Featured Coulson Flight Engineer Fighting Fires in Chile

Flight engineers act as the third set of eyes in an aircraft, increasing the safety while operating in often dynamic situations. 

Coulson flight engineer Zack has been in aviation since 1993 and has worked for Coulson for almost a year. He’s currently working on a CH47 based in Concepcion, Chile but the team has also been deployed to other regions in Chile during the rotations.  

Zack said flight engineers are busy as part of the three person flight crew; watching for air traffic, monitoring the aircraft systems and the maintenance panel, and understanding the system components in the aircraft to help the pilots and the mechanics troubleshoot any issues that could arise.  

While actively fighting fire, the flight engineer monitors the snorkel and tank to ensure proper use, watches for ground personnel, and on occasion assists the pilots in finding target.  

This level of complexity and busyness is something that appeals to Zack working as a flight engineer in a Chinook.  

“The tanked ship requires a lot more involvement from the FE to ensure proper operation, and this makes the day go by very quickly,” he said.  

“I have had the pleasure of working all over the world but working in Chile is nice because of the beauty of the country and the diverse landscapes that Chile offers. One day we may be flying down the beach to a fire and the next, we are in the mountains. 

“The best part of my job is helping others. This could be the firefighters we work with on a day-to-day basis, or it could be your average citizen that we help by saving their home, it is very fulfilling.”