From Job announcement SEP 2017: (this is the Chief position, so...a qual as a Cpt)
747 Chief Technical Pilot
Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) has an exciting and unique opportunity for a 747 Chief Technical Pilot to join our Commercial Aviation Services team.
This team support a variety of training and flight services for commercial airplanes and their customers around the world.
As a Chief Technical Pilot you will perform as a chief technical consultant on the 747. In this role you will provide flight operations, safety and technical support to Boeing internal and external customers at multiple levels.
While this role is not primarily a flying job, the selected applicant will still maintain qualification as a Boeing Captain on at least one aircraft model.
Other responsibilities include:
- Supports new aircraft and system development and certification efforts.
- Develops and validates procedures and operating techniques and assists other Technical Pilots with cross-model procedures.
- Provides information and specialized technical services to Company and customer flight crews to enhance flight operation efficiency.
- Consults with cross-functional teams during accident investigations and analysis as needed.
- Researches, edits, documents and coordinates publication of procedures and techniques for operating Boeing aircraft.
- Represents Boeing as a technical lead by authoring and presenting professional papers at worldwide safety and flight operational forums.
- Meets with regulatory agencies at the executive level.
- Supports sales campaigns by discussing and demonstrating airpcraft and new flight technology.
- Serves as a consultant to senior management and other industry professionals.
- Works under minimal direction.
Test Pilot, well, that is the flying position.
FAA Test Pilot job announcement:
Flight Test Pilot (FTP) with primary responsibilities to ensure type certification of the performance, stability, and control requirements including envelope expansion, handling qualities and performance of new or modified Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 23 and/or Part 25 aircraft.
Incumbent serves as a Flight Test Pilot (FTP) with primary responsibilities to ensure type certification of the performance, stability, and control requirements including envelope expansion, handling qualities and performance of new or modified Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 23 and/or Part 25 aircraft.
Responsible for the flight test compliance of the type certification processes for avionics, propulsion, and mechanical/electrical systems and equipment installations on those same aircraft.
The FTP conducts qualitative and quantitative flight tests and evaluates engineering data on modified and new type design aircraft to oversee and spot-check applicants' compliance showings for applicable airworthiness requirements.
The FTP also applies expertise and experience to recommend improvements to internal/external processes related to certification and organizational issues.
In my organisation, we have plenty of technical pilots who only have the college degree, with no actual experience flying a commercial aircraft. They get typed in the sim, that is about the extent of it for most.
Usually they are working the sim on the RNAV/VNAV procedures to check for any issues, temperature limits, weight limited OEI procedures, and especially temporary obstacles. (ie verifying NOTAMs)
There are levels where the ATP and 1500 hrs is the minimum...that being said, even with those quals, it is not a flying position.