, valves and piping of purging and protective systems within the air department spaces aboard ship. Supervises the operation and servicing of fuel farms, and equipment associated with the fueling and defueling of aircraft ashore and afloat. Operates and services motorized fueling equipment. Maintains fuel quantity surveillance and control in aviation fuel systems ashore and afloat. Trains, directs, and supervises fire-fighting crews, fire rescue teams, and damage control parties in assigned fuel and lubricating oil spaces. Observes and enforces fuel-handling safety precautions.
  3. ABH- Aviation Boatswain’s Mate, Aircraft Handling Directs the movement and spotting of aircraft ashore and afloat. Operates, maintains, and performs organizational maintenance on ground-handling equipment used for moving and hoisting of aircraft ashore and afloat. Supervises the securing of aircraft and equipment. Performs crash rescue, fire fighting, crash removal, and damage control duties. Performs duties in connection with launching and recovery of aircraft.

2. AC- Air Traffic Controller Performs air traffic control duties in air control towers, radar air traffic control facilities, and air operations offices ashore and afloat. Operates radiotelephones, light signals and systems, and direct aircraft under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Operates surveillance radar, precision radar, and identification equipment (IFF). Operates ground- and carrier-controlled approach systems. Assists pilots in the preparation and processing of flight plans and clearances. Maintains current flight-planning information and reference materials.

3. AD- Aviation Machinist's Mate Maintains aircraft engines and their related systems, including induction, cooling, fuel, oil, compression, combustion, turbine, gas turbine compressor, exhaust, and propeller systems. Preflights aircraft. Conducts inspections on engines and engine-related systems. Field-tests and adjusts engine components, including fuel controls, pumps, valves, and regulators. Removes, repairs, and replaces compressors and turbine blades and combustion chamber liners. Preserves and depreserves engines, engine accessories, and components. Supervises engine work centers.

4. AE- Aviation Electrician's Mate Maintains electrical and instrument systems, including power generation, conversion, and distribution systems, aircraft batteries, interior and exterior lighting. Maintains electrical control systems of aircraft, including hydraulic, landing gear, flight control, utility, power plant and related systems. Maintains instrument electrical systems, such as aircraft engine, flight, and non-instrument type indicating and warning systems to include automatic flight control and stabilization systems, aircraft compass systems, attitude reference systems, and inertial navigation systems.

5. AG- Aerographer's Mate Observes, collects, records, and analyzes meteorological and oceanographic data. Makes visual and instrumental observations of weather and sea conditions. Operates meteorological satellite receivers and interpret and apply satellite data. Interprets meteorological and oceanographic codes and enters data on appropriate charts. Operates ancillary computer equipment for the processing, dissemination, and display of environmental data. Performs preventive maintenance on meteorological and oceanographic equipment. Forecasts meteorological and oceanographic conditions. Prepares and presents briefings concerning current and predicted environmental condition and their effects on operations.

6. AK- Aviation Storekeeper Receives, identifies, stores, and issues aviation supplies, spare parts, and stocks of technical aviation items. Confirms shipments and makes reports of excesses, shortages, and damages. Classifies and stows materials, using the required protective measures. Packs, tags, and inspects equipment and parts. Conducts inventories. Prepares and maintains records pertaining to stock control and issuance of aviation equipment and materials. Processes allowance changes, validates requirements, and monitors supply requests. Maintains control of status and location of repairable components and retrograde components.

7. AM- Aviation Structural Mechanic

  1. AME- Aviation Structural Mechanic, Safety Equipment Maintains safety belts, shoulder harnesses, and integrated flight harnesses in aircraft; inertia reels; seat and canopy ejection systems; gaseous and liquid oxygen systems; life raft ejection systems; fire-extinguishing systems, excluding fire detection systems; portable fire extinguishers; emergency egress systems; air-conditioning, heating, cabin and cockpit pressurization, visual improvement systems; other utility ventilating, and anti-G systems; systems; and associated lines, fittings, rigging, valves, and control mechanisms. Replenishes liquid and gaseous oxygen systems. Removes and installs oxygen system valves, gauges, converters, and regulators. Inspects removes, installs, and rigs ejection seats, shoulder harnesses, lap belts, and face-curtain mechanisms. Inspects, removes, installs, and adjusts firing mechanisms and cartridges for ejection seats, lap belts, and canopies. Operates and maintains liquid nitrogen and liquid and gaseous oxygen shop transfer and recharge equipment. Performs preflight, postflight, and other periodic aircraft inspections.

