Why do commercial flights have two pilots? And why sometimes three or four?
First of all, let’s clarify that any modern airliner can be managed by a single pilot, and all pilots are trained to do so in case of necessity. However, safety regulations mandate that the flight deck must be operated by two pilots simultaneously. How does it work exactly?
Captain and First Officer
A standard crew consists of a Captain (who sits in the left seat) and a First Officer (who sits in the right seat). Aside from their different levels of experience, both undergo the same training and possess the same knowledge of the aircraft.
The Captain, however, holds the practical and legal responsibility for managing the aircraft and the crew safely, economically, and efficiently. They are responsible for the most critical decisions and are the point of reference for the entire crew throughout the duty day.
Pilot Flying vs. Pilot Monitoring
From a flying perspective, except for a few specific cases, the Captain and First Officer are perfectly interchangeable. For the conduct of a flight, there will be:
- A "Pilot Flying" (PF): The pilot who actually maneuvers the aircraft from takeoff to landing.
- A "Pilot Monitoring" (PM): The pilot who handles radio communications, operates systems and devices at the request of the PF, and cross-checks that the PF does not make errors or lose focus.
Should an emergency or a problem arise, the division of tasks shifts slightly to handle the situation. Everything is defined with absolute precision in written procedures called SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). These are created by each airline based on the manufacturer's guidelines and serve as the "Holy Book" for pilots.
Nothing—absolutely nothing—is left to chance or improvisation. This allows two people who have never met before, perhaps even of different nationalities, to operate as a crew without any issues; everyone knows exactly what to do during every phase of flight, even in an emergency.
Long-Haul Flights and Rest
On longer flights, such as intercontinental routes, one or two additional pilots are required to manage fatigue and rotate the flying duties in shifts. The maximum duty time for a pilot at the controls, the number of pilots needed for a specific flight, and the minimum rest periods required after a trip are all established by international regulations known as FTL (Flight Time Limitations), which all airlines must follow.
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