Flight engineer

A flight engineer is a member of the aircrew of an aircraft who is responsible for for checking the aircraft before and after each flight, and for monitoring aircraft systems during flight. These systems include pressurization, fuel, environmental, hydraulic, and electrical. On some military aircraft (eg. C-20 and C-37 Gulfstream V) the flight engineer will perform a full preflight. In civil operations and some military aircraft the flight engineer sits behind the pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit, facing a side panel of gauges and indicators. In other military aircraft, flight engineers sit between the pilots (P-3 Orion and C-130H). The flight engineer is the aircraft systems expert onboard and responsible for troubleshooting and suggesting solutions to in-flight emergencies, as well as computing takeoff and landing data.

Related Topics:
Aircrew - Aircraft - Flight - C-20 - C-37 Gulfstream V - Cockpit - P-3 Orion - C-130H - Takeoff - Landing

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The advent of computer technology and the glass cockpit has eliminated the requirement for flight engineers on modern airliners. However, older aircraft (that still fly today) such as the Boeing 747-100 and -300, Boeing 727, Lockheed L-1011, and McDonnell Douglas DC-10 still require flight engineers. Newer aircraft monitor systems automatically, by computer, and report malfunctions directly to the pilot-in-command and the copilot.

Related Topics:
Glass cockpit - Boeing 747 - Boeing 727 - Lockheed L-1011 - McDonnell Douglas DC-10

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