Is Flight Engineer a Good Career Choice (Air Force)?

Question

I am interested in becoming a flight engineer for the air force but I have heard that computers are replacing flight engineers, so my question is if i become a flight engineer would i still be able to find a job throughout my life time and after the air force does say ups employ many flight engineers? any other good info about flight engineers will be greatly appreciated thanks!

Answer 1

First of all, you do not get to start your AF career as a Flight Engineer. You have to start in a feeder career field, such as Ac ft mechanic, Jet engine mechanic, Hydraulics, etc.
Must be at least an E-4. three years in service, outstanding performance reports, pass a flight physical and altitude chamber.
Then approx, 1 1/2 -2 years to be fully qualified as a fixed wing Flight Engineer.
The position is almost non-existent in the civilian sector any more. Those few airlines and acft the still have an Engineer, fill it with a third pilot.
There are fewer positions available every year. Less acft using this position.

Answer 2

Air Force Flight Engineer

Answer 3

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RE:
Is Flight Engineer a Good Career Choice (Air Force)?
I am interested in becoming a flight engineer for the air force but I have heard that computers are replacing flight engineers, so my question is if i become a flight engineer would i still be able to find a job throughout my life time and after the air force does say ups employ many flight...

Answer 4

Flight Engineer Salary

Answer 5

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Some good news and bad news. First, it is highly unlikely that you will be using your EE degree in any of the military Services. However, you WILL be using the thought processes and judgement skills that you learned as a Engineer to perform your assigned job. This is where the military Services capitalize on your BS Engineering degree. Engineers focus more attention to detail on complex situations than most in other college degrees (physics, mathematics, computer science also have similar skills). As a EE, you can apply to be a pilot, Weapons System Officer, UAV officer if you can pass the flight aptitude exam and flight physical (for pilot and WSO). Having a degree is not a detriment. Contact your closest Air Force Officer Selection Officer and apply for OTS. If you have a high GPA, you will have a better chance of getting in and a possibility of getting into a technical field that might use part of your engineering skills (e.g flight testing). Good luck. The Air Force is drawing down the number of people on active duty, so it is much harder to get it. Suggest check out the other three Services as well for OCS opportunities. Physcial Fitness is a must before OCS if you think about Army or USMC. Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps-Retired (BS AE and MS in Industrail Engr paid for by Dept of Navy)

Answer 6

30 years ago, just about every civilian airliner with 4 engines had a flight engineer.
Theflight engineer was a qualified pilot. usually, he was a new pilot and they started heir airline careers as a flight engineer, and moved up.
Likewise, most AF planes do not have a flight engineer. Where dids they go? They all moved up to pilot.

Answer 7

As Dennis said you can't come into the AF and be a fixed-wing FE, you'll have to do 3 years of a 4 year enlistment(5 years of a 6 year enlistment) in somekind of maintenance career. Helicopter FEs don't have that requirement, you could go there after BMT.
As for finding a job after the AF, most commercial airlines have done away with FE's. UPS & FedEx may still have FE's on some of their aircrafts. You also have other cargo carriers like Evergreen, Polar, Atlas and Kalitta that operate older 747s which still have FEs. Most of them if they hire you will want you to work your way up to the pilot seat. Have a friend who was a C5 FE with me and now works for Atlas ...he gave me that last bit of info.
FE's are a dying breed in the AF but even so I think we'll be around for a while. I spent four years as a C130 Crew chief, then crosstrained to FE... got C5's at Dover, now on C20. Its a fun job but there is alot of information that you'll need to know since you are the systems expert on board. Been to alot of places and still have plenty more to see and learn. Glad I crosstrained and love the job. Feel free to shoot me any questions.

Answer 8

If you like to travel, its a good job.

You'll do alot of flying.

No job in the military is guarenteed.

If they do away with a job or if it just has to many people in that job,

They can make you retrain into another job.

You'll be given the option, retrain or get out.