Occupations

Aircraft and Missile Manufacturing Occupations These jobs are concerned with the manufacture of airframes, engines, electronic systems, and accessories for aircraft and missiles. Scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technicians work on research, design, and testing. Mechanics make the parts and assemble them.
Aerodynamics Engineer. Studies aircraft and missile flight performances with models in wind tunnel. Assembler. Puts together parts of aircraft and missiles. Chemist. Develops or tests aircraft and rocket fuels and materials such as plastics and ceramics. Design Engineer. Plans shape, size, and structure of aircraft and missile airframes. Design Layout Draftsman. Makes designs to engineers' specifications. Electronics Engineer. Designs sensing and control devices. Equipment Engineer. Designs heating, pressurizing, hydraulic, and oxygen equipment systems. Flight Line Mechanic. Prepares airplane for test flight after final assembly. Inspector. Checks materials from suppliers and finished parts. Jig and Fixture Builder. Makes jigs to hold work or to guide tools in production or assembly. Mathematician. Develops formulas for engineering design problems, records wind tunnel data, and analyzes flight test results.	Metallurgist. Develops or tests metals and alloys used for parts. Mock-Up Builder. Makes full-size aircraft and spacecraft models for solving engineering problems. Model Builder. Makes scale models for wind tunnel testing. Physicist. Works on scientific problems for aircraft and missiles, such as overcoming heat barrier. Power Plant Engineer. Designs piston, jet, turboprop, ram-jet: or rocket engines and their parts. Sheet Metal Fabricator. Cuts and shapes aircraft and missile parts from sheet metal. Structures Engineer. Checks the strength of materials with vibration and stress and strain tests. Technical Illustrator. Makes drawings for operation handbooks. Test Pilot. Flies aircraft to test flight performance. Tool- and Die maker. Makes tools and dies for machine parts. Tool Designer. Designs tools for making aircraft or missile parts. Weight Engineer. Studies weight and center of gravity of aircraft and missiles under different loads.
Air Transportation Occupations These occupations involve the transportation of passengers, mail, and freight by scheduled and nonscheduled airlines, charter aircraft, and air cargo carriers. About 80 per cent of these are ground jobs.
Air Cargo Agent. Supervises cargo terminal; records air freight and arranges for delivery. Aircraft Instrument. Technician. Stalls, repairs, and tests aircraft instruments. Aircraft Maintenance Inspector. Checks aircraft parts and the work of mechanics and technicians. Aircraft Mechanic. Services aircraft airframes and engines. Aircraft Radio Technician. Installs and repairs radio equipment. Airline Station Manager. Is in charge of ground and flight operations for his airline at his station. Check Pilot. Observes pilot's efficiency on check flights; trains new pilots in company regulations. Operations Agent. Oversees loading and unloading; checks distribution of aircraft load and fuel. Pilot. Is in command of plane; is responsible for safety of passengers and cargo; makes flight plan and preflight check of aircraft; operates controls; supervises crew. Propeller Specialist. Repairs and checks propellers and governors. Ramp Serviceman. Handles cargo and baggage; refuels aircraft. Reservations Clerk. Makes flight reservations for airline passengers.	Copilot. Assists pilot in opera tion of flight controls; watches instruments and weather; keeps log. Flight Dispatcher. Plans flight with pilot; authorizes take-offs or cancels flights; advises pilots in air on weather or route changes. Flight Engineer. Is responsible for in-flight operation of engines for in-flight operation of engines and aircraft systems. Flight Simulator Instructor. Trains pilots and checks their skills, using a flight simulator. Ground Radio Operator. Operates airline station radio equipment. Meteorologist. Makes weather reports to pilot and dispatcher. Navigator. Plots course; reports position; estimates arrival time. Stewardess or Steward. Checks passengers names and destinations; enforces safety rules; serves food; oversees riders' comfort. Teletype Operator. Runs airline's teletype equipment. Ticket Agent. Sells tickets; weighs and tags baggage; answers questions on schedules and fares. Traffic Representative. Promotes airline travel; calls on customers; arranges charter flights.
Aviation Occupations in the Federal Government The federal government offers hundreds of occupations in aviation. Most of them are in the armed forces. The others are civilian occupations with government agencies. Most of the civilian jobs are concerned with air safety or with aerospace research and development.
