Tuesday, July 22, 2014

The Responsibilities Of An Aeronautic Technical Writer And Editor

By Sharron Cantu


Whether writing training manuals, system guides for programmers or user guides for pilots and other employees, there is often a need for individuals to write about aviation. Writers in this field often write from documents, drawings, proposals and specifications. One reason it is important to hire a high quality aeronautic technical writer and editor as these type documents can be quite technical and hard to decipher.

It is important that those looking to write for the aviation industry understand the safety risk which can result from errors made in the writing process. Writers also need to realize that one of the most important aspects of any writing job is the ability to meet deadlines. If there is an issue and a writer needs an extension, it is important to ask as early on in the process rather than waiting to the last minute.

Submitting quality error free work is essential to success. Without the use of spell check and other programs to assure quality authentic documentation, many clients would have been lost over the years. These are some of the most important aspects of any technical writing and editing job whether in the aviation industry or otherwise.

Salaries can range widely when it comes to writing and editing in the technology arena. In some cases, salaries can be as low as minimum wage or more than a hundred thousand dollars a year. While degrees are often required, there are those who have moved up through the ranks based on equivalent education and experience. Individuals working in this area may also want to consider that some positions may require a background check, drug tests and government clearance.

Experience is often key when it comes to working in senior technical writing roles. These higher level positions often hold a great deal more responsibility than those at the entry level. Individuals working in these areas are often required to meet with others to determine development ideas, processes, guidelines and scheduling. After which, writers convert the information into easy to understand training materials, quick-start user and system guides.

Companies who hire based on these factors often find the best candidates for the job. Another option for becoming involved in aviation oriented writing is to apply for an internship while still attending a college or university. If aviation jobs are not available in the area, electronics engineering, information technology and other areas can often provide a base from which the individual can use as general editing and writing experience.

Writing content can vary widely in the aviation industry. From system and user guides for in-house software to airline instruction and training manuals, technical writers and editors are key in creating documentation that is easy to understand. Most companies in the engineering and information technology industry recommend writing to an eighth grade reading level.

A high quality writer always submits clear, concise error free documentation according to deadline. Using grammatical checking programs, spell check and proofing all documents before submission is a great way to help achieve this goal. Writers, technical and otherwise often write from existing material, it is for this reason, it is also good to use one of the many programs aimed at avoiding copyright infringement.




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