SNW S4 | Episode 3
I've been thinking about it, and I'm really not a big fan of establishing Erica as completely unaware of how her risky flying affects the ship. As a pilot, the first thing you do when learning how to fly is learning how planes work, and every book says to refer to the POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook) of the specific aircraft you are flying (or will be flying). You should KNOW the limitations of your aircraft and the consequences of exceeding them.
Having Starfleet not require their pilots to have a minimal understanding of their spacecraft is insane. You should know how exceeding the limitations of your ship affects it! It can literally lead to the deaths of the entire crew.
Yes, Erica can have difficulties in complicated areas, and be a failed engineer. She doesn't need to be able to take apart the avionics and put it back together (but it is implied she can because she went to fix it in the episode??). But coming down to engineering and being surprised at the state she's put it in?? How low is the bar for being Alpha shift's pilot?? It should be manual after manual of REQUIRED reading. Written tests, oral tests, check rides, recertification!
It is one thing for Erica to fly like a jackass and decide that the benefits outweigh the risk, and another for her to fly like a jackass with the confidence of ignorance.
