The USS Enterprise-D of Star Trek: The Next Generation was missing one element that every other Starship Enterprise has had. Following the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his Enterprise crew, TNG ushered in a new golden era of Star Trek that lasted throughout the 1990s. With crew members like Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) and Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), the crew of Captain Picard's Enterprise became almost as popular as that of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner).
![Star Trek: The Next Generation's Enterprise Lacked One Thing Other Enterprises Are Famous For]()
In both Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation, each main character had a specific role to play on their Starship Enterprise. Both ships, for example, had Chief Medical Officers and Chief Engineers who were part of the main cast. But while the Enterprise of TOS had a dedicated helmsman in Lt. Sulu (George Takei), the Enterprise-D had a rotating cast of pilots. From Ensign Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery) on the Enterprise NX-01 to Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) on the Enterprise of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), nearly every other version of Star Trek's most iconic ship has had a dedicated helmsman.
Why Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Enterprise Didn’t Have A Helmsman
Several Different Characters Piloted The Enterprise, Including Wesley Crusher & Ro Laren
![Star Trek TNG Yesterdays Enterprise Wesley Crusher Data]()
When Star Trek: The Next Generation began, Lt. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) briefly served as the helmsman, while the Chief Engineer was portrayed by a rotating cast of characters. As the show progressed, it became apparent that a dedicated Chief Engineer made more sense as a series regular than a dedicated helmsman. Engineering problems arose more often on TNG than situations that required a strong pilot. Ensign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) often served as the Enterprise-D helmsman, but piloting a starship was likely mostly automated by the 24th century.
After Wil Wheaton left TNG, the helmsman position was filled by a rotating group of pilots, including Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes). TNG already had a full cast of compelling leads, and the role of helmsman was ultimately deemed less important than the other senior positions on the ship. Many of TNG's characters got to show off their piloting skills throughout the show's run, generally on shuttles or other small ships. Any time the Enterprise needed to be piloted in battle or through a debris field, one of the senior officers took the helm, as they all had pilot training as well.
Star Trek: Picard Finally Created A New Enterprise Helmsman
Lt. Sidney La Forge Became The Pilot Of The New USS Enterprise-G
![Sidney La Forge sits at the helm on the bridge of the USS Titan-A in Star Trek: Picard season 3.]()
In Star Trek: Picard season 3, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) commandeered the USS Titan-A to rescue Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). Under the command of Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick), the Titan was piloted by Ensign Sidney La Forge (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut), the daughter of Geordi La Forge. Rather than following in her father's footsteps and pursuing an engineering career, Sidney had trained at Starfleet to be a pilot. After Picard and his Star Trek: The Next Generation crew saved the day on the rebuilt Enterprise-D, Starfleet rechristened the Titan as the Enterprise-G.
With Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) in command, the Enterprise-G became the latest iteration of the Enterprise to embark on a mission to explore the galaxy. Sidney La Forge remained onboard as the helmsman, and Ensign Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) joined the crew as a special advisor to the captain. While Star Trek: The Next Generation's USS Enterprise D and E may not have had a dedicated helmsman, Sidney La Forge joins an impressive list of Star Trek pilots that began with Sulu back on Star Trek: The Original Series.
