The Aerospace Materials Specialist (AMS) plays a vital behind-the-scenes role in the aviation industry. While some technicians work directly on the aircraft and aircraft parts, the AMS is responsible for ensuring that the technicians always have the correct parts, components, and raw materials needed for work on the aircraft.
The AMS is an expert in materiel handling and maintaining the inventory of stored items — shipping, receiving, stocking, moving, or issuing crucial support products such as parts, components, sealants, lubricants, and raw materials in routine and AOG (aircraft on ground) situations. The AMS tags and catalogues every single item for immediate and future use. The workplace is a clean shop environment, although the AMS is sometimes requested to work directly on the aircraft.
The AMS also becomes a specialist in customs documentation for import/ export, in quarantine stores, and in the handling and issuing of dangerous goods and HazMat (hazardous materials) according to Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act (TDGA) requirements.
The modern aircraft contains millions of pieces, parts, and sub-assemblies: the ability to keep track of all these complex parts and components, and the ability to know where each piece is supposed to fit is essential to this key support role. Other techs may know how to work on their parts, but the AMS always knows exactly which parts they need, where to find them, and how to get them to the job site.
If you like troubleshooting and have a natural ability for organization and logistics, then being an Aerospace Materials Specialist is a good area to explore.
Pathways
- Completion of Secondary School (required)
- Completion of an Aviation Maintenance program at a college or approved training organization (an asset)
- Comprehensive on-the-job training (available at most companies)
- Experience as an Aviation Stock Keeper or Aviation Maintenance Technician (an asset)
- CCAA certification (an asset)
Helpful Tips
- Thorough familiarity with safe work practices, and rules and regulations
- Experience in working with hazardous materials
- Self-motivated, organized, detail oriented, and precise
- Ability to shift priorities quickly and work within tight time constraints
- Experience with inventory, logistics, troubleshooting, and analyzing data
- Investigative skills
- Strong interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills in dealing with personnel from other departments, customers and manufacturers’ representatives, along with shop personnel — must be a team player
- Proficiency with computers and software (Word, Excel)
Associated Titles
- Aviation Stock Keeper/Storekeeper
- HazMat Specialist
- Import/Export Specialist
- Materials Technologist
- Purchaser
- Shipping/Receiving Agent