Aerospacepilot, good observations. I also think that military test pilots might be the first choices. Now the problem with having an engineer background as a requesite for pilots is that you are closing the options only to ex military guys, because there aren't many engineers flying airliners out there.
And even most military pilots with engineering degrees dont get much flying time (when compare with airline guys). The typical fighter guy retire with 3 or 4 thousand hours. You'll make that in 2 years in a reginal.
So if this is going to be something of the future I think they should come out with some medium point.