Flight engineer

[shortbus driver]

I was wondering what it takes to become a flight engineer. I know there is a written and some training on the specific type...wondering what else and if its a fun job

 

[VNugget]

14 CFR 63 Subpart B

 

[cobraman]

A Flight Engineer thread.... Cool... I was kinda hoping one of you all might have some advice for me. I was a flight engineer on C-130's for about 1500hours and got out in '03. Prior to that I was an F-16 crew chief for 4 years. (now here is the stupid part) I never bothered to get my A&P and being stationed in Germany made taking the FAA FE practical a little difficult. Well, a war kinda got in the way too. Is this something I should look at getting now on top of my current tickets? I have some half baked idea that it might help me land a job someday as a switch flipper at a major trash hauler potentially leading to a right seat job. Any ideas? I enjoyed being an FE, I learned $hitloads about watching my crew trying to kill me on a day to day basis. I would do it all over again tomorrow. Excellent experience and training you just can't buy anywhere. So for now, my FE time just kinda sits on the side of my resume hoping to raise an eyebrow. I am beginning to think at the end of the day, no one cares. They only see TT. I knew I should have logged my whole 3 hours flying a herk. dammit!

 

[mcjohn]

I think there's two kinds of FE ratings or written tests or something. What's the deal with that?
Also, do the majority of FE have an A&P?

 

[A Squared]

The process is similar to getting a pilot certificate. :

a knowledge test (written) then a practiacal test. The knowledge test is avaiable in 3 flafors: recip, turbo prop, or turbojet. The practical test consistes of an oral examination and a flight test. THe practiacl test can be accomplished on an approved simulator.

There are three ratings on an FE ticket: Reciprocating, turboprop and turbojet. there are no type specific ratings. each rating requires a knowledge test and a practical test. If you have a recip rating, you can operate a DC-6, or a Constellation or a stratoliner without additional certification. Obviously, type specific training would be a good idea. If you already have, say, a FE ticket with a recip rating, and you want to add a turbojet rating, you take an abbreviated version of the turbojet knowledge exam, then a practical test on a turbojet.

An A&P is not required.

You can qualify by:

having 3 years experience in aircraft Maintenece with a year working on aircraft of over 800 Hp. NO A&P is required.

Being a graduate of a 2 year Mx program that has 6 months of training one aircraft of 800 hp or more.

Having a commercial pilot certificate with instrument rating.

having an engineering degree and 6 month experience maintaining aircraft of 800 hp or more.

200 hours of flight time in a transport category aircraft

or

100 hours of flight time as a flight engineer.

 

[mcjohn]

For those of us that always wish we had an A&P but chose to invest in flight training the FE would be fun. Sounds like training that combines all the Mx stuff with flying. I want it.

thanks a squared.

 

[con-pilot]

Dead end job now days sad to say, very sad to say. In less than 10 years there will be very few FE required aircraft remaining.

A chapter of aviation will becoming closed.

The P.F.E. (Professional Flight Engineer, aka non-pilot) was a valuable asset to aviation. I for one miss them.

(And yes I do have around 750 hours riding sidesaddle.)

 

[EMB Skillz]

I was wondering what it takes to become a flight engineer. I know there is a written and some training on the specific type...wondering what else and if its a fun job

You have to be good at:

Second guessing pilots

Back seat flying

Making coffee, preparing crew meals and other flight attendant duties.

Sleeping all the time

Handy with a trash bag.

 

[mcjohn]

Uhh............... O.K. Nevermind.