Flight Engineer

A flight engineer is usually lumped together with aircraft pilots/co-pilots. Although the name includes the word "engineer", a flight engineer is not a formal engineering title. In the US, there are a series of strict requirements before someone can be called a Professional Engineer (PE). Flight engineering is not one of the recognized professional engineering specializations.

For flight engineers/pilots, most employers require at least some post-high school education in the form of at least 2 years of college, although college degrees are becoming more common, making it a more usual qualification for employment. In order to become a test pilot, however, one must have an engineering undergraduate degree.

There is a licensing process for flight engineers/pilots, overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Licensing requirements include having completed either a course at a certified civilian flight school or with a certified instructor or a duration in aviation in the military, at least 250 hours of flight time, a written exam. License holders must also have passed physical requirement, including general fitness, 20/20 vision with or without glasses. There are additional ratings flight engineers must attain to fly under certain conditions, like flying low visibility with only the use of instruments. Commercial airline pilots have additional licensure requirements to go through with the FAA, including many more hours of flight time, additional written exams. Commercial pilots may have other processes to complete if they work for a particular company which has its own requirements.

There is no continuing education to retain an FAA license of any kind, but routine physical exams and flight skills tests are required by the FAA and most companies.

A flight engineer is usually lumped together with aircraft pilots. Although the name includes the word "engineer", the title of flight engineer is not a formal engineering title. (A formal engineering title in the US is the Professional Engineer - PE.) Many times for small aircraft, the flight engineer is one and the same as the pilot. For larger craft, the flight engineer works with the main pilot in the helping make calculations and judgments for the flight itself. The role of the flight engineer has become much smaller in recent years due to technology and software innovations in the cockpit.

Flight engineers assist in the piloting of aircraft of all types and can engage in agriculture and forestry cultivation (spraying, dusting, seeding), testing experimental aircraft, serving as commercial pilots with private airlines, performing firefighting work from the air, work with law enforcement for the tracking of criminals, transport freight and goods, work with news channels and the like to monitor traffic and help with government agencies in assisting people in crises (evacuation, rescuing). They can be involved with piloting a number of aircraft, including large commercial jets, small vessels for private citizens, experimental aircraft, helicopters, etc.

The day-to-day experience for flight engineers has a lot to do with checking things - checking the flight plan, checking the weather, checking that all aircraft systems are ok, checking with dispatchers/air traffic control, checking to see that cargo (if any) is secured properly, checking instrument readings throughout the flight. There is also a great deal of calculation to determine speed, altitude, directionality, etc., especially when it comes to take off and landing.

In addition to needing to pass the various requirements to fly the type of aircraft one wishes to fly, flight engineers need to take seriously the physical demands of the job, including jet lag, rigorous and/or irregular schedules, seasonal work schedules, etc. They also must be mentally well and seasoned to handle all the decision making and maintaining a high level of alertness through an entire flight, no matter what its duration. Ability to quickly assess problems, quickly problem solve, and strategically communicate with dispatchers/crew/air traffic control, etc. is also crucial

The median wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in 2007 was $148,810, with the lower range being around $56,000. Upper range figures for this profession are not available. By and large, the largest non-military employers are the major airlines, with the second largest employer group being private air transportation. Commercial pilots, unaffiliated with the large airlines or with the military made lower salaries, with the range going from $30,000 - $122,000.

Some of aviation's most influential figures are also people known commonly to the public: the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes, etc. For a picture of who is leading the industry today, it's always a good idea to check out the leadership, board membership and advisory membership to the organizations below.

The Society Of Flight Test Engineers

Air Line Pilots Association, International

Air Transport Association of America

Federal Aviation Administration

Helicopter Association International

Due to the nature of the job, many flight engineers/pilots are based/employed in a certain metropolitan area, but they may perform their work all over the US or the world. Metropolitan areas with large airports, like Atlanta, Chicago, New York and the like tend to have large numbers of opportunities. In addition, the military, with no one location, is also a common way many pilots start their careers.