Well, next year will be my 20th in aerospace as a stress engineer and I can tell you without a doubt the days of training courses are all but over at any of the OEM. In addition, there just arent enough experienced people to go around at the OEM since they pushed many of them out of the industry during downturns and the rest into early retirement. It seems these days, the status quo is hire an army of new college grads and have them solid FEM every single CATIA drawing of a part there is, then write MS based on Von Mises. Never thought I would see the industry end up this way! In addition, it seems the OEMs really dont care anyways. They say they want to provide training but dont allocate the time. In fact, I think its ironic that the OEM spend an obscene amount of money to provide mandatory training for sexual harassment, export/import, diversity, etc, etc., etc. but cant spend a nickle for any substantial engineering courses. I have personally witnessed many good new engineers trown to the wolves without any training to end up quitting their jobs out of frustration and switching industries.
Anyways, I run a consulting company and we too have had to hire a couple of new hires BUT we made darn sure to set up a process to train them and make the appropriate time available. It consists of basically the following:
#1. Have them spend several weeks working real aircraft structures problems and getting familiar with all of the terminology, materials, and references (MMPDS, Bruhn, Aircraft Stress Manuals (BDM,SMM,etc.)). Above all, expect them to be able to perform FBD at a drop of a hat and understand all of the basic MS failure modes. This is the most fundamental of capabilities.
#2. Assign them tasks on topical subjects which provide them experience in the various aspects of structures (ie design and detailed joint stress analysis are the basics, then, other tasks such as internal loads, post-buckled behaviour, stiffened panels, etc.)
#3. Assign them increasingly more difficult problems with a focus on getting them proficient in every area.
#4. Make the TIME to provide guidance and help.
Anyway you look at it, it is a time consuming difficult task to train new stress engineers. BUT, we need to do it otherwise the whole industry will suffer. For anyone interested, I can email a pdf of a course MACAIR wrote twenty some years ago to train stress people. It is by no means exclusive but just a good sample of the type of problems to have new stress engineers work.
Also, just as an aside. MACAIR around the late 1960's use to give a test to all new direct hires and shoppers (before all of the employment restrictions were imposed). The test consisted of about 10 difficult but good sound structural problems all of which had to be completed by hand without references. Those who did not pass, were walked out that day. The old stressers of yeasteryear sure left some big shoes to fill. Unfortunately, I am not sure the industry is up to it anymore these days.
Good luck to all and hope this helps someone.
James Burd
Avenger Aircraft and Services
