AAIB/NTSB non-aerospace-related internships?
Discussion
Evening all,
I'm a huge fan of these "air crash disaster investigation mayday analysis etc etc." programs and I find the science that goes on in them to be fascinating.
Now, I'm aware that usually to work as an air accident investigator you need at least a degree in aeronautical engineering, if not something more specialised such as a degree in air crash investigation. However, I also see in some episodes that they draft in chemical analysis specialists for things like narcotics investigation, hazardous chemicals or anything of that sort of possible crash cause. This strikes me more as a chemistry degree requirement than an aviation engineering degree requirement. I am an aviation nut with half a degree in aero engineering, and and currently studying towards a full chemistry degree, so I would be well placed for such a task IMO.
Now, I've had a look at both the AAIB and NTSB websites and their recruitment pages but neither of them gives much info. Does anyone know if it is possible to get ones foot in the door with a chemistry-related internship in one of these organisations?
I'm a huge fan of these "air crash disaster investigation mayday analysis etc etc." programs and I find the science that goes on in them to be fascinating.
Now, I'm aware that usually to work as an air accident investigator you need at least a degree in aeronautical engineering, if not something more specialised such as a degree in air crash investigation. However, I also see in some episodes that they draft in chemical analysis specialists for things like narcotics investigation, hazardous chemicals or anything of that sort of possible crash cause. This strikes me more as a chemistry degree requirement than an aviation engineering degree requirement. I am an aviation nut with half a degree in aero engineering, and and currently studying towards a full chemistry degree, so I would be well placed for such a task IMO.
Now, I've had a look at both the AAIB and NTSB websites and their recruitment pages but neither of them gives much info. Does anyone know if it is possible to get ones foot in the door with a chemistry-related internship in one of these organisations?
In my experience, any investigation uses a lot more than any single discipline. Aerospace engineering is all very well in understanding for example how an aircraft might respond in certain situations; but there will be a huge number of additional specialisms called upon depending on the nature of the accident, eg metallurgy, flight operations, control systems, human factors, medical, meteorological, manufacturing, statistics...
Hairbrakes said:
Now, I've had a look at both the AAIB and NTSB websites and their recruitment pages but neither of them gives much info. Does anyone know if it is possible to get ones foot in the door with a chemistry-related internship in one of these organisations?
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/AAI...Looking at the AAIB org chart above, it only references six teams of "inspectors", which suggests to me that
a) The organisation is quite small (from a direct employee perspective)
b) They only recruit senior, experienced people (eg. in the case of an Operations Inspector you need to be a current ATPL with medical etc)
c) They possibly recruit from a "who you know / who you recommend" pool
d) They engage outside experts on an ad-hoc basis for specific lines of investigation as needed
In summary, I'd say your chances of getting an internship/foot in the foor with the AAIB straight out of uni is close to, if not, zilch. Happy to be proven wrong though, best of luck!
Its all about experience and you unfortunately have none.
What do you know about process? Standards? Methodology?
Your best bit is to get into the aerospace industry or chemical industry and gain about 10yrs experience of the above. Investigative analysis is pretty much long, hard won, dull experience of the above mixed together. You also tend to need to accumulate an exhaustive knowledge of FMECAs and WCAs for different aspects of what you are looking at. With a chemical background and keeping to aerospace, I could recommend you look at a materials engineering expertise, esp if you wish to progress into crash investigation. Materials experts are always sought after...I for no other reason than spending your hours slogging through DMLs and DMPLs is f
king dull!!!
Welcome to working in aerospace
What do you know about process? Standards? Methodology?
Your best bit is to get into the aerospace industry or chemical industry and gain about 10yrs experience of the above. Investigative analysis is pretty much long, hard won, dull experience of the above mixed together. You also tend to need to accumulate an exhaustive knowledge of FMECAs and WCAs for different aspects of what you are looking at. With a chemical background and keeping to aerospace, I could recommend you look at a materials engineering expertise, esp if you wish to progress into crash investigation. Materials experts are always sought after...I for no other reason than spending your hours slogging through DMLs and DMPLs is f
king dull!!!Welcome to working in aerospace
mattdaniels said:
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/AAI...
Looking at the AAIB org chart above, it only references six teams of "inspectors", which suggests to me that
a) The organisation is quite small (from a direct employee perspective)
b) They only recruit senior, experienced people (eg. in the case of an Operations Inspector you need to be a current ATPL with medical etc)
c) They possibly recruit from a "who you know / who you recommend" pool
d) They engage outside experts on an ad-hoc basis for specific lines of investigation as needed
In summary, I'd say your chances of getting an internship/foot in the foor with the AAIB straight out of uni is close to, if not, zilch. Happy to be proven wrong though, best of luck!
sure i read somewhere recently that the team is also now a lot smaller which is why they do not do as many field investigations.Looking at the AAIB org chart above, it only references six teams of "inspectors", which suggests to me that
a) The organisation is quite small (from a direct employee perspective)
b) They only recruit senior, experienced people (eg. in the case of an Operations Inspector you need to be a current ATPL with medical etc)
c) They possibly recruit from a "who you know / who you recommend" pool
d) They engage outside experts on an ad-hoc basis for specific lines of investigation as needed
In summary, I'd say your chances of getting an internship/foot in the foor with the AAIB straight out of uni is close to, if not, zilch. Happy to be proven wrong though, best of luck!
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