Though Air Travel is considered the safest form of transportation, the grim nature of aircraft accidents reminds us that we can never take safety for granted.
Arunesh Vijayakumar, our next pathbreaker, Certification Engineering Specialist at Beta Technologies (Vermont, USA), provides guidance to engineering design problems in Electric Aircrafts from a certification and regulatory perspective.
Arunesh talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about his over a decade experience in the aviation & aerospace industry, as an Airworthiness Engineer with extensive knowledge of EASA Certification Framework and FAA Regulations.
For students, take inspiration from people around you, but do not compare yourself to others and do not let anyone manipulate your decisions, because the future is yours !
Arunesh, can you share your background with our young readers?
I grew up in Bangalore, in a neighborhood called Yelahanka, which is right between the city and the International Airport. My parents hailed from Kerala and Tamilnadu. My father started as an apprentice and went to become a Section Engineer at the Rail Wheel Factory in Bangalore. My mother is a homemaker.
I had a very humble upbringing, but with a great focus on education. My family always encouraged me to read (a lot!) from a very early age. I have always had a lot of books around me when I was young.
When I look back now, there were two memories that decided my career.
The first, was an advertisement for the Mercedes Benz E-Class, which kindled my love for automobiles. The love for these machines and my interest in reading gave me a hobby – to collect and read automotive magazines.
Although at the time, my family could not afford monthly subscriptions to these magazines, I remember my father scouting for the used book shops to get them for me. I would get them as gifts when I scored good marks, for my birthday and even when I was feeling low. And they would simply lighten me up. Throughout my schooling I was entirely glued to these books! I would say that it’s reading these magazines that shaped my English language.
The second memory was the sight of an aircraft taking off from the Government Flying School, Jakkur. It was a moment that left me awestruck and with a lot of questions – are there people in it? How can something that heavy go up? Will it not fall down? How would it be to fly that thing?
Both these memories got me fixated on the fact that I want to be involved with cars and aircrafts for the rest of my life.
What did you do for graduation/post graduation?
I started off my B.Tech in Automobile Engg, but had to drop out due to personal reasons. My 12th PCM score did not help me get into any good colleges either. At that point, I had very few options left. I took time to rethink my options and decided to pursue Aircraft Maintenance Engineering to follow my passion towards aviation.
After a few years, I did an Advanced Masters in Aviation Safety and Aircraft Airworthiness offered by ENAC – Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile and ISAE-SUPAERO.
What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional career in Air-Worthiness?
I wish I had the resources, mentorship or guidance available today. My decision to drop out of B.Tech was met with resistance from my family and they could not guide me further. At this point, I think it was just my instinct and passion to be in aviation that helped. And above all, what I learnt is that, when the decision is completely ours (without any external influence, but with some inspiration), we tend to stay focused and look for ways to make it right. In short, the key influencers in my career were just my will to follow my passion and to make sure to make my decision work.
My decision to pursue Aircraft Maintenance Engineering was driven by a few thoughts:
1. I realized that I was not very good and was not interested in some aspects of mathematics like calculus, etc and these were essential to pursue careers as designer or engineer in the aerospace/automotive sector.
2. I read and understood that not all jobs in the aviation industry need an in-depth knowledge of the core mathematics/physics topics, but they needed a strong understanding of the basics, which I was strong at.
I started reading and looking for domains in the aviation industry which interested me and found two pathways – pilot and maintenance engineering.
Becoming a pilot was (and is) too expensive and my family or I could not afford to spend that much money at the time.
The next choice was Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, and hence was a no-brainer for me.
The course requires us to complete a 6-month On the Job training (OJT) at any aviation maintenance organization. Although the course was interesting and promising when I joined, completing the course amidst the recession (in 2009) did not help. The Indian aviation sector was affected badly and the surcharges on fuel, parking, etc. were at an all-time high. This led the industry to limit hiring.
