Qinetiq or DSTL?

[TomH1408]

Hi,

I am in my final year of a masters degree in Aerospace Engineering and I really want to become a flight test engineer. My question is what is the best route to take to do this? I have read the stickies and got the impression Qinetiq was the way to go with the trials officer position. However the people I have spoken to at grad fairs have said there is plenty of scope to get into FTE with DSTL. I understand becoming a full time FTE will not be a quick and easy journey and I just wanted some advice on which one would be best.

The way I have been looking at it is that Qinetiq has very strong links with ETPS but DSTL is linked to the MOD and therefore the forces themselves so there maybe more scope for trials.

Thanks in advance!

[RugGun]

I just left Qinetiq a few months back, so here's my 2p...

There are lots of full time QQ FTEs at Boscombe, mostly focussed on release to service. These guys are one of the big drivers behind the QQ-MoD Long Term Partnering agreement - basically so that MoD gets independant advice about aircraft safety.

There are a number of other people in QQ who are qualified FTEs but serve in more research oriented roles, so they're full time employees but not full time FTEs. I worked with both sorts & dabbled in the research flying myself - as did many of the rest of my team (mostly sim bods).

ETPS is run by Qinetiq, so the link is extremely close - QQ will put the appropriate people through the FTE course if it needs them. I believe there was normally a bit of a delay whilst folks served as trials officers before the need arose for a formal FTE qualification.

Now, in the 7 years between the split & me leaving I never met a DSTL equivalent of the former - MoD trusts QQ (and BAES & AW...) to do stuff like that.

I did meet DSTL types that supported research flying and went out into the field (sandy places) as tactics & technology advisors.

So really, it's up to you. My impression would be that there are more jobs going at QQ & they're more likely to hire a trials officer out of Uni & stream them for FTE work. DSTL, if you can get in, is likely to be more fun - but you will have to live near Portsdown West on the South coast eventually.

And of course, I bow to those still south of the M4...

[WeekendFlyer]

QQ is the way to go; DSTL don't do flight test work as such. Or you could consider working for the flight ops department of one of the other DAOS approved companies such as BAE Systems, Marshalls, FRA, Westlands or Britten Norman.

The road to FTE is a long one; at QQ typically about 4 years as a trials officer as I understand it, during which you may not even get to fly on an aircraft (depending on your work area and technical specialism), then you need to get selected for ETPS. Each year there are several more applicants than places on the course, and it is competed.

If you are serious about doing this, I suggest you get a PPL and as much practical hands-on aviation experience as you can. Bear in mind that the QQ graduate scheme is apparently a very good one, with many more applicants than places, and you may not even end up at Boscombe. Probably best to apply to as many aviation companies as you can; if you get a good grounding in aviation at a major aviation manufacturer you could always move to QQ later on.

Best of luck, flight test is a great profession to be in and with hard work, commitment and a bit of luck you could end up being a FTE.

[FTE Pruner]

If you want to go through ETPS then QQ is the way to go! QQ are the only company that will pay for ETPS. Other companies will provide routes to FTE, but they are more protracted and you won't end up with the same condensed training that ETPS offers.

With that said, working for other companies (BAES, MA etc) may well provide you with a different skills set which would set you up well for a future career in aeronautical engineering (or what ever you end up doing).

Don't forget, even if you do work for QQ, there is no guarantee that you will get on ETPS, like others say, competition is fairly harsh. You could work there for 5 years an not get on the course, or you could get on the course and then get chopped (a good and hard working engineer who passes the selection shouldn't have to worry about that though :8).

I personally wouldn't worry about spending money on PPL etc, I don't think it would make much of a difference (well, no more than a good rounded education on general aeronautic, maths etc).

Good luck!

FTE Pruner

[TomH1408]

Thanks for all the information FTE isnt something were told too much about at university so everything you guys have said I appreciate.

[sfw7]

Hi Tom,

I am currently doing an aero MEng and am looking at the same options. I was wondering how you got on and whether you now know the best route?

Cheers