What is a pilot flight engineer?

Pilot Flight Engineers are aviation professionals responsible for monitoring and operating complex aircraft systems during flight. While pilots focus on flying the aircraft, flight engineers manage the engines, fuel, electrical, and hydraulic systems, ensuring everything operates safely and efficiently. They work closely with the pilot and co-pilot to troubleshoot issues and optimize aircraft performance. In modern aviation, this role is less common on newer aircraft due to advanced automation, but it remains important on certain larger or older planes.