After months of searching and applying, I found an OJT at the HAL Engine Division, Bangalore. As an Apprentice, I was involved in the maintenance of the different components of the engines from the Indian Air Force aircrafts. In addition to the understanding of maintenance tasks, I understood the importance of documentation, during the course of this OJT.
By that time, I had also realized that my chances of getting into an airline were bleak and I started to look for alternative options.
I realized that I could use my good writing skills and my interest in reading to pursue a career in Aerospace Technical Publications. I spent almost two years and hundreds of job applications to land a few interviews. Finally, I managed to start my career as a Technical Illustrator at Alten India (who are contractors for Airbus Industries).
A Technical Illustrator is a person who develops the pictures/schematics/illustration, mainly in the technical or user manuals. They help the users to understand any product and its operating or maintenance instructions. In the aerospace industry, the technical illustrator (and authors) are generally a part of the Technical Publication teams, who develop the technical manuals (Maintenance Manuals, Operational Handbooks, Flight Manuals, etc) required for the safe operation and maintenance of the aircraft. The technical illustrators work on the illustrations (schematics, exploded views, installation diagrams, etc.) and the technical authors write the maintenance procedures, installation guides or operational procedures. Generally, the Technical Publication teams are not a part of the R&D activities and serve more as a Customer Support activity.
Generally, a technical illustrator uses the different tools (Illustration SW) to create the diagrams mentioned above. The basic skills required for this role are – a general interest towards reading/writing/drawing, ability to understand different perspectives of images, creativity to develop clear illustrations that will help the user.
Getting a job did not stop me from looking for ways to gain more exposure, which led me to Textron Aviation. Textron was one of the leading general aviation manufacturers in the world and I managed to land a job as a Technical Illustrator.
After continuing to work as an Illustrator at Textron Aviation, I realized that illustration was not something I wanted to pursue in the long term.
I was also considering options to pursue Masters abroad. But since Aircraft Maintenance Engineering was not considered a bachelor’s degree, my application was rejected from the good universities.
Around the same time, Textron had an internal job opening for an Airworthiness Engineer. I read the job description and it fit my interests. I gave it a shot and was selected. This was the turning point in my career.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path
As the Airworthiness Engineer at Textron, I started liaising with the different departments and gained a good understanding of how an aircraft is built, sold and operated across the world. I also got the opportunity to represent India in the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program, hosted by the United States Department of State. This program gave me the opportunity to be exposed to the US aviation industry and helped me network with the aviation professionals across the globe.
The general term “Airworthiness” refers to all the activities required to keep an aircraft flying (worthy of air, or flying).
Every aircraft that is operational, needs to be certified by the respective civil aviation authorities (CAA). The certification happens a different levels and timeframes.
- Initial Airworthiness – Every aircraft design is certified by the CAA of the nation where it is developed (e.g.: Boeing aircrafts by Federal Aviation Administration (US), Airbus aircrafts by EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency), etc.)
- Continuing/Continued Airworthiness –
- Once certified for design, they can operate, but need to accepted for operations within each of the country they intend to operate. (In India, this is done by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA))
- Since the life of an aircraft is generally around 20-40 years, there are a lot of repairs, maintenance, modifications that happen during its life, and each of these are recorded, tracked and many need to be certified or accepted by the different CAAs involved.
The role of an Airworthiness Engineer, depending on the company he/she is working for, is to be a liaison between the engineering departments and the different CAAs to ensure that the design (or maintenance) of the aircraft complies with the regulations and safety standards put forth by the CAAs.
While I was enjoying my role as the Airworthiness Engineer at Textron, in 2016, I was laid off from my company due to a reorganization. Although I was hired back at Textron within a couple of months, I was asked to work in Technical Publications.
During my time off when I was let go, I started looking for Airworthiness jobs across the world and looked for options to improve my profile as an Airworthiness Engineer.
