Airman's first to board smart chopper (7)
I believe the answer is:
cleaver
'chopper' is the definition.
(a cleaver chops things)
'airman's first to board smart' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'first' could be 'a' (first letter of the alphabet) and 'a' is located in the answer.
'smart' could be 'clever' (similar in meaning) and 'clever' is found within the remaining letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cleaver that I've seen before include "Meat axe" , "dangerous object?" , "Long-bladed hatchet" , "A butcher may use it" , "Butcher's chopper" .)