PEOPLE WHO TEST AND INSPECT

For these first jobs, you would need a college degree in a technical field such as Mathematics, Science, or Engineering:

Failure Analysis Engineer:

When you read about an airplane crash in the paper, or hear about it in the news, they always talk about the team of experts who are sent out to analyze the wreckage to determine why the plane crashed. The failure analysis engineer is a key member of that team. He or she may be an expert in a specific area, like structures, propulsion, or control systems, or perhaps know a lot about the overall aircraft. In the event of a failure, whether it is a simple system malfunction or a catastrophic failure like a crash, the failure analysis engineer will try to recreate what happened, analyze it, and then recommend changes to avoid the problem again. Failure analysis engineers usually have at least a BS degree in science or engineering.

Flight Operations:

All of the operations of an airport or test facility are managed by the flight operations people. They oversee the flying, training, and maintenance schedules for the pilots and airplanes. When a pilot is scheduled for a check flight, they're the ones who set it up and assign a check pilot to the flight. We've interviewed the person in charge of Flight Operations at Dryden Research Center to tell you more about himself. Click below to meet him!

Performance Engineer:

Once an airplane is designed and evaluated, a prototype, or full-sized model is built. The performance engineer is one of the team that tests and evaluates the performance of the plane and its systems. If the design team has done its job well, all systems should be A-OK. Sometimes, though, unforeseen problems came crop up, and the performance engineer has to work with the design team to clear up the problem. Performance engineers usually have at least a BS in science or engineering.

Test Engineer:

The test engineer is another member of the team that checks out a new aircraft. He or she works with the performance engineer, conducting studies to determine how well the craft or individual equipment is operating. If the new aircraft or system does not satisfy the original design requirements, it's back to the drawing board! Most test engineers have at least a BS degree in science or engineering.

Weight and Balance Engineer:

Most people don't realize that when they and their luggage get on the plane, a weight and balance engineer has already determined where they should sit and where their bags should be placed to make sure that the plane is properly balanced. This may not seem very important to you, but the pilot and the design team think it is. The plane may not fly well or may break if it isn't balanced right! Think about it - have you ever tried to float a boat in water, but you put all the weight on one side of the boat? It probably sank, didn't it? So, the weight and balance engineer studies the loads on a plane or a missile, and he or she works with the other design engineers to ensure that the balance points on the plane or missile coordinate with the controls and structural systems. Then the plane or missile will perform as designed! These engineers usually have BS degrees in civil, mechanical, or aerospace engineering.

People in these next positions usually have at least one college degree in a technical field, or years of technical experience:

Aircraft Maintenance Inspector:

When something as big and complex as an airplane is being built, and people's lives depend on it working perfectly every time, there are many checks and checkpoints during the building process. A maintenance inspector checks the aircraft parts, systems, instruments, and engines as it is being built. He or she supervises the work of the mechanics and technicians and evaluates the training methods for these line positions. In addition, the maintenance inspector checks the airline maintenance practices, inventories the spare-parts stock, and complies with safety rules for general aviation. It's a busy job! Click on the interview to meet an inspector who would like to tell you about a typical day on his job.

Maintenance Technician or Engineer:

These are the people who actually get to work on the airplanes during the test phase. Both technicians and engineers will determine what may be the problem, and what will be the solution. Within a group, individuals may have specialties such as electromechanical, structures, or propulsion, but they all work together. The engineers will all have at least one college degree; the technicians may have a degree or years of experience. Click on our interview to meet someone who would like to tell you about his job!

Airways Flight Inspector:

Have you ever been to the airport after dark or when the weather is dark and cloudy? Have you seen all the brightly colored lights that line the runways? These are part of the system that helps pilots land the planes when they can't really see where they are going. In addition to the lights, pilots have instruments called navigational aids to help them pilot the aircraft in for a landing. The airways flight inspector is the person who checks and evaluates these navigational aids such as radio beacons, laser systems, and satellite control systems. He or she may be the actual pilot who flies the plane to test these systems, or he or she may be along for the ride. Either way, before the plane can be cleared for normal use, these systems must be checked.

Crash Site Investigator:

Just like the failure analysis engineer, the crash site investigator is a member of the team of experts sent to the site of an airplane crash. He or she examines the wreckage and evidence at the site to try to determine the cause of the accident. In the military, at least one of these investigators will be another pilot who has extra training in crash site investigation. Click on the interview to hear from one!

Electronics Inspector:

Just like the airways flight inspector, the performance engineer, and the test engineer, the electronics inspector is a member of the testing team for checking the newly built or repaired airplane. In addition to inspecting the electronics equipment on board, he or she, like the maintenance inspector, also oversees the work the electronics technicians do and their training. The electronics inspector also examines the manufacturer and airline's compliance with safety rules for the equipment.

Engineering Flight Test Inspector:

Before the aircraft can be released to the airline that bought it, or to a private pilot, the engineering flight test inspector must check the overall worthiness of the newly built or repaired aircraft for certification. He or she evaluates all the reports of the inspection team members and compares their results with FAA rules and regulations before certify the aircraft for flight.

Flight Safety Research Specialist:

After the crash site inspection team has determined a cause for the crash of an aircraft, the flight safety research specialist studies the reports of the accident, and others like it, to promote safety by recommending improvements to the aircraft design, changes to maintenance or inspection procedures, or new regulations. In addition, flight safety specialists do inspections to ensure that all regulations are being followed. If you would like to meet a specialist, click on the interview.

Manufacturing Inspector:

At the end of the production lines for individual aircraft parts, systems, and instruments, the manufacturing inspectors must check each item for problems and ensure that each one meets the specifications. The inspector may be a trained engineer or a foreman with years of experience.

Test Pilot:

Some pilots (and most of them will be test pilots) will tell you that the very best flying job to be had is as a test pilot! It's certainly rewarding and fun, but it is also risky - very risky. These are the pilots who fly the new planes or the experimental planes to check their performance and handling. They must push the airplane to its maximum levels to test it fully. If the engineers and designers have made a mistake on something, it could be dicey for the pilot! Test pilots must be excellent pilots with a lot of solid flying knowledge. A lot of test pilots come from the military. We have 2 test pilots we'd like you to meet! Click on one of the interviews to hear more!