In most modern aircraft, their complex systems are both monitored and adjusted by electronic microprocessors and computers, resulting in the elimination of the flight engineer's position. In earlier days, most larger aircraft were designed and built with a flight engineer's position.

No, the role of the Flight Engineer (FE) has been almost entirely phased out of modern commercial aviation in 2026. Historically, FEs were the "third person" in the cockpit responsible for monitoring complex mechanical systems. However, with the advent of advanced computer systems and glass cockpits in the 1980s (starting with the Boeing 757 and 767), these tasks were automated. Today, virtually all commercial passenger jets, including the Airbus A320neo, Boeing 787, and A350, are designed for a two-pilot crew. You will only find Flight Engineers on a very small number of "heritage" or specialized cargo aircraft, such as older variants of the Boeing 747-200 or the Douglas DC-8, which are rare in 2026. The shift to a two-person flight deck has significantly reduced airline operating costs while maintaining high safety standards through automation.