Annelise Zammit

Tickets bought, hotel booked, luggage packed, check-in done and selfie captioned #vacayvibes. Next up is that good old feeling of walking down the aisle to find the seat which will embrace you to your next destination. Oh what a sweet feeling… and we’re all set to go! This checklist is indeed as fun as it sounds and part of the thrill of travelling, yet there a rather more important things to check to enable the peace of mind and pleasure that the experience of travelling brings with it. The sense of confidence with which we travel would not be possible without the trust in professionals and experts who work incessantly to ensure a safe trip. Life on Point has reached out to Annelise Zammit who will share her experience in the aviation industry. Annelise Zammit is an aerospace engineer by profession and is one of the important people working behind the scenes to ensure travelers have a safe flight.

Being an aviation engineer is not quite the norm. What drew you into this career, and how is your typical day at work?

My hobby has always been figuring out how things work, even if that meant disassembling and reassembling the TV remote or spending hours at our garage bombarding my father with questions of how car engines work. However, I have been fascinated with planes ever since I was a little child. I always remember promptly looking up at the sky as soon as I hear a plane approaching, wondering how they can “float” up in air. I recall my mother once asking me whether I would like to pursue the career of a pilot, I quickly replied with determination “I want to build them not fly them”.

As an aviation engineer, the idea of a typical work day does not exist. First off, I put the kettle on (I can’t function without tea) and start going through my emails. I constantly face new challenges on a daily basis while trying to fit in tasks which were previously listed on my to-do list. Tasks vary from prototyping and design at initial product phase, production and quality checks ensuring compliance to aircraft standards and finally maintenance of products which are already installed on the aircraft.

Your job entails a significant amount of responsibility, how do you stay motivated in this role?

Aviation is an industry which is constantly growing and evolving due to ongoing technological development. Curiosity and pressure are what drive my motivation.

I always find myself questioning existing methods, researching and trying to improve on them, while juggling multiple projects. I am the kind who loves to travel literally every chance I get, whether visiting a country just for a weekend or long holidays. Knowing that I am going to experience first-hand products which I have developed, helps me better understand my role as an aviation engineer. If something goes wrong pre-flight delays occur, causing passenger frustration. So being also the end customer helps me understand better my responsibilities and motivates me to always perform better.

Though tourism has been quite influenced due to the pandemic, this didn’t undermine the important role of the aviation industry, keeping into consideration the increase in online shopping. Have these challenging times influenced or changed the nature of your work in some way?

The pandemic has most definitely shaken the aviation industry to its core. I remember receiving photos of airplanes parked in airport car parks due to mass grounding. Online shopping during Covid-19 had most definitely increased, some passenger planes had also been turned into cargo planes to increase cargo capacity. However the actual movement of people using flights has always been on the more profitable end in aviation. During the pandemic most airlines and airplane manufacturers took the opportunity to improve their grounded aircrafts. This resulted in more “behind the scenes” work when it comes to product development, improvement and maintenance. I dare say the pandemic has actually increased the work of an aviation engineer to this day.

Are there different procedures/measures to consider if you’re dealing with a cargo plane as opposed to a passenger plane?

Cargo planes are considered by airlines as slightly different to passenger planes. In fact most of the time they are parked away from passenger terminals so the public rarely has the chance to appreciate the daily operations of a cargo aircraft. The flight deck of a cargo plane is almost identical to the flight deck of a passenger plane. However, stepping out of the cockpit, there is a huge empty space instead of the seats and windows which travellers are accustomed to. Ratings and licenses required for cargo planes and passenger planes are alike where applicable. Obviously passenger criteria would not be involved in cargo plane criteria. However, other criteria ensuring an efficient cargo plane design for loading and unloading as well as keeping the cargo safe by eliminating for example dangerous goods or loading the cargo appropriately for good weight balance take precedence.

Which was the most significant moment in your career so far?

The most significant moment in my career was getting to work as a team with other aviation engineers all over the world during EUROCAE working groups to draft aviation reports. These documents help in setting rules and regulations in the aviation industry. I remember when I joined my first meeting I felt so small discussing with people who have worked in the industry for a very long time. However every member in this dynamic team was willing to share invaluable advice and experience which I am sure I will keep referring to throughout my career.

Had it not been this career, what do you imagine yourself to be?

An interior designer. It’s a career which entails continuous discussion with the customer, with the main challenge I believe being understanding the other end of the stick and try to bring their vision to life. Also I am not one who likes to do repetitive work so having different environments to work with would definitely keep me going.

Annelise Zammit

is an Aerospace Engineer with ample experience in the aviation industry.

In her free time, she loves swimming, playing tennis and reading. Describing herself as persistent, adventurous and spontaneous, she thrived to achieved her goals.

Her mindset is also reflected in one of her favourtie quotes "Big results require big ambitions."