Passengers Hug Pilot After Safe Landing - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

865sp300e · #1 07-15-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

Slightly OT-How does one get a job in aviation accident investigation? Catastrophic failures and their causes are a topic of some interest to me and that job looks like something I could get into.

Good luck with that

tankdriver · #2 07-15-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

Slightly OT-How does one get a job in aviation accident investigation? Catastrophic failures and their causes are a topic of some interest to me and that job looks like something I could get into.

I would guess you'd have to be a mechanical engineer, probably with some experience in stress testing, etc.. I've seen a couple shows on Discovery or PBS about those test facilities (though in that case they were testing weld strengths and I-beam strengths for buildings).

WVOtoGO · #3 07-15-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

Slightly OT-How does one get a job in aviation accident investigation? Catastrophic failures and their causes are a topic of some interest to me and that job looks like something I could get into.

First step:
You get to know this guy: William “Bill” Waldock. He’s a good ol’ boy from Texas and the #1 guy you need to know. Johns dad used to be a test pilot with the Robertson facility mentioned here. It used to be called AVSER and run by a guy named S. Harry Robertson back in the day. John went through all of their Crash investigation, crash survival and aviation safety courses back in his ERAU days. I'm sure John wil set you up with this dude, no problem. Anyway – Bill can tell you (as well as hook you up with) everything and everybody you’ll ever need to know. He’s at the bottom of this page:

http://www.safetyscienceerau.com/faculty.html

http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Bill_Waldock

http://www.erau.edu/pr/index.html

BTW - We (the TOS crew) will all be out there (Prescott AZ) in October for the big Octoberwest bash. You're welcome to join us. Big alumni party. Fun !!

- Shelby

Edit:

BTW – There are many many many levels and staff divisions/processes of an actual investigation.

You’d be surprised by all the backgrounds many of the people involved have.
Johns background (Though an aerospace engineering grad from TX A&M.), is actually into “Crash Survival Investigation”. They look into what actually killed/injured the occupants. Not what caused the crash.

They like to say: “We don’t look at the bent metal. We look at the bent bodies.”

Yuck.

raymr · #4 07-15-2009, 01:48 PM

They happened to be flying over West Virginia just as the Mountaineers were practicing their field goal kicks. They're gonna be good this year!!