I think you have a problem with reality.
The UK average being around 40,000 I am told is a decent wage for your levels of skills and education. The truth is that many have aquired a taste for a living standard that needs to be fed by 50-60000.
You are living beyond your means and catch up by working all hours god gives.
You are selfish and over rate yourselves. Its a reality check that is required not a larger paycheck
Wow. Now that is gonna get a few replies!
I think it is you who has a problem with reality Yam! How long did it take you to get your licence and then upgrade it from frozen and start flying? Not 3 years I bet? But that's what happens with engineers. An ab initio licence holder has to wait 3 years before he can be type rated and excercise the privilege of that licence. In that time he will have to attend type courses and then prove he has worked on just about every system on the type before the type will be put on his licence. Though there is no official academic equivalent to the licence, licence holders are able to become Incorporated or Chartered engineers (dependant on seniority and experience) via the RAeS and the EC.
Whilst a pilot is indeed responsible for the 10-800 souls on board while he is in command. An engineer is responsible for ANY componant/inspection he or she may fit/carry out on an aircraft for THE ENTIRE TIME IT IS ON THE A/C or until it is next inspected. If I were to incorrectly install a control actuator and it fails due to my error then I can be prosecuted and even jailed. Even if the failure occurs several months down the line.
An engineers systems knowledge will be far greater than a pilots and quite possibly they will be able to fly too. To top it all the training, etc never stops. There are new types (about 8 weeks for each course), licence integration means that engineers are now multi-trade where they were single trade specialists (each trade qualification may take several months of study, usually self study when off shift). I have taken 6 CAA/EASA licences since getting my initial licence each licence usually comprising 2-3 modules so that's about 15-18 exams with oral exams on top.
Sometimes the lack of understanding of the worth of fellow aviation professionals amazes me??!!
Ah well. Rant over.
