Pilot or flight engineer ?

[Tex®]

What do you guys think about being a pilot these days ?
For those of you who fly commercialy with an airline : do you still feel yourselves a pilot or rather a flight engineer or systems supervisor ?

Ciao

[Rainboe]

I'm still looking for a rumour or news item in this daft thread. Why not post it where it belongs? Preferably Recycle bin.

[Rainboe]

No I feel a pilot. I think it is a rather naive question- can you see that? It shows how little understanding of aviation you have. It's like me saying 'you work in the fashion field.....mmm.....does that make you gay then? How does being gay in the modern world make you feel? What do you do about it?'

[SNS3Guppy]

You ask a legitimate question. Parsed into common terms, are we supervisors of the autopilot and systems, or are we still pilots. Flight Engineer, of course, is a dedicated position separate from a pilot position, and which exists on very few airplanes today.

I am both a flight engineer and pilot. I hold both certificates. I'm also a mechanic. I fly large four engine and two engine airplanes, large and small single engine tailwheel airplanes, and various things in between. In some airplanes I use the rudder until my legs ache, and on other airframes I hardly touch anything aside from doing the programming and manipulating the autopilot. In either case, I'm still the pilot in command. Even in the automated environment, the airplane still requires my input, and the aircraft flight control system is what I use to operate the airplane, regardless of whether it is direct pushrods, control cables, hydraulic lines, or electrical fly-by-wire actuators, or the autopilot via any of these, it's still the pilot flying the airplane, using these tools to do the job.

I see the job from each viewpoint; mechanic, pilot, flight engineer. The trick is learning to keep the lines distinct and separate in function. At any given time, I am all three, always a pilot, forever a mechanic, and if the job requires, a flight engineer.

[FLCH]

No I feel a pilot. I think it is a rather naive question- can you see that? It shows how little understanding of aviation you have. It's like me saying 'you work in the fashion field.....mmm.....does that make you gay then? How does being gay in the modern world make you feel? What do you do about it?'
Jeez Rainboe, I snorted my beer up my nose when I saw your post.... I was a Flight Engineer for 7 years on the DC-10 and 727, before I was allowed to feel a pilot. Being an Engineer was more fun as there were more knobs to feel......:}

[Brian Abraham]

and the difference between feeling a pilot and feeling a knob is?

[Charles Abetz]

There are many differences but none that can be written on this forum:ugh:, how about we get back on topic.:ok:

From my experience, yes I have only piloted in a Piper Warrior, flying in any plane is the same, its flying just some make it easier than others.

It really depends what you are interested in, if you are interested in mechanics of cars such as the engine etc then a mechanic is probably the way to go. If you are a machine operator and enjoy that type of job then flight engineer and if you enjoy the freedom that the air provides the pilot is probably for you. But having said that if you are in GA you probably can all three.

[Rainboe]

But you've only piloted a Warrior. How can you answer the question with a lecture? The question is one of two things: either muckraking or unbelievably naive. Neither of which are worth answering. If you think that is hostile, maybe it is, but I find it a little insulting to be asked. If someone asked me this to my face at a party, I would probably reply that as they plainly didn't understand anything about aviation, they wouldn't understand any sensible answer.

[Groucho]

Oh go-on! Answer Brian's question for heaven's sake.:sad:

[Lemper]

Come on Rainboe, why on earth do you have to be so negative on all candid questions? If the question does not deserve the privilege of your answer, just don't answer!
Guppy gave a beautiful and exhaustive answer to an indeed legitimate question, even though a bit candid.
I would like to add that it is also a question of state of mind. Some people come into this job "to be a pilot", other just because they "like to fly".
Choose youe side comrade!

[khawar rashid]

i fly a B743 i enjoy being apilot flying this big bird manually or with the help of an autopilot,flight engineer sits behind and watch what apilot do,it depends what one likes, to actually fly the aeroplane or watch someone flying:ok:

[SNS3Guppy]

But you've only piloted a Warrior. How can you answer the question with a lecture? The question is one of two things: either muckraking or unbelievably naive. Neither of which are worth answering. If you think that is hostile, maybe it is, but I find it a little insulting to be asked. If someone asked me this to my face at a party, I would probably reply that as they plainly didn't understand anything about aviation, they wouldn't understand any sensible answer.


Even for a troll seeking entertainment, that was a fairly pathetic reply, just like your first. Sad days.

Are you capable and do you have it in you to contribute to the thread, or are you simply needlessly consuming oxygen somewhere with no inherent ability to be in any way, shape or form, of the slightest value? Have you anything to say of the slightest worth? If so, then muster up all your reserves and do that.

[Rainboe]

I did answer, in post #2, as much as the question merited. Now do you feel better for your hysterical tirade? I'm afraid I still find the question naive and unintentionally offensive. End of thread for me. I wonder why some get deleted when this garbage survives!

[SNS3Guppy]

Okay, that answers the question. Thank you. We can safely assume you have nothing to contribute, then. Thanks for playing.