URGENT UPDATE: The role of flight engineers is rapidly vanishing from commercial aviation, with the last few aircraft clinging to this once-essential position. As of August 2025, Iran Air has officially retired its last passenger aircraft requiring a flight engineer, marking a significant milestone in aviation history.
Flight engineers, who monitor critical aircraft systems, were essential until the 1980s, especially on widebody aircraft. However, as technology advanced, most airlines, particularly those operating Western-built airframes, have phased out this role. Currently, only a handful of older aircraft still require flight engineers, primarily in cargo operations.
Kyrgyzstan’s Aerostan stands out as one of the last operators still hiring flight engineers. The airline, based at Manas International Airport in Bishkek, operates three Boeing 747-200s and an Airbus A300B4, both of which originally required flight engineers. Aerostan is actively seeking flight engineers, as indicated by job postings on its website, emphasizing the ongoing demand for this rare position in a dwindling market.
Despite the global trend towards automation, certain cargo airlines continue to operate older aircraft models that necessitate flight engineers. The Antonov An-124 and Ilyushin Il-76 are still in use by various freight carriers and require flight engineers, although their numbers are dwindling. Notably, the United States Air Force remains one of the largest operators of the Boeing 747-200, utilizing them as presidential transport aircraft, which still require flight engineers.
The recent retirement of Iran Air’s Airbus A300B4, an aircraft that served for nearly two decades, highlights the urgency of this transition. This 41-year-old plane was one of the last regular passenger aircraft still in operation that needed a flight engineer. With all A300B4s now retired, the commercial passenger aviation landscape has shifted significantly.
In Kyrgyzstan, the last operators of the Airbus A300B4 are exclusively cargo airlines, emphasizing the rarity of flight engineers in the commercial sector. Operators like Gewan Airways and KAP.kg continue to use these aging aircraft, which may or may not still require flight engineers, but many have been upgraded to eliminate the position altogether.
The implications of this shift are significant. As airlines modernize their fleets, the role of flight engineers is becoming obsolete, leaving a small group of skilled professionals facing a shrinking job market. The changing landscape of aviation technology means that many long-serving flight engineers are nearing retirement with few opportunities remaining.
What’s Next? As the aviation industry continues to evolve, the future of flight engineers looks bleak. The last aircraft in passenger service that required flight engineers have now retired, and cargo airlines are rapidly modernizing their fleets. The remaining aircraft that still utilize flight engineers are primarily military or specialized cargo aircraft, indicating a shift focused on efficiency and technological advancement.
This transition marks a pivotal moment in aviation history, as the industry moves towards a fully automated future. The decreasing demand for flight engineers may lead to a loss of valuable expertise and experience, raising questions about the future of aviation safety and operational reliability.
Stay tuned for further developments as the aviation industry continues to evolve, potentially leaving flight engineers as a relic of the past.
