Flight Engineer - A Career As An Air Force Flight Engineer

The basic responsibilities of an Air Force Flight Engineer include flight inspection before, during and after flights, maintenance and efficient servicing and rectification of the aircraft in order to ensure safe operations. Personnel are usually assigned important combat roles, in tactical as well as airlift operations. They also operate and monitor engine and aircraft system controls, panels, indicators and devices.

Major Responsibilities Of An Air Force Flight Engineer

The main responsibilities of an Air Force Flight Engineer are as follows:

- Flight Engineers perform aircrew visual inspection and maintain aircraft records during flight, as well as when the flight is away from the home station.

- Development and implementation of aircraft weight, balance and performance data. They also compute hover, takeoff, climb and landing data and determine the average consumption of engine fuel with the help of airspeed, atmospheric data, charts, computer or electronic calculators.

- Record performance data and system status of an aircraft for maintenance debrief and aircraft usage analysis.

- Operate and monitor engine and aircraft systems, controls and indicators. In addition to this, they also assist the pilot and help during engine starts, as well as check run-up, flight operations and engine shutdown. They control and regulate certain aircraft systems, such as hydraulic, pneudraulic, fuel, electronic, air conditioning, pressurization, auxiliary power unit and lubrication communication, navigation, radar and depressurization and system failure.

- They issue warnings about overheating and depressurization and report to the pilot about any abnormal conditions; they also suggest corrective measures.

- Oversee the qualification flight of personnel engaged in flight engineer activities, during the flight test and operation organization.

- Direct standardization of flight engineer performance in relation to the aircraft performance engineering conditions of engines and adopt several preventive measure programs.

- Observe engine instruments and adjust controls per the orders of the pilot.

- Flight engineers also perform several technical functions such as resolving technical problems that are often encountered by operating units. They also offer suggestions and technical assistance to agencies that are engaged in the functions associated with flight engineer activities.

- Report the status of flight engineer activities and adequacy of equipment.

Eligibility

In order to become an Air Force Flight Engineer, it is necessary to have knowledge of electrical, communication, navigation, mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems that are applied to air crafts and the related systems, flight theory, minor in-flight maintenance, personal equipment and proper use of oxygen. Applicants are expected to understand and interpret diagrams, schematics, aircraft performance, charts, technical publications, as well as flight journals.

With the number of new flights launched every year, Air Force Flight Engineers are in great demand. This job is rewarding and lucrative. It offers immense job satisfaction at the end of every mission, as the Engineer can see their endeavors end in significant results. The career calls for strong determination and a desire to rise above the ordinary.