What a load of school yard crap! Surely we can just have mutual professional respect?
Personally I think the engineer's job is much more involved than the pilot's and being a pilot myself, married to an aircraft engineer for many years, I know what you guys say about us behind our back!
Aircraft engineering does not get the respect and compensation it deserves, especially in the UK. Most people are unaware of the rigorous professional qualification route . Say "engineer" and people think civil, electrical, mechanical... but say "aircraft engineer" and they think of someone in blue overalls with his name velcroed to the front, unaware many go to work in a shirt and tie and those who don't have similar qualifications anyway. A shame the pay does not reflect this.
In Germany they even have special title similar to Dr to denote someone who is a professional engineer.
More power to you guys.
(Is it because of the British "class" system that people feel compelled to "totem pole" people? Get a life!)
[ 21 October 2001: Message edited by: Oleo ]