Aircraftman
{{Short description|Lowest rank in the British Royal Air Force}}
{{use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Military ranks | state=expanded}}
Aircraftman (AC) or aircraftwoman (ACW){{Cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/0F20E8C8_5056_A318_A886F0D8AD19DE17.pdf |title=RAF Distinguishing Insignia |access-date=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307205523/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/0F20E8C8_5056_A318_A886F0D8AD19DE17.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}The spellings "aircraftsman" and "aircraftswoman", despite being occasionally seen even in official documents, are incorrect in any air force. was formerly the lowest rank in the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and is still in use by the air forces of several other Commonwealth countries. In RAF slang, aircraftmen were sometimes called "erks".{{Cite OED|erk|id=64038}}
Aircraftman ranked below leading aircraftman and has a NATO rank code of OR-1. For some time in the RAF it had been a training rank only and no airmen in productive service held the rank. Aircraftmen do not wear any rank insignia. The rank was renamed air recruit (AR) in the Royal Air Force in July 2022.{{cite news|title=Junior Ranks Revolution|series=RAF News|issue=1540|date=2022-07-15|url=https://issuu.com/rafnews/docs/raf_news_15_july_edition_1540}}
History
The rank was introduced to the RAF in January 1919, replacing the ranks of "air mechanic", "private" and "clerk" that had been introduced under Air Memorandum No. 1 in March 1918. There were three grades: leading aircraftman (LAC), aircraftman 1st class (AC1) and aircraftman 2nd class. A similar grading existed for junior ratings in the Royal Navy.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Uniform/Rates_1918.html |title=Royal Navy Branches, Ranks and Ratings, 1918 |last=Perkins |first=Dave |website=www.pbenyon.plus.com |access-date=14 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124152332/http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Uniform/Rates_1918.html
|archive-date= 24 January 2019
|url-status=dead }} The rank of senior aircraftman (SAC) was introduced on 1 January 1951.
The lowest grade was an AC2; also colloquially known as an "AC plonk".{{cite book|last1=Partridge|first1=Eric|title=A dictionary of slang and unconventional English : colloquialisms and catch phrases, fossilised jokes and puns, general nicknames, vulgarisms and such Americanisms as have been naturalised|date=2000|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=0-415-06568-2|page=1|edition=8}} With effect from 1 April 1964, the gradings of AC1 and AC2 were abolished, with "aircraftman" becoming the entry rank.{{cite book|last1=Jefford |first1=C.G. |title=Observers and Navigators: And Other Non-Pilot Aircrew in the RFC, RNAS and RAF |year=2010 |page=285 |publisher=Grub Street |location=London |isbn=978-1-909808-02-7 |quote=Air Ministry Order A.80/1963 of 6 March 1963 replaced the AC1 and AC2 with just 'Aircraftman' with effect from 1 April 1964}}
Canada
In the Royal Canadian Air Force, the rank is also known by the French term of aviateur. This was changed from private in spring 2015 when the RCAF changed the colour of its rank insignia from gold to pearl grey. It is the lowest rank in the RCAF. Prior to 1968 the rank of aircraftman was used in the RCAF as in other Commonwealth air forces.{{cite web |date=2014 |title=A Return to the Royal Canadian Air Force Ranks; a Historical Examination |url=http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/assets/AIRFORCE_Internet/docs/en/cf-aerospace-warfare-centre/elibrary/journal/2014-vol3-iss1-03-a-return-to-royal-canadian-air-force-ranks-a-historical-examination.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121151152/http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/assets/AIRFORCE_Internet/docs/en/cf-aerospace-warfare-centre/elibrary/journal/2014-vol3-iss1-03-a-return-to-royal-canadian-air-force-ranks-a-historical-examination.pdf |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |access-date=2 August 2017 |website=rcaf-arc.forces |page=12}} In August 2020, the rank was changed to aviator.{{cn|date=July 2022}}
New Zealand
In the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the rank is known as "aircraftman", regardless of the person's sex, in line with "seaman" in the Royal New Zealand Navy.{{cite web|title=RNZAF – RNZAF Ranks|url=http://www.airforce.mil.nz/about-us/who-we-are/rnzaf-ranks.htm|website=www.airforce.mil.nz|access-date=2 August 2017|language=en}}
In 2023 the RNZAF adopted the title of ‘aviator(s)’ rather than airman when describing Air Force personnel.
Gallery
File:RAAF E 2(OR2) AC rank ins.svg|Aircraftman/
aircraftwoman
(Royal Australian Air Force){{cite web |title=Ranks
File:No insignia.svg|Aircraftsman
(Ghana Air Force){{cite web |title=Rank Structure |url=http://gafonline.mil.gh/airforce/index.php/subhome/rank-structure |website=gafonline.mil.gh |publisher=Ghana Air Force |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121080703/http://gafonline.mil.gh/airforce/index.php/subhome/rank-structure |archive-date=21 January 2018 |date=2018 |url-status=dead}}
File:No insignia.svg|Aircraftsman
(Indian Air Force){{cite web |title=For Airmen |url=http://careerairforce.nic.in/life_airforce/lifeair_cargraph_airmen.html |website=careerairforce.nic.in |publisher=Indian Air Force |access-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225124125/http://careerairforce.nic.in/life_airforce/lifeair_cargraph_airmen.html |archive-date=25 February 2012}}
File:No insignia.svg|Aircraftsman
(Kenya Air Force){{cite web |title=KDF Ranks |url=https://mod.go.ke/kdf-ranks/ |website=mod.go.ke |publisher=Ministry of Defence - Kenya |access-date=9 December 2022}}
File:RNZAF OR-1.svg|Aircraftman
(Royal New Zealand Air Force){{cite web |title=Badges of Rank |url=https://nzdfpop.cwp.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Resources/21-Update_Rank-Poster-all-services.pdf |website=nzdf.mil.nz |publisher=New Zealand Defence Force |access-date=28 July 2022}}
File:Pak-air-force-OR-1.svg|Aircraftman
(Pakistan Air Force)
File:No insignia.svg|Aircraftsman
(South African Air Force){{cite web |title=Rank Insignia |url=http://www.af.mil.za/uniform/rank_ins.html |website=af.mil.za |publisher=Department of Defence (South Africa) |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101003057/http://www.af.mil.za/uniform/rank_ins.html |archive-date=1 January 2019}}
File:No insignia.svg|Air recruit
(Royal Air Force){{cite web |title=RAF Ranks |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/raf-ranks/ |website=raf.mod.uk/ |publisher=Royal Air Force |access-date=21 September 2021}}
File:No insignia.svg|Aircraftsman
(Air Force of Zimbabwe){{cite web |title=RANKS AND BADGES IN THE AFZ |url=http://www.afz.gov.zw/?page_id=1115 |website=afz.gov.zw |publisher=Air Force of Zimbabwe |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609134525/http://www.afz.gov.zw/?page_id=1115 |archive-date=9 June 2022}}