AAIB Career info

[rich49]

Hiya,
Could anyone tell me were I could find out information on becoming an air crash investigator? Can anyone give me some information on the job itself? Someone told me that it is possible to be a proffesional pilot AND an ACI. That can't be right???
Anyway, Thanks for your help.

[FlapsOne]

I looked into this briefly some years ago.

To be a Pilot Inspector (or whatever they call it) you must hold a valid ATPL and medical and relevant experience to their requirements.

They try to keep the staff experience level high an wide-ranging. It's pointless everyone being an expert on 1 type for eg.

The pilot inspectors do keep current on their types by having professional arrangements with many companies - who are delighted to have them by the way.

Good civil service pay and pension schemes.

[Rumbo de Pista]

With regard to pilots doing this work (we must not forget many investigators are engineers or scientists):

Generally, you need a good professional flying background, some management or training experience, perhaps a smattering of engineering skills. Then the skills necessary for the job at hand - good communication skills, broad awareness, (a strong stomach) etc.

Some UK investigators do fly, albeit only a few days a month. This is vital to keep their experience current and keep them 'in touch'.

This flying will be with airlines or other operators, along similar lines to the arrangements that CAA staff sometimes enjoy to fly for airlines to keep current.

No harm in it - quite the reverse.

[ATCO Two]

But none of the AAIB Inspectors will fly in a Robinson R22................

[Genghis the Engineer]

Please don't take this as gospel, but it's my view from ten years or so of occasional work alongside AAIB or it's RAF equivalent.

- Experience (pilots); ATPL, preferably heavy experience, preferably some other technical qualifications, at-least 10 years operational experience. Typical entrants are in their mid 40s.

- Experience (Engineers); CEng, reasonable technical as well as management background, 5-10 years post qualification experience, some form of pilots license (higher the better), typical entrants are in their mid to late 30s.

Although all the investigative staff are called "Inspectors", a few of the Engineers do nothing but ADR work and don't visit crash sites or become involved in the nitty gritty of an investigation. Those jobs are usually specifically advertised as such.

Engineers outnumber pilots about 2:1. AAIB pays for either to stay current. PPL holders (Engineers) generally get a training and currency budget, ATPL holders will normally get seconded to an airline enough to keep genuinely current.

I don't think they've anybody employed as scientists, but the dividing line between the two professions is blurred at times.

And I've met at least one who admitted to flying an R22, but as-yet none who will fly in a microlight.

I've also yet to get anybody to admit what they get paid, but I was once told by somebody quite senior there "if AAIB wants you, they'll afford you". By which I take it they're paid more than me :D

Finally, I think Cranfield does an MSc in air accident investigation, which AAIB put's a lot of people through, and not a few people put themselves through with a view to that career (or a more technical and management roll in their existing employer - surely more interesting than an MBA !)

G

[rich49]

Thanks for the replies, very informative. I was planning on going into the AAIB after uni.... Oh well thats that ruled out.

When you say that engineers don't actually visit the crash site, who does? Is it the pilot investigators?

If you are a pilot investigator, do you actually fly as a pilot for an airline as a career? If so what is the split between flying/investigating? ie would I be able to fly 747's for BA part of the time and then investigate for the other, only being called in when their is a crash? Or have I misunderstood, and that you only fly for a few hours ''on the side''.
Sorry if these seem daft questions but I know nothing about this subject.
Cheers

[Genghis the Engineer]

Normally the 2-man team AAIB send out to a site consists of one Engineer and one Pilot. What I meant is that there are a few specialist Engineers there who do lab or ADR analysis and don't get involved in that side of thing - but they are in the minority.

The pilots who fly with the airlines do enough to stay current in a right hand seat - usually a couple of days a month, and they aren't employed by the airline. It is entirely so that AAIB keeps professional knowledge current, they are firmly there as inspectors first, pilots second.

G

[Heliport]

For further information contact the AAIB:

Air Accidents Investigation Branch
Berkshire Copse Road
Aldershot
Hampshire
GU11 2HH
Tel: 01252 510300
Fax: 01252 376999

[email protected]

[rsoman]

Cranfield does not do a MSc in Air Accident Investigation. You can either take a 30 hour elective as part of the MSc Air Transport full time course or there is a six week intensive short course on air accident invesitgation conducted every year.
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/soe/cpd/atm-accident-6wk.htm

Cheers