Mxsmanic wrote:
BT writes:

Define "qualified".

Well, legally allowed and/or actually able to fly the aircraft (i.e.,
having pilot training in the aircraft or something).

I guess the question is gradually becoming moot as aircraft with
flight engineers disappear. It looks like a rather dreary job,
although perhaps on early aircraft that were more finicky it wasn't.


A lot of cargo haulers are still flying older planes with FE's. I asked
a friend what he did as a FE on 747. He said "everything". All the
pilots have to do is point the plane, the FE takes care of all the
engine management, pressurization, etc. Today much of that is automated
but I'm sure not a single crew would argue that a FE would be really
helpful in an emergency to take care of the systems while the pilots
focus on flying and communicating.

-Robert