List of Royal Air Force Ground Trades


This is a list of Royal Air Force Trade Groups. Each ground trade in the Royal Air Force is assigned to a Trade Group which it operates under for command and control.
Originally, the trades were organized in groups numbering I, II, III, IV & V and M for any medical associated trades. They were changed into the 22 Trade Groups as shown below in 1951, and have since undergone amalgamation into 19 groups in 1964 and down to 18 by the early 2000s. With further amalgamations, only 17 of the original groups now exist.
Trade GroupTradesNotes
1Aircraft Maintenance Avionic, Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic, Weapon Technician
2*No longer assigned*TG 2 was amalgamated into TG 1 making one aircraft Trade Group by 31 March 2009
3*No longer assigned*Trade Group 3 was amalgamated with TG 11 to form the new Communications Trade Group 4
4Information and Communication Technician Aerial Erector, Information and Communication Technology Technician
5General Technician Electrical, General Technician Mechanical, General Technician Workshops
6Mechanical Transport DriverTG 6 was also assigned to Mechanical Transport Technician before amalgamation with TG 5 GEF.
7Air and Space Operations Specialist / Non-Commissioned Controller The administrative merge of TGs 9 & 12. With effect from 1 April 2019, TG9 becomes Air and Space Operations Specialist and TG12, Air and Space Operations Specialist.
TG7 NCC was formed from the transfer of TG9 and TG12 NCO controllers with effect from 1 April 2018.
8Firefighter, Gunner, RAF PoliceFirefighters and RAF Regiment Gunners were transferred to TG 8 from TG 22 in 1976. In the same year, RAF Firefighters were separated from the Regiment Command Structure and became a separate trade.
9Flight Operations AssistantNow TG7 - Air and Space Operations Specialist
10Physical Training Instructor
11Intelligence Analyst, Intelligence Analyst Formerly: Telecommunications Operator
12Aerospace Systems OperatorNow TG7 - Air and Space Operations Specialist
13Survival Equipment TechnicianTrade name changed from Survival Equipment Fitter in 2019
14Air Cartographers, Photographers
15Biomedical Scientist, Environmental Health Technician, Operating Department Practitioner, Pharmacy Technician, Radiographer, RAF Medic, Registered Nurse, Registered Nurse, Student Nurse,
16Dental Hygienist, Dental Nurse, Dental Technician
17Personnel Support
18Logistics Mover, Logistics Supplier
19Logistics Caterer, Logistics Chef
20*No longer assigned*
21Musician
22*No longer assigned*TG 22 used to be the Regiment and Firefighters group. These are now in TG 8 with the RAF Police.