We’ve all been in airports and seen flight crews pass by, including cockpit crew, some with four bars on their jacket sleeves and epaulets and some with three. We’ve heard the terms Captain, Co-Pilot, and First Officer, but what exactly do the bars and titles actually mean when it comes to the two people sitting up front doing the flying? And in this regard, while you’re traveling along at nearly 600 miles per hour at 35,000 feet, have you ever wondered who was flying your aircraft? Some folks automatically assume it’s the Captain doing the majority of the work since they’re the highest-ranking pilot in the cockpit. But, that’s not always the case. There are any number of variables involved and significant differences between the two ranks.
Long haul flight crews in the late 1950s and into the 1960s consisted of the Captain, First Officer, Flight Engineer, Navigator, and Radio Operator. The Flight Engineer had an encyclopedic knowledge of the aircraft systems and was capable of getting his hands dirty en route, if necessary. He was also a very effective cockpit monitor because his seat was set back from the Pilots’ seats therefore it had a good situational overview. Starting in the 1980s, the development of powerful and small integrated circuits and other advances in computers and digital technology eliminated the need for Flight Engineers on airliners. The role of the Navigator was gradually phased out as well once sophisticated electronic and global navigation satellite systems came online. Radio Operator licenses haven’t been a requirement in the US for decades because all relevant radio knowledge is now covered during pilot training. So, as aviation advanced, planes became easier to fly with fewer people needed in the cockpit and at present, nearly all commercial passenger flights are flown by two people: a Captain and a First Officer, although longer flights do require relief Pilots to be onboard.
While both the Captain and the First Officer are licensed Pilots, the former bears primary responsibility for the flight, and is the individual in overall command. It comes down to experience, responsibility and authority. The Captain has the responsibility and final authority on all matters related to the aircraft, crew, passengers, cargo and safety. First Officers, also referred to as Co-Pilots, assist the Captains. To recognize the difference, look at the sleeves or epaulets on their uniforms. The Captain is designated with four stripes, while the First Officer has three. Age and gender have no bearing on who is the Captain and who is the First Officer. Most commercial fixed-wing and some commercial helicopter operations require two Pilots. This increases the safety factor considerably, but then requires decisions to be made on who flies and who doesn’t, who has command and who doesn’t, who has the final say, and who doesn’t. This is where the roles and titles come into play.
First Officers are the right-hand man or woman for the Captain. Their main role is to assist the Captain in flying the aircraft, looking after its systems, communicating with air traffic control and assisting the passengers and crew. First Officers are normally under mentorship by Captains to gain experience. Sometimes referred to as Co-Pilots, they’re usually the most junior pilot of the two people sitting up front. However, some Pilots don’t want the responsibility of being a Captain and are happy to stay as career Co-Pilots. (About half of the captain openings posted at United Airlines have gone unfilled in the past year according to pilot union data reviewed by Reuters.) In these cases, those Co-Pilots could have considerably more hours than their Captains, but prefer to have the more junior role. Most new Pilots to a two-crew aircraft will occupy the First Officer or Co-Pilot role as a start. This position allows them to learn the aircraft, procedures, and gain experience while under the tutelage and mentoring of the senior Pilots sitting next to them. The Co-Pilot will have all the necessary training, hours, and ratings to legally fly the aircraft, but just lacks the experience to be granted the Captain position.
Captains are pilots who have worked their way up the experience ladder to satisfy requirements from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and their company for both hours and experience. The Captain is an aircraft manager. He or she oversees all the operations of the crew, the loading of the aircraft, the operation of the aircraft, and also has the final decision in all matters. The Captain bears responsibility for everyone on board the aircraft and the action of what the aircraft does. Not complying with a rule, regulation, or request from air traffic control will fall on the Captain's shoulders, even if he or she were not the one at the controls and flying at the time. The Captain has to ensure the safety of everyone onboard and on the ground while in command of the aircraft.
Generally speaking, the flight’s Captain will always occupy the left seat while the First Officer sits on the right. Before each flight, the Captain decides whether they will fly the aircraft or whether the First Officer will be the pilot flying (PF). The PF controls the plane, performs the takeoff, sets the autopilot and does the landing. Usually, over the course of the working day, the Captain and the First Officer will divide the duties and switch roles. Some airports around the world however, only permit Captains to take off or land the aircraft, due to airport design or environmental conditions. Such is the case at Funchal Airport (FCN) on the Portuguese Island of Madeira. The airport’s mountainous setting in the Atlantic sees it often plagued by strong winds and mountain waves. The weather can be unpredictable on any given day and Pilots are often forced to divert to the Canary Islands if the situation is deemed too risky.
Commercial airline pilots in the US undergo rigorous training and must satisfy stringent requirements. For most pilots, the final milestone before beginning an airline pilot career is obtaining the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate. This is the highest level of pilot certificate obtainable and a remarkable achievement. While a commercial certificate allows an aviator to work (and earn money) as a professional pilot, the ATP Certificate can be found to be a requirement for most professional pilot jobs. In order to qualify for this certificate, aviators must meet certain stringent criteria set forth by the agency, including being at least 23 years old and holding either a Commercial Pilot Certificate with an Instrument Rating or meeting the military experience requirements to qualify for such a certificate and rating. A First Class Medical Certificate is needed to act as Pilot in Command and a Second Class Medical Certificate is necessary to act as second in command. Additionally, 1,500 hours of total flight time are needed, including 500 hours of cross country flight time and 250 hours as Pilot in Command, along with 100 hours of night flight time, 75 hours of instrument training and 50 hours of classroom instruction. But that’s not all. They must also pass an ATP Knowledge Test and complete and pass an ATP/Commercial Pilot Track Training Program.
Performing in the role of either Captain or First Officer in a complex aircraft are serious undertakings that take years of training and flying experience to safely and methodically work through multiple scenarios at any given time and be able to respond to emergencies in the appropriate manner and in the right order. As a result, cockpit crew are routinely calm, cool and collected regardless of the situation. Thank goodness.
Until next time…safe travels.
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