Duksrule

What does it take to become a FE? Is there a big market for them? Is that a way to get into a company and then move up to a FO spot? What is the FE writen like, all maintenance questions? Also what aircraft other than the 727 use them? Would it be a good thing to take the writen test or does anyone care if you have that on your resume? Anything else you would like to add would be great. You just don't hear much about FEs here.

I put this in the cargo section because I figure all of the employers with FEs would be on the cargo side.

SVTCobra

Kalitta Air is hiring FEs for the 747-200 (last I heard).FEs can move up to the FO seat. They are also hiring straight into the FO seat with no FE rating required.Not sure if they require you to hold the FE rating or just have the written completed.I don't have any idea what the FE written consist of.

727gm

1) unbounded hope, these days. Written test, training, practical test,
and either a) comm'l-multi-inst certificate b) A&P certificate c) Military FE qualification/currency w/o practical(I think) d) manufacturers training(for airframer's employees mostly) e)BS-Mechanical Engineering.
2)No
3)Yes, but only if they do upgrade engineers. With no flight time, you get no respect. Turbine time is better for getting jobs. FedEx and UPS do this, but the FE's are called second officers, and are pilots who are otherwise qualified for a pilot position but for their low seniority are in the back seat. It is a great way to get introduced to FAR 121 operations done well, without having to fly, talk on the radio or navigate, while becoming a (relative)genius due to distance from the front panel, as they say in the sim.
4) lots of systems stuff, solving problems with graphs and tables, wt&balance much like all other FAA written tests.
5) DC-6, DC-8, DC-10, B-747, L-188, L-1011, A-300B4
6)It would be a good thing to take the written test if you anticipated employment within 2 years. It would be a good thing to take if you want to work at FedEx or UPS as it's probably required. It would at least show you like to study. In the old days people trying to get on at places like regionals/commuters twin-jet "nationals" left it off of their resumes in fears that it would be interpreted as evidence the applicant wanted to move on to the majors (as if their pay scales/schedules didn't already guarantee that!)
7) a) Being an FE was good training for the captain seat, as the PIC oral tended to concentrate on the FE panel. Being a pilot made the time in the FE seat go slowly.....
b) it is spelled "written"
8)No, you don't...it is a dying job.
9) That was probably wise, as you would have been savaged in the Major/Regional forums.

Archie Bunker

No Flight Engineers/Second Officers at UPS anymore. Our 747 classics and DC-8s were retired a couple of years ago. FE written is no longer a requirement.

FedEx still has the 727.

727gm

You didn't say "glorious"

Hungarian

Duksrule, sign up with Sheppard Air, they send you the computer aided study guide, take the test. Can be accomplished in 3-4 days, easy.

Twin Wasp

You left out the L-382.

You want to impress someone with your studying, take the navigator knowledge test. It'll be about as useful. While FedEx still requires the FE written, they're parking 727s as fast as their 757s come on line. World still still has a few DC-10s, Atlas is saying their Classic 747s will be gone in a couple years. Who knows what is going on a Cappy, you could try AmeriJet or Southern. Connie will end up with the largest fleet requiring FEs I'll bet. There probably aren't a thousand working FEs in the country.

galaxy flyer

Winglets def, noun Tombstones for Flight Engineers

GF

PCLCREW

Most of these places like Atlas only have PFE's left, not to mention Atlas has something like 30 FE's on furlough. Southern still looks for FE's but there are so many FE's with 747 time that its not worth it. Looking to break into the FE market in the year 2011 and beyond with zero FE time is not going to happen nor is it smart career move.
I would not pursue this any further.

Archie Bunker

I think you meant to say "Jurassic."