Expert: David A. NewMyer - 5/24/2010

Question
Sir,i would like to know about what course to pursue in order to be a air crash investigtor,since i have a great interest in this field.i used to watch all air crash investigation program on national geographic channel about how NTSB undergoes the investigation.. i hold a degree in computer science engineering.i would be very happy if u could guide me on this?

Answer
Hi, Danny:

Thank you for your question, I will try to assist!

Aviation accident investigation work requires a specific set of skills and an excellent operational backround in aviation, or in one of the scientific fields that support aviation (such as aerospace engineering, mettalurgy, chemistry, aero-medicine, aviation law and others).  Therefore, it is a field that is populated by people who generally got their career start in a related area such as military aviation or with an aviation regulatory body or with an airline and then those people transitioned into aircraft accident investigation for the federal goverment.

In the USA, for example, there are at least three separate bodies that are charged with aircraft accident investigation at the federal level (therefore, all of them have to have aircraft accident investigators);

1.  All branches of the military (Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force and Coast Guard)

2.  The Federal Aviation Administration (non-fatal accidents for aircraft below 12,500 pounds as well as many of the fatal accidents in this category); and,

3.  The National Transportation Safety Board (fatal accidents, especially those in aircraft above 12,500 pounds).

Therefore, those who work in aircraft accident investigation in the military many times will transition out of the military (retire) and then go to work for the NTSB doing similar work.  They use their aircraft accident investigation experience in the military to qualify for a job with the NTSB.

I am not sure of the above structure in India, but, I would imagine that one way you can gain an excellent background for aircraft accident investigation is by joining the military and seeking out that particular career field or track within the miligary  (if you are in the right aviation career field in the military, then, they will send you to training on aircraft accident investigation.  This training will be your start into the field).

Another way to get into the NTSB in the USA is to do an internship with one of their field offices during the time that you are an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in an aviation or related program.  They have several regional offices around the nation and will accept interns from time to time.  Those internships provide you with experience that you can use later to apply for employment.  I am not sure if such internships are offered in India or not, but, you will need to check with your federal government and ask.

A final way to gain background in the aircraft accident investigation field is to attend training on the subject.  There are two sources that I know of for this background:

1.  University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering, Aviation Safety and Security program---they provide "short courses" and certificate programs in aviation accident investigation.  Contact them at http://viterbi.usc.edu/aviation/

2.  International Air Transport Association has an Aircraft Accident Investigation course.  Go to http://www.iata.org/training/courses/Pages/talp25.apx  for more information.

3.  Also,  such courses are offered by various universities......

Since you already have a degree in computer science engineeering, then, you will need to build on that academic background with some aviation background and experience using one of the methods above.

Thank you for your interest in this subject and for your question.  Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale