Flight Engineer is a professional who is responsible for monitoring and controlling various aircraft systems, including fixed-wing (aeroplanes), rotary-wing (helicopters) and space flight (ISS). He works in close coordination with the two pilots during all phases of flight.
Flight Engineer Eligibility
The educational qualification for becoming a Flight Engineer is a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Aeronautical Engineering.
Flight Engineer Required Skills
- They should have a better understanding of flight theory and flight maintenance.
- They should have the ability to work under pressure as this is a risky job.
- They should be able to make in-flight repairs such as replacing fuses, adjusting instruments and freeing jammed flight control cables, using hand tools or taking emergency measures to compensate for the failure of equipment, such as autopilot, wing heaters and electrical and hydraulic systems.
- They should have the ability to understand and interpret diagrams, charts and flight journals.
- Flight Engineers should have deep knowledge of Electrical, Mechanical and other related fields.
How to become a Flight Engineer?
One has to follow the given steps for becoming a Flight Engineer:
Step 1
Candidates who aspire to become flight engineers should pass the higher secondary exam or its equivalent with subjects Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry. Then they should obtain a degree in Engineering, Physics or Mathematics.
Step 2
For a graduation degree, they need to qualify for an entrance test conducted by the concerned University. They can join any college on the basis of the score obtained on this test to pursue their graduation. Several recognized aviation Institutes are there to provide Flight Engineering courses. Candidates can seek admission to any of these Institutes after obtaining a suitable score on their entrance tests.
Step 3
They should have a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Aeronautical Engineering. If they do have not an Engineering degree, then they should have a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics or Physics. They should also need to obtain a Flight Engineer certificate from any recognized Aviation Institute and pass the required medical test for checking eyesight and health problems.
Institutes offering Courses for Flight Engineer
- Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
- Punjab Engineering College - University of Technology, Chandigarh
- Indian Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Dehradun
- Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai
Quick View of all Selection Processes
- Pass plus two or it's equivalent with subjects Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
- Obtain a Degree in Engineering, Physics or Mathematics
- Join any recognized Aviation Institute
- Obtain Flight Engineer Certificate
- Pass Medical Test
- Apply for the Job
Flight Engineer Job Description
Flight Engineer job description includes monitoring aircraft systems including engines and other critical flight systems; diagnosing and rectifying or eliminating problems that may arise; setting and adjusting engine power during takeoff, climb, cruise, and go-around or at any time the pilot flying requests a specific power setting to be set during the approach phase; monitor and adjust fuel, pressurization and air conditioning, hydraulic, electric, ice and rain protection, oxygen, fire and overheat protection, and powered flying controls; take on pre-flight and post-flight inspections.
They also ensure that the weight and balance of the aircraft are correctly calculated to ensure the centre of gravity is within limits.
Flight Engineer Career Prospects
After passing the course successfully, they have to face tough competition to have a job in this field due to competition. Usually, students either move to software companies to get a Master of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering. If you are aim is to work for NASA and you are from and in India then you need to be exceptionally talented, patient and persistent.
They have also many job scopes in the following companies/places.
- Air India
- Pawan Hans
- Helicopter Corporation of India
- Flying Clubs
- Private Airlines and Government Owned Air Service
- Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd
- Defence Research and Development Laboratories
- National Aeronautical Lab
- Aeronautical Development Establishment
- Civil Aviation Department and other places
- Missile Development Programme
- Civil and Military Aircraft Manufacture Company
Flight Engineer Salary
Flight Engineers in government organisations such as HAL and NAL are paid official scales while those in the private sector are paid according to the scales decided by the management of the company. Airline professionals get fringe benefits of free travel for themselves and family as well. They are given, generally, a monthly salary ranging from Rs.1,00,000 to Rs. 3,00,000 on an average basis. Flight Engineers can earn more than this according to the profile of the companies and market standards.
