Editing The Cluster Falk:StarshipRules (section)

== '''Ship Skills and Crew Skills''' ==

Most ships have AI automation with a skill of 50% for every function that needs a skill. If a character has a higher skill rating, they can take over.

The exception is Pilot. The Pilot Skill always trumps Ship Skills for almost any test or contest beyond a straight flat-out contest of Speed vs. Speed, although it does not remove the effects of penalties. 

To actually use their Skill, a crew member has to be at an appropriate station in the ship. A pilot can't use their Pilot Skill unless they're actually in the cockpit or on the command deck; a gunner can't use their Military Training (Navy) Skill if there is no turret to shoot from, etc. However, actions undertaken within the ship, such as Craft (Engineering) rolls, take the crew Skills.