What are the requirements and responsibilities of a flight engineer?

Hi Theo,

Job Description:

1) Makes preflight, inflight, and postflight inspections, adjustments, and minor repairs to ensure safe and efficient operation of aircraft: Inspects aircraft prior to takeoff for defects, such as fuel or oil leaks and malfunctions in electrical, hydraulic, or pressurization systems, according to preflight checklist.

2) Verifies passenger and cargo distribution and amount of fuel to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.

3) Monitors control panel to verify aircraft performance, and regulates engine speed according to instructions of AIRPLANE PILOT, COMMERCIAL.

4) Makes inflight repairs, such as replacing fuses, adjusting instruments, and freeing jammed flight control cables, using handtools, or takes emergency measures to compensate for failure of equipment, such as autopilot, wing heaters, and electrical and hydraulic systems.

5) Monitors fuel gauges and computes rate of fuel consumption.

6) Keeps log of fuel consumption and engine performance.

7) Records malfunctions which were not corrected during flight and reports needed repairs to ground maintenance personnel.

8) May perform repairs upon completion of flight.

9) Must be licensed by Federal Aviation Administration.

10) May be required to be licensed AIRFRAME-AND-POWER-PLANT MECHANIC or AIRPLANE PILOT, COMMERCIAL.

Best!

1. 
   

   You need to be a licensed FE with a current rating on type of the aircraft you are going to fly issued by the Government Civil Aviation Authority where that aircraft is registered.

   
   


2. 
   

   Each Aircraft Type has a government approved operating manual (AOM) which lays down duties of each crew member including Captain, Copilot and Flight Engineer under Normal procedures, Abnormal procedures and Emergency procedures.

   
   


3. 
   

   All normal operating procedures are done by recall while abnormal and some emergency procedures are done by reading out check lists.

   
   


4. 
   

   Each crew member working on the flight deck has clearly assigned roles to play including duty show up time, preflight checks including verification of required fuel uplift, exterior checks, checking of weight and balance sheet, calculations of aircraft performance including engine take off power and take off speeds,

   
   


5. 
   

   Monitor communications with air traffic control fir push back, taxi and take off clearances, start engines, taxi and set take off power setting and so on.
   All these procedures are followed like clock work with no distractions and vigilance.

   
   


6. 
   

   At the end of flight perform shut down checklist and complete aircraft log book for block off and blocks on take off and landing timings and log enteries into log book for any irregularities in the aircraft operation.

   
   


7. 
   

   So every crew member does his own operational duties and also cross monitor each other as well.