NTSB Seeks A Few Good... Students

Hey, students, want to have a meaningful summer job, that puts you at a dynamic location in the center of the aviation industry, throws one challenge after another at you, and pays, well... nothing? Sorry, this isn't the call for Aero-News Oshkosh stringers -- yet. No, it's the NTSB that's looking to flesh out its ranks with some college students for the summer -- providing a rare opportunity for a pilot-licensed, aeronautically-inclined students to get hands-on experience.

This is not an answering-the-phone and making-copies internship. You could wind up writing accident reports and assisting career investigators at accident scenes. (And yes, you will answer the phone, and make copies, too). The NTSB is a critical link in the chain of safety, and this is a chance to see that link up close and personal -- and to be part of it.

Not Everybody Is Eligible

You can be a graduate or undergraduate student, but undergrads should have two years of credits behind them -- and Delta House habitues are advised that they're looking for a C+ average (2.8). A sharp eye in decoding the listing is helpful as some things are required (their term is "must have"), some things are not-exactly-required, but strongly preferred ("should have") and some things they know are not very common, so if you have them you're on the inside track ("desirable," "if possible" or "preferable.")

For example, students applying to the program "should" be US citizens, although NTSB might consider a non-citizen who is legally in the country and authorized to work.

You Say They Want Pilots?

Yep. Students "Should" have at least a PPL and 50 hours PIC time. 200 hours PIC with CPL and instrument are "preferred," and helicopter PIC time is "desirable."  A tech writing course helps; so does campus leadership. The three things they want you to be able to do are use computers, understand general aviation flight operations, and write credible technical reports.

Of Course, There's a Deadline

And it's the 29th of April for this summer. If you can't do it, note that NTSB also has Fall and Spring tours for interns (there's no Winter -- Fall becomes Spring on January 1 on the NTSB's calendar). You apply to one (of 10) NTSB regional offices where you'd like to work. (Addresses are on the FMI link). The regional offices are located in major cities or their suburbs, but of course accident investigation can take you far afield.

What Would I Be Doing?

NTSB says that the interns work for Aviation Accident Investigators and will help them -- and back them up -- on select accidents and incidents. In practical terms, this means lower-profile general aviation accidents, where the NTSB is most starved for resources and needs the most help. In a typical year, looking at the Air Safety Foundation's Nall Report, there will be about 300 fatal accidents taking about 500 lives, and another 1200 non-fatal accidents.

NTSB says intern duties include "assisting in the on-scene portion of the investigation as well as conducting the post-accident research needed to develop the accident sequence of events and proposed probable cause of the accident." There's also a good bit of report-writing involved. Every one of those 1500 or so accidents requires a preliminary accident report (which the intern may write) and a final factual report (where the intern may assist an investigator).

Again, there's no money in this. Although some interns have been hired as co-op students in subsequent years, and have even come to be hired as professional staff on graduation, you can't count on that. (Even the professional investigators are very modestly paid, given their responsibilities).

So there you have it. John F. Kennedy, in his Inaugural Address, said, "Do not ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." This internship is not for everybody, but I bet there's at least one Aero-News reader it's perfect for: here's one thing you can do for your country, your fellow aviators, and yourself.

(Oh yes. At the FMI link, the NTSB says the forms are on the website, but they don't say WHERE on the sprawling NTSB site. We'll spare you the search -- here. You need OF-612 (job application) and OPM form 1170 (flight time)).

FMI: www.ntsb.gov/vacancies/student_internships_AS.htm