  2. AMH- Aviation Structural Mechanic, Hydraulics Maintains hydraulic systems, including main and auxiliary power systems and unit actuating subsystems; landing gear, excluding wheels and tires; brakes; and related pneumatic systems, including reservoir pressurization, emergency actuating systems, and associated pumps, valves, regulators, actuating cylinders, lines, and fittings. Services pressure accumulators, emergency air bottles, oleo struts, reservoirs, and master brake cylinders. Inspects, removes, and replaces components of hydraulic systems. Bleeds hydraulic systems. Adjusts brakes, and replaces linings and pucks. Replaces gaskets, packing, and wipers in hydraulic components. Performs daily, preflight, postflight, and other aircraft inspections.
  3. AMS- Aviation Structural Mechanic, Structures Maintains aircraft fuselages, wings, fixed and movable surfaces, airfoils, empennages, seats (except ejection seats), wheels and tires and their components, controls, and mechanisms. Removes, installs, and rigs flight control surfaces. Fabricates and assembles metal parts, and makes minor repairs to aircraft skin. Installs rivets and metal fasteners. Builds up wheels and tires. Paints. Performs dye penetrant inspections. Performs daily, preflight, postflight, and other aircraft inspections.

8. AO- Aviation Ordnanceman Stores, maintains, assembles, loads, and fuzed aviation ammunition. Loads nuclear weapons and aerial mines and torpedoes. Loads supplementary stores. Assembles, tests, loads, and maintains air-launched missiles. Operates small arms ranges. Supervises the operation of armories, aviation ordnance shops, and aviation ammunition storage facilities.

9. AS- Aviation Support Equipment Technician Services, tests, and performs organizational- and intermediate-level maintenance and repair of automotive electrical systems in mobile and self-propelled aviation support equipment and aviation armament-handling equipment. This includes generating, starting, lighting, and ignition systems; electrical components and wiring in auxiliary electrical power units used in servicing aircraft; electrical control systems in gas turbine compressor units and air-conditioning systems; and electrical and electronic circuits and components in general aircraft-servicing equipment. Services and maintains storage batteries. Performs maintenance inspections of aviation support equipment. Service, tests, maintains, and repairs gasoline and diesel engines and associated automotive systems, hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, and structural components in mobile and self-propelled aviation support equipment. Maintains gas turbine compressor units and air-conditioning systems used in servicing aircraft. Maintains and operates gas turbine compressor unit test stands. Maintains hydraulic test and service equipment, air compressors, jacks, workstands, and associated equipment. Performs body and fender metalwork and painting. Welds, brazes, solders, cuts, shapes, and patches metal. Adjusts and repairs brake systems. Inspects and replaces tires and tubes. Operates hydraulic test stands.

10. AT- Aviation Electronics Technician Inspects and performs intermediate and organizational maintenance and in-flight repair on aviation warfare sensor equipment and associated integrated systems, including those relating to magnetic anomaly detection (MAD), weapons control radar, underwater detection, Doppler radar, acoustic analysis, gyroscopes, electronic support measures, air-launched guided missile systems, computer/data processing, electro-optics, data display, data link, and electro/mechanical recorders. Operates and maintains associated test equipment. Handles, loads, and launches the search stores aboard P-3 aircraft.

11. AW- Aviation Warfare Systems Operator Performs general flight crew duties. Operates ASW sensor systems to extract, analyze, and classify data obtained. Performs specified preflight, in-flight, and postflight diagnostic functions, using manual techniques, built-in test equipment, and computer routines to isolate faults and optimize system performance. Operates tactical support center systems to analyze and classify ASW data. Assists in aircrew briefing and debriefing. Provides data base information to the tactical commander for use in prescribing mission objectives and tactics. The AW rate is subdivided by three: AWA (acoustic), AWN (non-acoustic), and AWH (helocopter).

12. AZ- Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Performs administrative, managerial, and clerical duties required in implementing and supporting the naval aviation maintenance program. Plans, programs, and coordinates scheduled and unscheduled maintenance tasks and the incorporation of changes and modifications to aircraft and equipment. Sets up and maintains status boards. Collects, compiles, analyzes, and records data pertaining to the history, operation, maintenance, configuration, receipt, and transfer of naval aircraft and related aeronautical equipment. Prepares reports and correspondence. Determines requirements for the requisition, control, and issue of change kits. Requisitions departmental instructions, forms, and technical data. Organizes, maintains, and operates technical libraries. Performs other duties as required when attached to organizational, intermediate, and depot maintenance activities or aviation staff commands.

13. PR- Aircrew Survival Equipmentman Inspects, maintains, and repairs parachutes, survival equipment, and flight and protective clothing and equipment. Packs and rigs parachutes. Packs and equips life rafts. Repairs and tests oxygen regulators and liquid oxygen converters removed from aircraft. Fits and maintains oxygen masks, flight clothing, anti-exposure suits, and anti-G suits. Operates and maintains carbon dioxide transfer and recharge equipment. Operates and repairs sewing machines. Conducts inspections of survival equipment; supervise operation of parachute lofts and survival equipment work centers.

14. PH- Photographer's Mate Inspects and maintains cameras and camera control equipment, laboratory equipment, and related photographic equipment and accessories. Accomplishes photographic work required by the naval service. Records actual and simulated battle operations. Makes pictorial records of historic and newsworthy events aboard ship and ashore. Exposes and processes light-sensitive negative and positive material. Arranges, composes, and illuminates photographic subjects. Makes finished prints, mosaics, and strip photographs. Maintains associated photographic files, records, and supplies.

 

*****Can you state all the rates assigned to your squadron?*****