Originally Posted by
scroggs
As for the 'equivalency' of the ATPLs to a degree, dream on! The ATPLs are an exercise in memorising simplified facts for a standard exam. While there is a great quantity of learning involved, the quality of the knowledge gained and demonstrated is pretty poor, and involves absolutely no free thought, interpretation, research or original work.
Scroggs
I could not agree more and it has no comparison at all with engineering and say, construction.
If you take a civil engineering project or a landmark building, most of those represent one offs, unique in design and build and inevitably require application of deep and complex knowledge. If you want something to think about with that, think about the Gurkin building in London - a steel structure with every piece of glass unique for its position and designed to fit as the building compresses as more weight is hung on the exterior.
A good construction manager / director earns a handsome six figure sum these days but then they have to know and apply an awful lot more knowledge and skill than the average ATPL.
Automation will replace the ATPL sooner or later, thats just a matter of time for public acceptance but it won't replace the engineer. After all, it will be the engineer who will devise the systems to replace the pilots. Of course they already have will the unmanned vehicles being used by the military.