Military Aviation Many aviation occupations in the armed forces are similar to those in air transportation. All the armed services require pilots, mechanics, meteorologists, radio operators, etc. Many careers are open to women. Some aviation occupations not found in civilian life are: Air-Borne Weather Operator. Operates weather instruments aboard weather reconnaissance plane. Aviation Boatswain's Mate. Handles aircraft aboard carriers and at naval air stations. Aviation Machinist's Mate. Participates in rescue work aboard Coast Guard helicopters. Bomber Navigator. Keeps plane on course; locates target; drops bombs; directs return course. Fighter Pilot. Operates jet plane to intercept enemy craft or missiles. Flight Nurse. Attends sick or injured military personnel in flight. Guided Missile Mechanic. Installs, maintains, tests, and repairs guided missile control systems. Parachute Rigger. Packs personnel, cargo, and aircraft parachutes. Paramedic. Parachutes to give medical aid; rescues injured or lost persons in rough country. Rocket Specialist. Installs, inspects, and repairs liquid propellant rockets. Civil Aeronautics Board Occupations with the Civil Aeronautics Board, which is gradually being abolished, have dealt with approval of flight schedules and establishment of fares. They also involve the determination of rates to be paid by the Postal Service for hauling airmail. Economist. Studies airline operating costs, revenues, and profits when airlines request changes in fares and services. Statistician. Gathers statistics for decisions on airline fares and services. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Occupations with NASA are concerned with the research and development of advanced aircraft or with the design and testing of space vehicles for nonmilitary use. NASA employs thousands of scientists, engineers, and technicians. Aeronautical Research Scientist. Carries on aircraft design research in chemistry, electronics, physics, metallurgy, and other areas.	Space Research Scientist. Conducts research on space travel problems, such as satellite guidance, propulsion, launching, and tracking. Federal Aviation Administration This agency employs thousands of workers who direct air traffic, maintain navigational aids, check pilot compliance with safety rules, or certify worthiness of aircraft. Air Traffic Controller. Mans airport control tower, air route traffic control center, and communications station. Airways Engineer. Plans electronic navigational aids, such as radar, instrument landing systems, and airport approach lighting. Airways Flight Inspector. Pilots aircraft to check navigational aids, such as radio beacons and ground controlled approach systems. Electromechanic. Maintains teletype equipment, landing lights, beacons, and stand-by generators. Electronics Inspector. Examines airline's compliance with safety rules for electronic equipment; checks competency of electronics repairmen; inspects electronic equipment of general aviation craft. Electronics Installation Technician. Installs air navigational aids, such as radar, approach lighting, and communications equipment. Electronics Maintenance Technician. Maintains navigational aids and communications equipment, such as radar and radio beacons. Engineering Flight Test Inspector. Checks worthiness of new aircraft for certification purposes. Maintenance Inspector. Checks airline maintenance practices, training methods, spare parts stock; inspects aircraft engines, systems, instruments; checks compliance with safety rules in general aviation. Manufacturing Inspector. Examines aircraft parts, engines, systems, and instruments as produced. Operations Inspector. Oversees airline flight operations; tests general aviation pilots and instructors. Planning Engineer. Plans airport construction and improvements. Program Officer. Estimates costs of construction or improvements at airports.
General Aviation Occupations These occupations have to do with the flight of aircraft other than military or airline. All sizes of aircraft are included, from the light plane used for sport or for farming to the four engine executive transport. In each case the airplane is a tool that helps do the job better.
Aerial Fire Fighter. Observes forest fires from air; directs fire fighters on ground by radio; dumps water or chemicals on fires. Aerial Prospector. Uses air-borne electronic instruments to locate and map mineral deposit areas. Aerial Sight-Seeing Guide. Conducts sight-seeing tours in aircraft. AgriCultural Pilot. Sprays, dusts; fertilizes, or seeds crops and orchards.	Air Taxi Operator. Provides air taxi service for the public. Executive Pilot. Flies aircraft owned by business firms. Flying Instructor. Teaches student pilots how to fly. Helicopter Pilot. Carries loads to otherwise inaccessible areas. Pipeline Patrol Pilot. Inspects oil pipelines from low flying plane. Skywriter. Pilots skywriting aircraft; releases chemicals.
Related Occupations These occupations are closely connected with aviation. They contribute necessary or desirable services to all areas of aviation.
Air Cargo Forwarder. Delivers air freight to and from airlines Aircraft Conversion Specialist. Makes major changes on used aircraft; installs new interiors and other improvements; converts transports to executive or cargo planes. Aircraft Designer. Designs interiors of aircraft. Aircraft Salesman. Demonstrates light planes to customers; sells aircraft parts and accessories. Airport Operator. Manages airport services; administers airport regulations.	Aviation Educationalist. Assists schools, teachers, and youth groups to increase knowledge of aviation. Aviation Writer. Reports on new developments in aviation and space exploration for newspapers, magazines, and books. Flight Safety Research Specialist. Studies air accidents; promotes safety by recommending improved procedures and design. State Aeronautics Director. Promotes aviation within his state; administers state regulations; aids communities in building airports.