Is being a pilot engineering?

Is being a pilot engineering? Hmm, that’s a good question! I mean, my uncle, bless his heart, he’s a pilot, and he’s not an engineer. Never even took an engineering class, I don’t think. So, no, I wouldn’t exactly call it pure engineering.

It’s definitely related to engineering, though, right? You need to understand how the thing works—all those complicated systems, the engines, the hydraulics… I remember him once explaining something about the fuel injection system, something about pressure regulators, and my brain just glazed over. Seriously complicated stuff. But he understands it, intuitively, almost. That’s what blows my mind.

But it’s way more than just book smarts, you know? It’s about the feel of the controls, the way the plane responds. It’s that instinct, that gut feeling – like I read somewhere, some studies showed that experienced pilots can often sense a problem before the instruments even show it. Is that just crazy or what? It’s like a sixth sense, you know? A blend of technical understanding and a kind of, I dunno, artistic sensitivity to the machine. A deep, almost spiritual connection, maybe? It sounds dramatic, I know, but that’s how it feels when he talks about it.

So, while an engineering degree might help you understand the plane, it doesn’t magically make you a pilot. It’s the years of training, the hours in the air, the sheer experience – that’s what makes the difference. It’s more than just nuts and bolts; it’s a whole skill set, a blend of science and art, of technical know-how and almost supernatural intuition. I think that’s what separates pilots from just engineers who know about airplanes.