Engineer, mechanic, technician?
A fair question, which without doubt Eng123 would like me to dig myself a hole with. Lets describe four sorts of technical specialist and see how I go.
Type 1
Somebody with between 3 and 8 years university level technical education plus at least 2 years (usually 4+) of further training who designs, analyses or approves design work, investigates - often with the aid of lots of maths, problems whether real or perceived, all with the intent of ensuring the end product does what it's supposed to. In the US such a person might be titled a "Professional Engineer", in the UK a "Chartered Engineer", in the Czech Republic a "Technician". Many such people should not under any circumstances be trusted in charge of a spanner.
Type 2
Somebody who has completed a great deal of deep technical training (probably 3 years plus) and to a lesser extent theoretical education (probably 1 year plus), allowing them largely unsupervised to build or maintain machinery (such as an aeroplane). In the US such a person would be called a "technician", in the UK a "skilled craftsman" on the building side, or a "licensed engineer" on the maintenance side (also known as LAME - Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer). They might in some circumstances in the UK also be called an "Incorporated Engineer" or an "Engineering Technician". The RAF would probably also call this person a "technician".
Type 3
Somebody with relatively limited training and education who carries out mechanical construction or maintenance tasks under supervision of somebody in Type 2. In the US such a person might be called a "mechanic", in the UK probably a "semi-skilled worker" on the building side, or an "unlicensed technician" on the maintenance side.
Type 4
Usually known as a "Flight Engineer", probably has very little technical training as would be understood by type 1 or type 2, but is qualified to sit behind the pilot in a multi-crew aeroplane, operate the various mechanical and electrical systems whilst ensuring the pilots don't break anything, and know what speeds / procedures / settings they need next. Also generally much better at communicating with type 2 than a pilot.
There are of-course people who can do more than one of the above, and movement from type 3 to type 2, from type 2 to types 1 or 4, or from type 1 to types 2 or 3 is not all that unusual.
And if that doesn't confuse you, nothing will. But it does mean that if anybody tells you that they are either an Engineer or a Technician it's best to ask some searching questions before you let them near either an aeroplane or a drawing board.
In the meantime of-course, there is a fifth category, the person who has done a 2 week course with (insert white goods manufacturer of your choice) and turns up to repair your washing machine whilst calling him or herself an Engineer - in practice just being in possession of a white van, parts list and maintenance manual. All members of types 1 to 4 above will sneer at this on principle.
How did I do?
G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 15th March 2003 at 11:43.