Hello everyone,
First, I wish to thank everyone who responded to another one of my topics and expending it to cover the skill of the same title.
Next, is my apology for not keeping up with the posts and for letting the topic drift off course which indicates that I need a qualified pilot at the helm.
Finally, an extended or revised Recap of the topic.
CT LBB 2 Starships 1977/1981 p. 16 lists six positions of which one is required on starships, non-starships /large interplanetary ships, and small craft with volumes from 10 to 5,000 displacement tons. The required position has the title of Pilot. I am familiar with the use of Pilot as applied to the nautical and aeronautical world. Being a sailor I have a small issue with the individual steering/maneuvering a ship being called a Pilot.
Note that in CT LBB 5 HG 2e pp. 32-33 hulls with a volume of between 10 and 1,000 tons use the CT LBB 2 crew requirements and hulls greater than 1,000 displacement tons there is no mention of Pilot in the Command Section crew requirements. There is a Pilot requirement indicated in the Flight Section crew requirement. CT Adventure 5 TCS p. 10 provides an option for a Pilot Allowance.
My first encounter with the title of pilot comes from being an USAF brat. In the simplest form a pilot is an individual who has gone through a training program that after a certain number of hours of classroom training, usually using a flight simulator, actual hands on training on a specific type and model of aircraft earns a pilot's license/certificate. By type I mean a propeller driven piston engine, turboprop, jet, or rotary winged aircraft with the number of engines. The model would be a Piper Cub, Cessna 172, Airbus 320, Supermarine Spitfire, etc. Under most conditions an individual is not legally able to operate any other aircraft until they get another license or certification.
My second encounter came after enlisting in the USN. A Pilot is an experienced seaman, usually a former Ship's Master, who is an expert at handling vessels of all types and sizes with an in depth knowledge of the surrounding coastal waters for a given port and surrounding waterways. The Captain or Ship's Master of the ship being guide into or out of port is still held accountable for the well being of the ship, crew, passengers, and cargo.
On a ship the title of the individual that actually steers the ship is helmsman and is usually following the commands of the Captain or officer responsible for the safe navigation of the ship. The helmsman steers or maneuvers the ship. In the USN and USCG an individual operating small boats, small vessel carried aboard a ship, like landing craft, whaleboats, launches,etc. are maneuvered/steered by a coxswain.
In CT hulls with volumes between 10 and 99 displacement tons the individual maneuvering/steering the hull would technically be known as a coxswain, but I can also agree with using pilot especially when they are capable of "flying" in any sort of atmosphere. CT defines hulls of 100 displacement tons and greater as ships the individual who is maneuvering or steering the ship should technically have the title of helmsman versus pilot.
Of course I can understand why the term Pilot was chosen even though the term seems odd to me.
I'm still mulling over the Pilot Skill portion of the discussion and if I can come up with some comments I will probably make another reply.
Tom Rux