A flight engineer is someone who is responsible for everything starting from preparation of flight till the flight lands at its decided destination. He is there to monitor each and every aspect related to flight like inspections, major or minor repairs or adjustments and efficient operation of aircraft. Job of flight engineer is very lucrative in terms of salary but it takes a great deal to manage each and everything perfectly so that nothing can go wrong.
Responsibilities of Flight Engineer
The set of responsibilities for a flight engineer are diverse and they should be performed with utmost care and precision. A little neglect or carelessness can be fatal in air and can risk lives of innocent passengers on board. A flight engineer is responsible for pre flight, in-flight and post flight checking related to aircraft.
In pre flight checking, flight engineers are supposed to look for fuel refilling and tank leakages if any. He inspects aircraft before taking off for defects in hydraulic system, malfunctioning of any of the electrical devices etc. weight and balance ratio is one of the most important things to be taken care of in pre flight checking. So fuel weight and number of passengers are measured and their ratio is calculated.
In-flight checking includes freeing jammed cables or managing traffic control for hassle free flight. Flight engineer also regulates and repairs fuses and takes emergency solutions to combat sudden failure of faulty equipment. When the flight is airborne, it monitors fuel consumption to calculate fuel efficiency of system and analyze engine’s potential.
Post flight checking includes noting down malfunctioning part’s records so that their performance can be recorded in future. After flight has landed safely, flight engineer checks all potential parts like fuel, engine, hydraulic system, pressurization and weight balance ratio for next flight.
A Diverse Job
Flight engineer jobs are amongst hot jobs in aviation sector and career opportunities in this field are blooming. You need to have a meticulous work habit and organized life to be able to work well as a flight engineer. A flight engineer is well paid and your degree of seriousness towards work can get you through promotions and higher perks.