Navy Aviation Electronics Technicians (AT) — the enlisted rating responsible for the maintenance, calibration, and repair of aircraft avionics systems including airborne radar, navigation electronics, electronic warfare systems, and communications equipment installed on carrier-based aircraft — served aboard aircraft carriers and at naval air stations in aviation intermediate maintenance departments (AIMDs) throughout the Cold War era. AT ratings performed avionics maintenance and repair in carrier hangar bays, carrier AIMDs, and naval air station avionics maintenance shops, maintaining the sophisticated electronics systems of carrier aircraft from the F4D Skyray and F-8 Crusader through the F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet. Aviation Electronics Technicians working in carrier hangar bays and AIMD spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing construction of the carrier and AIMD maintenance spaces, and maintained avionics systems incorporating asbestos-containing electrical insulation in older avionics equipment of the WWII and early Cold War era.

Carrier Hangar and AIMD Space Asbestos

AT ratings in carrier and AIMD spaces accumulated background asbestos exposure:

  • Carrier hangar bay construction — aircraft carrier hangar bays aboard WWII-era and Cold War carriers were constructed with asbestos-containing fire-resistant building materials in the hangar bay structural elements, overhead construction, and boundary bulkheads. AT ratings performing aircraft avionics maintenance in carrier hangar bays accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing hangar bay construction throughout their carrier air wing deployments
  • Carrier AIMD avionics shop construction — the aviation intermediate maintenance department avionics shop spaces aboard aircraft carriers where AT ratings performed avionics component overhaul and repair were constructed with asbestos-containing ship interior construction materials in the AIMD shop overhead, bulkheads, and utility systems. AT ratings working in carrier AIMD avionics shops accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos-containing AIMD shop construction throughout their carrier-based AIMD assignments
  • Naval air station AIMD shop construction — the AIMD avionics maintenance shop buildings at naval air stations where AT ratings performed aircraft avionics overhaul were constructed with asbestos-containing building materials in the AIMD shop facility construction. AT ratings working in naval air station AIMD avionics shops accumulated background asbestos exposure from the AIMD building construction during their shore-based AIMD assignments

Avionics Equipment Electrical Insulation

AT ratings maintaining older avionics encountered asbestos in electrical components:

  • WWII and early Cold War avionics electrical insulation — the avionics systems installed in carrier aircraft from the WWII era through the early Cold War period — including early radar systems, IFF transponders, and communication equipment — incorporated electrical wiring and component insulation materials consistent with mid-twentieth century electronics manufacturing that included asbestos-containing electrical insulation in some wiring and component applications. AT ratings maintaining and repairing these earlier-generation avionics systems encountered asbestos-containing electrical insulation materials in the avionics equipment during maintenance and repair operations
  • Airborne radar system thermal management components — the high-power airborne radar transmitters installed in carrier aircraft of the 1950s and 1960s required thermal management components to protect the transmitter from heat generated by the high-power radar transmitter tubes. Some airborne radar thermal management applications incorporated asbestos-containing thermal insulation materials. AT ratings servicing airborne radar transmitter thermal management systems encountered asbestos-containing thermal insulation materials during radar transmitter maintenance

VA Claims for Aviation Electronics Technicians

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy aviation electronics maintenance. Aviation Electronics Technicians who performed avionics maintenance in carrier hangar bays and AIMD shops and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.