Star Trek: The Next Generation's USS Enterprise-D is one of the most iconic starships to bear that name, but it's missing something nearly every other Enterprise had. TNG got off to a rocky start in its inconsistent first season and didn't firmly establish its characters until seasons 2 and 3. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew eventually became one of Star Trek's most beloved casts, but it took a season or two for everyone to find their footing.
From Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) as First Officer to Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) as the USS Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer, most Star Trek: The Next Generation crew members started out in their most iconic roles. Others, however, began in different positions before finding their best fit. Lt. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), for example, started out as the Enterprise-D's helmsman, but he wouldn't remain in that position for long. After La Forge became Chief Engineer at the start of TNG season 2, the Enterprise-D never got another dedicated pilot, unlike most other versions of the Starship Enterprise.
Captain Picard’s USS Enterprise-D Lacked A Dedicated Helmsman After Star Trek: TNG Season 1
Geordi La Forge Briefly Served As Helmsman In TNG Season 1
After Geordi La Forge's brief stint as helmsman of the USS Enterprise-D, Star Trek: The Next Generation cycled through several different pilots. Ensign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) regularly sat at the helm, but also helped out in various departments throughout the ship as part of his Starfleet studies. After Wil Wheaton departed TNG during season 4, the show had several different pilots, none of whom made much of an impression until the introduction of Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) near the start of TNG season 5.
Even when the USS Enterprise-D did have a recurring pilot, they rarely did much at the helm beyond altering the ship's heading and speed. Geordi and Wesley, for example, got more to do on away missions or in engineering than they ever did as the helmsman. Presumably, the Enterprise-D had several helmsmen who rotated as part of their duty shifts, but none of them became major characters. By Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, the show had firmly established its main cast and didn't need to add a pilot as another main character.
USS Enterprise Pilots Are Famous, But Why Did TNG Move Away From Having A Permanent Helmsman?
TNG Chose To Prioritize Other Roles Rather Than A Helmsman
In Star Trek's 24th century, the helm and navigation stations were combined into a position formally known as flight control officer, with the station itself sometimes referred to as the conn. Federation starships like the Galaxy-class USS Enterprise-D likely required very little in terms of manual steering, which is why ensigns often filled the position of helmsman on Picard's ship. For example, Wesley's job at the conn generally consisted of inputting coordinates and speed while monitoring the ship's trajectory.
The Starship Enterprise of Captains Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and James T. Kirk (William Shatner), on the other hand, needed a more experienced pilot who could expertly navigate the ship in combat situations. The Enterprise-D was a ship with families aboard, built mostly for exploration, but still had officers like Commander Riker and Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) who could pilot the ship manually when necessary. Star Trek: The Next Generation already had a strong cast without a dedicated helmsman, but other Star Trek shows have continued the trend of having a famous Enterprise pilot.
