I am an engineer and the word "Plane" used to a flying machine is the most grating word I ever hear
I guess you wouldn't be interested then in knowing what a "plane captain" is then? The navy equivalent of a USAF or US Army "crew chief". Plane has become common usage these days in the business, you'll find it in most dictionaries.
https://www.2ndmaw.marines.mil/News/...-every-flight/