This led me to ENAC and ISAE-SUPAERO, the premier aviation institutions in France. Around mid-2017, I decided to quit my job at the age of 30 and pursue Advanced master’s in Aviation Safety and Aircraft Airworthiness at ENAC/ISAE SUPAERO, Toulouse, France.
The Advanced Masters (Master Specialize in French) is jointly offered by ENAC and ISAE-SUPAERO.
Both the above institutions are the leading engineering schools in France (and in Europe). While ENAC is focussed on the civil aviation and commercial aspects of it (like Pilot training, Aviation Management, etc), ISAE-SUPAERO focuses on the engineering and research part of aerospace.
The Advanced Master’s program is aimed at either professionals with prior experience looking to specialise in certain subjects or students who have completed their Masters degree and looking to be specialists. In general, the Advanced Masters program is an intensive one-year program, with the first six months of classroom learning and the next, an internship with an organisation. There are scholarships options available (although not as much as regular masters). A good academic profile and good level of French will increase the chances of scholarships (I did not apply for a scholarship, since my application was made almost near the end of the deadline, when most of the scholarships were already closed).
Since the Advanced Masters program is a professional program, your professional experience carries more weightage than the degree. In my case, I had aerospace industry experience of around 6.5 years, which was considered. So, I managed to convince them inspite of not having a bachelor’s degree?
The internship at Aeroconseil was a part of my Advanced Masters program. Aeroconseil is a company which performs a lot of subcontracting activities for almost all the large aerospace manufacturers. They also specialise is performing interior modifications and upgrades to commercial airplanes.
As explained above, all these modifications involve a lot of civil aviation regulations and require airworthiness certification efforts from the different CAAs. I interned with the Cabin Modifications team at Aeroconseil, who managed these efforts. I helped the team build a database of company requirements for the modification of Airbus aircraft based on the existing applicable civil aviation regulations.
This was also the time when there was a lot of focus on electric aviation around the world. While I saw most of my batchmates focus on Airbus and other major players, I decided to also try to research about the new players in the industry. This led me to some of the startups that were rising in the electric aviation sector and Lilium seemed to be leading the way in Europe.
This time around, stars seemed to align, and just around the time when I was completing the course, I got hired by Lilium as an Airworthiness Engineer.
My role at Lilium was different because Lilium is one of the first electric aviation startups in Europe. When I joined Lilium, there were no regulations existing for electric aircrafts, and all the government agencies (CAAs) were trying to develop these regulations for the development and operations of electric aircrafts. These developmental efforts generally involve a lot of industry involvement and feedback. Hence, being at Lilium, I got an opportunity to work with the government agencies (CAAs) who were trying to develop these regulations. This gave me an exposure to learn, research and understand the entire lifecycle development of an aircraft program. This in general, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, because its not very often that there are startups or new companies in the aerospace, since it is an extremely expensive, regulated industry.
How did you get your first break?
I believe that your first job need not be your first break. It can also be something that leads you to your first break. For me, there were two instances – first, my job at Textron as the Airworthiness Engineer and second, my job at Lilium.
I consider my role at Textron as a stepping stone and the role at Lilium as a progression that gave me an international exposure.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenge 1: To understand the options, pros and cons and to decide what path to choose, after high school.
I think this is the most crucial time for every high school student, and also the time when we are extremely vulnerable and can be easily manipulated . I went through a lot of emotional stress through this time with almost everyone offering free advice, but nobody to look upto. It ended only when I figured out a way and decided that no matter what happens, I will stick to my decision and make it work.
Challenge 2: First job
This is a challenge that not many people face if they are “placed” right from college. But for the others, it is one of the biggest challenges they will face. And this will be challenging every time you start over (to pursue masters, decide to switch careers, roles, etc.)
After my Aircraft Maintenance Engg, I was unemployed for almost two years. This time I had no clue on how to deal with it. This led to anxiety, low self esteem and lack of self-confidence.
But the second time, after my Advanced Masters, I tried to do it better, and it worked for me. When I started the course, I was sure that I would have to go through this phase, and I made sure that I was ready for it mentally, physically and financially.
