Air Accident Investigator

Typical Salary

£72,500 To £82,000

Typical Hours

37 to 45 a week

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on call

How To Become a Air Accident Investigator

You can get into this job through:

a university course
applying directly

College / University

You'll usually need a degree or postgraduate qualification in engineering or a related subject. Courses include:

aerospace engineering
aeronautical engineering
electrical or electronic engineering
mechanical engineering
physics
mathematics

2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths

a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship are not listed for this job.

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

You can apply directly to become an air accident investigator.

If you want to work as an operations inspector, managing an accident response team, you’ll need a pilot’s licence and flying experience.

To be an engineering investigator or flight data recorder inspector, you’ll need a relevant degree or postgraduate qualification and several years’ recent experience in aerospace engineering.

You can also take short courses in accident investigation techniques, which may help broaden your knowledge of the role and skills required.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

to be thorough and pay attention to detail
knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
the ability to use your initiative
analytical thinking skills
excellent verbal communication skills
persistence and determination
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day duties will depend on your exact role but may include:

co-ordinating a team to respond to an incident
gathering and recording evidence to build a picture of what happened
reassembling or dismantling wreckage to look for clues
recovering data from flight recorders and instruments
using drones to survey accident sites
piecing together events that led to an accident
managing the different stages of an investigation
updating relatives on progress, especially in fatal accidents
writing accident reports
making safety recommendations to regulators and the industry
acting as an expert witness at inquests and official inquiries

Working Environment

You could work in remote rural areas, in an aircraft hangar, in a laboratory or in an office.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and you'll travel often.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career Path & Progression

If you work as an engineering or flight data recorder investigator, you could become an operations director, co-ordinating the investigation process. You could also progress to chief accident inspector.

You could use your experience to work as a consultant with aerospace manufacturers, safety regulators or aviation industry insurance companies.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Further information

You can find out more about how to become an investigator from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

be a UK citizen
pass security checks
have a full driving licence