Do flight engineers still exist?

Flight engineers can still be found on some larger fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters. A similar crew position exists on some spacecraft.

Answer: Flight engineers are responsible for Operating the systems in older airplanes. Before sophisticated computers, complex systems on airplanes such as the electrical, pneumatic, fuel, and hydraulic systems required specially trained operators.

Today, Flight engineers are still in demand by both civilian and military aviation companies. Are you interested in this exciting career path?

Many flight engineers have their pilot’s license and could potentially fly the aircraft if absolutely necessary. Following the flight, they do a thorough inspection of the plane and ensure that all components are functioning properly.

The Flight Engineers were not the first cockpit crew to be phased out as automation improved. At one time most overseas flights carried Navigators as a fourth cockpit position. The INS system and some other electronic systems Replaced them. (This was long before GPS ).

Demand for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is expected to go up, with an expected 4,380 new jobs filled by 2029. This represents an annual increase of 0.58 percent over the next few years.

Elimination. Starting in the 1980s, the development of powerful and small integrated circuits and other advances in computers and digital technology Eliminated the need for flight engineers on airliners and many modern military aircraft.

Salary Ranges for Flight Engineers

The salaries of Flight Engineers in the US range from $23,152 to $628,998 , with a median salary of $112,900 . The middle 57% of Flight Engineers makes between $112,902 and $284,842, with the top 86% making $628,998.

To become a flight engineer, you need a flight engineer (FE) license from the Federal Aviation Administration and a commercial pilot’s license. Additional qualifications include At least 1,500 hours of flying experience, strong leadership skills, and at least a bachelor’s degree in aviation.

Two years of college Is considered the minimum educational requirement for flight engineers; however, most airlines prefer to hire applicants who are college graduates. In order to increase job prospects, you can acquire a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical or mechanical engineering.

There are no longer any US-based passenger carriers operating fleets that require flight engineers. There remain a handful of cargo, charter, and private operators with aircraft in their fleet requiring a flight engineer, but those are not as frequent as they once were.

One important reason is Safety/redundancy– If something happens to a pilot en route, the other one can take over and land safely. this safety by redundancy extends to all aircraft systems. In long haul flights, two (or more, usually) pilots are required (both practically and by regulation).

Comparing Pilot, Co-Pilot, and Flight Engineer Careers

Pilots fly planes, co-pilots assist the pilot in-flight, and Flight engineers monitor the aircraft’s systems before, during, and after a flight.

“It’s more work” than today’s largely automated airplanes,” Jakyl says of the -200 variant of the 747, “but it’s a lot of fun.” So much more work, in fact, that the airplane still utilizes a third member of the flight crew — known as a “flight engineer.”

The salary and benefits of flight engineers are pretty decent. Flight engineers enjoy high job satisfaction, along with a feeling of accomplishment.

Aeronautics and aerospace engineering are two similar fields that involve flight. Aeronautics, however, focuses on aircraft design while aerospace focuses on air and spacecraft design.

Flight engineers typically work a 40-hour week, but they may be required to work overtime during busy periods or when flight schedules are disrupted by weather or other conditions.

What qualifications do you need to become a flight engineer? A bachelor’s degree Is typically required to become a flight engineer, with subjects such as; Aircraft Engineering with Pilot Studies, Aviation Engineering & Aeronautical Technology the most applicable to the role.

The Boeing 747 100, 200 and 300 required a Three-man flight crew, the third member being the flight engineer. This picture shows the three-man crew cockpit configuration with the flight engineers panel on the right. The 747-400 and 8 only required a two-man crew. The 747 was the first wide-body commercial aircraft.

Basic Flight Engineer (BFE) School

Training lasts 5 to 6 months.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports there were 61,400 aerospace engineers and 74,700 pilots employed in 2021. Aerospace engineers earned a median annual salary of ​$122,270​. By comparison, airline pilots and commerical pilots earned ​$202,180​ and ​$99,640​, respectively.

Requirements

1. Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering or related field.
2. Minimum three (3) years experience in airline flight operations.
3. Experience in using OEM flight ops engineering programs, utilities and toolsets.
4. Proficient in MS Office products, data analysis and good programming skills.

Candidate must have obtained a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering from a recognized college or university.

On modern airplanes, many of the engineer positions have been eliminated. The present Air Force One still carries the flight engineers, but most of [the work] has been computerized.