19 Air Maintenance Squadron

19 Wing AMS was established in 1993, the year in which 19 Wing was created. The Squadron is responsible for providing air maintenance and general support to 407(MP) Sqn, 442 Transport & Rescue Sqn, Royal Cadet Air Ops and 19 Wing in the areas of:

• Armament
• Avionics
• Maintenance Support
• ADAM
• DIAC
• Tool Control
• Technical library

Services provided are mainly second line activities with close lateral relationships with squadrons required at all levels.

19 AMS is currently comprised of 96 personnel, 10 of whom are Reservists along with four civilians.  Our Commanding Officer is an AERE Major, and there are two AERE officers of the rank of Captain and Lieutenant.  Technicians come from the various air trades, such as Aviation, Avionics, Aircraft Structures, and Non-Destructive Testing.  The Squadron Orderly Room is staffed with two RMS Clerks, and two Supply Techs are employed in Inventory Management.

Here is a brief look at the make-up of 19 AMS and what functions we provide at 19 Wing Comox.

Squadron Warrant Officer
The SWO of 19 AMS is an MWO, responsible for NCM career development, which includes welfare, 'Quality of Life' issues, dress, deportment, and discipline.  The SWO, as delegated by the Commanding Officer, is the Senior Aircraft Maintenance Superintendent (SAMS), responsible for technical and administrative matters within the Squadron.

Employment Training Officer
The ETO, an Avionics WO, is the co-ordinator for both on-and-off Wing training to ensure all of our Squadron's technicians have the required training and qualifications to perform their duties competently and effectively.

Aircraft Maintenance Control and Records Officer (AMCRO)
The AMCRO is an AERE Captain, responsible for the following sub-sections:
AVIONICS (AVS) LABS, where highly specialized technicians perform testing, repairs and alignments of various avionics equipment at 19 Wing.  Systems maintained include airborne Communications, Radar and Navigation.  It is also the Wing Calibration Centre responsible for the 19 Wing TEMMIS program; cataloguing, shipping and receiving measurement and test equipment to and from Esquimalt Regional Calibration Centre, while maintaining an extensive equipment database.

AVS technicians staff the ADAM/ADP SYSTEM MANAGEMENT SECTION.  They perform both preventive and routine maintenance on the ADAM server and the Local Area Network (LAN) of personal computers used within 19 AMS.  This section also provides user support to the ADAM/AMMIS systems of 19 Wing’s flying Squadrons.  The ADP cell provides all other computer-related support and assistance to 19 AMS personnel.

DIAC MAINTENANCE & TRAINING SECTION also employs AVS technicians.  The Data Interpretation and Analysis Centre (DIAC) maintenance team provides first and second level repair to the Wing Operations Centre DIAC computer systems. The training section has the responsibility to develop and deliver maintenance courses on the DIAC acoustic/non-acoustic computer systems for Greenwood and Comox technicians, along with similar maintenance courses on ADAC acoustic analysis computer systems for Halifax and Esquimalt personnel.

The MASTER TECHNICAL LIBRARY (MTL) is the hub for all technical publications used at 19 Wing, responsible for servicing and auditing 80 sub-libraries belonging to the flying Squadrons, Fire Hall, Medical Clinic, Reserve Flight and several other Wing sections.  These responsibilities include referencing and procuring technical orders; maintaining an on-line catalogue; amending, processing and distributing publications and related documentation.

The SQUADRON ORDERLY ROOM (SOR) is responsible for Central Registry functions and all other required unit administration. This includes personnel support documentation such as maintaining personnel records, leave records and initiating travel claims. The SOR provides Squadron personnel with administrative advice when required and has some finance related duties. Additionally, the SOR Warrant Officer is responsible for the INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SECTION, which manages all 19 AMS supply queries, purchasing requirements and budget projections. And the WING TOOL CONTROL COORDINATOR (WTCC), responsible for the administration and distribution of all tools used for aircraft maintenance, and for ensuring all squadrons comply with Canadian Forces tool control policies.

Aircraft Maintenance Support Officer

The AMSO is typically an AERE Lieutenant, but may also be an AERE Captain, responsible for the following sub-sections:

19 WING ARMAMENT SECTION/19 EDF (Explosive Disposal Flight) is responsible for the ordering, storage and issue of all munitions required by users at 19 Wing and Cadet Units within 19 Wing’s area of responsibility. Other duties include but are not limited to maintenance of the outdoor 25M ranges and the Ordnance Disposal Range as well as the inspection of explosive storage facilities both on and of the Wing. 19 EDF is responsible for Disposing of IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices) within the confines of 19 Wing and recovering and disposing of all Military Ordnance within the 19 Wing area of responsibility, which includes most of BC as far north as the Alaska border. 19 EDF may also supply assistance to local Authorities/RCMP when tasked.

The services of the AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE (ACS) SHOP include refinishing, machining, metalworking and on/off aircraft welding.  ACS technicians can be expected to carry out repairs to items manufactured with composite materials; refurbish or replace aircraft panels; machine new aircraft parts from engineering diagrams; repaint aircraft, etc.  Along with the main and refinishing shops, there are ACS technicians integrated in the maintenance organizations of the flying Squadrons, including a complementary repair shop in 442 Sqn.

The AIRCRAFT LIFE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT (ALSE) SECTION has the significant responsibility of inspecting and maintaining numerous items of vital aircraft and aircrew survival equipment.  407 Sqn and 442 Sqn depend on these specialized technicians for the care of their Parachutes, Life Preserver/Survival Vests, Emergency Breathing Systems, Air Deployable Survival Kits (SKAD), Oxygen Regulators, etc.  This section is also responsible for the Wing’s Liquid Oxygen (LOX) facility.

The AVIATION (AVN) SECTION employs AVN technicians in the Component Shop, Battery Shop, Electrical Shop and the AVTRON. These maintainers provide a wide range of services to 19 Wing. They inspect, overhaul and test various pieces of aircraft equipment, from wheel assemblies and landing gear components, to aircraft batteries and electrical instruments.  Included in their responsibilities, is the maintenance of Fuel Cell Entry equipment.

Personnel of the NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING (NDT) SECTION perform unique tests on aircraft structures and components to detect any irregularities in the material, which may impact airworthiness. The tests performed include Liquid Penetrant, Magnetic Particle, Ultrasonic, X-ray and Eddy Current inspections.  The NDT section provides support to 443(MH) Sqn, Pat Bay, including LPI and Eddy Current inspections training for deployed technicians.  They operate a Spectrometric Oil Analysis program, testing aero-engine oils for concentrations of wear metals and contamination from engines and transfer cases, providing effective monitoring of engine health.

Quality Management

The Quality Manager is responsible to the CO for managing the Squadron’s AF9000 Plus Quality System, of which the fundamentals are based on ISO 9000.  This section monitors and audits all element procedures and maintenance processes, to ensure 19 AMS comply with AF9000 Plus policy and the units Quality System. Quality Management assists all sections with the improvement of existing processes, and with the development of new processes, to enable the Squadron to continually improve the products and services it provides to its customers at 19 Wing.