Flight Engineer Training

Flight Engineers are employed on the aircraft flight deck, but tend not be found at the controls. Instead they keep the aircraft running safely and smoothly.

Prospective candidates can undertake flight engineer training at 19, but cannot hold a certificate of qualification until 21. It is usually expected that flight engineers already hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate.

In order to undertake any sort of flight engineer training prospective candidates must have good levels of hearing, vision and colour perception. A candidate must undergo routine medical examinations that may be administered by aviation authority designated doctors called aviation medical examiners.

Flight Engineer candidates must be able to read, speak, write in the English language, or have a limitation placed on the Flight Engineers certificate.

Flight engineer training is comprehensive and the flight engineer knowledge test would cover:

• The regulations which apply to the duties of a flight engineer
• Theory of flight and aerodynamics
• Basic meteorology with respect to aircraft engine operations
• Centre of gravity computations
• Pre-flight checks
• Aircraft equipment
• Aircraft systems
• Aircraft loading
• Aircraft procedures and engine operations with respect to limitations
• Normal operating procedures
• Emergency procedures
• Mathematical computation of aircraft engine operations and fuel consumption