I started early, almost two months into my Masters. I tried to network and would have sent over 300 applications during around 6 months. Most of the networking requests and applications were never responded to (ghosted). But the key to remaining sane is to consider your job application phase as a full-time job and give it your best shot. Always remember, all you need is one call, one interview and one offer to start with.
Where do you work now?
I work at BETA Technologies, as a Certification Engineering Specialist. At BETA, we are trying to build electric aircraft and supporting infrastructure for electric aviation.
BETA Technologies (like Lilium) is a startup based in Vermont, USA, which is building an electric aircraft.
What problems do you solve?
The aviation industry is a highly regulated industry. Hence, certification regulations play a very important role. My job involves providing guidance to engineering design problems from a certification and regulatory perspective. I also act as a liaison between the design and engineering department of the manufacturer and the civil aviation authorities.
The Airworthiness Certification engineer roles are generally functional roles, that act as a bridge between the regulatory authorities and the aerospace companies. They work for the companies and ensure that the design and processes of the company are in compliance with the regulations, and also develop and own all the related documentation. Whenever there are any novelties or non-compliances, they negotiate with the authorities and try to come up with solutions.
As an e.g.: say there is a design feature in one of the aircraft designs that does not comply with the existing regulations and it is something that the design team need to be implemented in the design. The design teams come to the Airworthiness team with the problem, who will then assess the problem, research, and try to see if there were any similar designs approved historically around the world. If yes, they will propose the same route to their authority and proceed with the paperwork. If not, it starts a long discussion/negotiation with the technical specialists in the regulatory authority until there is a safe and viable solution is reached.
What skills are needed for your role? How did you acquire the skills?
Some of the most important skills are:
• communication skills
• ability to read and understand engineering and regulatory documents.
• be able to interpret the regulations and understand their implication on real-life application.
• Negotiation skills
• Ability to grasp different topics and be eager to learn and understand.
• Last, but not at all the least, be able to accept that you don’t know something if you don’t.
What’s a typical day like?
My typical day starts with planning the topics to be addressed for the day, mostly in meetings. A couple of days a week, I try to block the day to read, review and write documents.
What is it you love about this job?
I love my job for its extremely dynamic nature. No two days are the same for me. Yes, it has a lot of challenges, and most days are more hectic than I want it to be. But in the end, it’s something that I love – aviation and secondly, I am part of a great team who are trying to make an impact in the society while being passionate about it.
How does your work benefit society?
I believe we all understand that aviation is one of the largest contributors of carbon emissions and flying is one of the most carbon intensive activities. BETA is one of the players who are trying to change that, and I think my role as the Certification Engineer is key in overcoming any regulatory challenges in the path. In addition to being carbon neutral, it is also a pursuit to make aviation more accessible, since electric aviation is far cheaper.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
• School grades – If you get good grades, perfect, keep going. If you don’t, remember that they do not define your future in any way. It may help you reach your destination a little quicker, but it should not stop you.
• Understand your basics – This is extremely important. Yes, grades don’t matter, but that does not mean that you should not study. The basics are extremely important – basic English, Math, Finance, Science, Social Science and Moral education. These will help you in the long run.
• Do not let anyone (friends, teachers, relatives, etc) decide or manipulate your decisions. Get your basics right, read, focus and understand clearly what you need at that point of life. Anytime you are in doubt or confused, talk to your parents and simply trust them.
• Manage your teenage – this is the time when you have a lot of time and energy, but also one of the times when you are vulnerable. Be aware that this is your time to prepare to follow your dreams. So read a lot, play sports and think about what you love.
• Take inspiration from people but be sure not to compare yourself to others. Each person’s story is different, and what you see or hear may not be the complete picture.
• Never stop learning!
Future Plans?
I am planning to pursue my flight training . I want to pursue this, since it’s a passion and also will help me perform my job better.