National
| Median wages (2008) |
$21.22 hourly, $44,130 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
28,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Average (7% to 13%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
9,000 additional employees |
51-2011.00 - Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Assemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles, such as tails, wings, fuselage, bulkheads, stabilizers, landing gear, rigging and control equipment, or heating and ventilating systems.
Sample of reported job titles:
Sheet Metal Assembler and Riveter (SMAR), Structures Technician, Helicopter Mechanic, Aircraft Line Assembler, Assembly Riveter, Helicopter Technician, Line Assembler, Structures Mechanic
Tasks
- Align and fit structural assemblies manually, or signal crane operators to position assemblies for joining.
- Assemble and fit prefabricated parts to form subassemblies.
- Assemble, install, and connect parts, fittings, and assemblies on aircraft, using layout tools, hand tools, power tools, and fasteners such as bolts, screws, rivets, and clamps.
- Position and align subassemblies in jigs or fixtures, using measuring instruments and following blueprint lines and index points.
- Cut, trim, file, bend, and smooth parts, and verify sizes and fitting tolerances in order to ensure proper fit and clearance of parts.
- Read and interpret blueprints, illustrations, and specifications to determine layouts, sequences of operations, or identities and relationships of parts.
- Align, fit, assemble, connect, and install system components, using jigs, fixtures, measuring instruments, hand tools, and power tools.
- Join structural assemblies such as wings, tails, and fuselage.
- Lay out and mark reference points and locations for installation of parts and components, using jigs, templates, and measuring and marking instruments.
- Adjust, repair, rework, or replace parts and assemblies to eliminate malfunctions and to ensure proper operation.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Guide jig — Material guiding jigs; Trunnion centering tools |
| Rivet tools — Alligator jaw compression riveters; C-yoke compression riveters; Metal bucking bars; Recoilless rivet hammers |
| Specialty wrenches — Case wrenches; Flange wrenches; Input wrenches; Spline wrenches |
| Templates — Drafting templates; Mylar index templates; Setup templates |
| Torque wrenches — Fuel control wrenches; Torque drivers; Trunnion wrenches |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Computer aided design CAD software |
| Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software |
| Industrial control software — Electrical power management system software |
| Spreadsheet software |
| Word processing software |
