John R,
I fully understand your analogy. Unfortunately whilst the previous occupations mentioned have managed to retain their positions within the wage structure, by increasing net wages inline or above the rate of inflation, Pilots, be they Captains or First Officers (In my Airline the First Officer has to be qualified to exactly the same level as the Captain, they just haven't done the Captains Course), have been under constant pressure in a volatile environment where cost is king and the passenger flies, in general, with the carrier with the lowest ticket price.
Public Opinion is that the aircraft fly and land themselves and we are just there watching the dials/screens. In many respects we have become the victims of our own success in making our job look easy which, when done well irrespective of failures, ATC, Weather and other factors, does contain no little sense of professional pride.
Malfunction handling is like a Swan, serene on the surface portraying calm, paddling like buggery underneath to keep ahead of the current!!
