Non-Rev Crew Member In The Cockpit

I_Money

I_Money

Moderator
So yesterday a non-reving crew assisted with flying the aircraft. If you were a duty pilot and the seat next to you became unoccupied what criteria would you have before you invited them to help out. Same company, same equipment, same category? Would you let him/her fulfill full duties or just tune radios put gear, flaps down?

As a passenger when would you step up to help? Company? Equipment? Never going to happen, always stopped by the bar before boarding?
 
Typically an IFR pilot will be able to help with radios or look for traffic. I'd invite them up there to help out. As a passenger, I'll help if they need it.
 
Pretty much always fly by myself..

Then again, I do dream of the day I can make a PA "does anyone on the plane know how to land this thing???"
 
I_Money said:
So yesterday a non-reving crew assisted with flying the aircraft. If you were a duty pilot and the seat next to you became unoccupied what criteria would you have before you invited them to help out. Same company, same equipment, same category? Would you let him/her fulfill full duties or just tune radios put gear, flaps down?

As a passenger when would you step up to help? Company? Equipment? Never going to happen, always stopped by the bar before boarding?
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I have, on a few occasions, spoken up from the perch of the jump seat. But that's probably different than being in back.

I almost always offer to help flight attendants out when dead heading or traveling nonrev but in uniform, but that's also another story.

As far as when I'm working, I have guidance in my FOM. I'm perfectly capable of landing the airplane by myself, but I'd happily put another airline pilot or a turbofan corporate pilot in the other seat to help out if I thought I needed it. Only pilots rated in type would be permitted to operate the controls beyond talking, flaps and gear, though.
 
I'd be all too happy to help. Might be the only chance ever I have to land an A380...

Landing%20BA%20A380large.jpg
 
I'd happily take any other pilot, even if just a private pilot. At least they know how to work the radios and take just a bit of the workload. Of course, I'd rather have an experienced airline pilot in the seat, but you take what you can get. I'd say that most of the time there is at least one other airline pilot in the back either jumpseating or non-revving, so it would be pretty rare to not have someone else on board with some flying experience to help out. But no, they wouldn't be manipulating the flight controls.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
I'd happily take any other pilot, even if just a private pilot. At least they know how to work the radios and take just a bit of the workload. Of course, I'd rather have an experienced airline pilot in the seat, but you take what you can get. I'd say that most of the time there is at least one other airline pilot in the back either jumpseating or non-revving, so it would be pretty rare to not have someone else on board with some flying experience to help out. But no, they wouldn't be manipulating the flight controls.
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Unless he was a GoJets pilot. :D
 
As long as pilots continue to eat airport food, the possibility of needing a spare in the cockpit is very real. ;)
 
Krystal said:
*spits coffee on her computer screen*
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Got to do the mandatory GoJets reference......a subject that still gets so many fired up here, who don't even have a remote dog in the fight or were even in the biz, and regardless of it being an ancient battle with original players long gone from the scene.....

:)
 
I'd be happy to have help up front, but I'd start with any non-rev pilots--not that private pilots would not be helpful. Other than radios/gear/flaps, I'd fly it. From what little I've read/heard, the FO did a good job (just as we're all supposed to be able to do).
 
Whats made me laugh about the entire thing is that if you read or watch anything about this incident, the reporters/writers keep stressing how the "co-pilot MANAGED to land the plane by himself...and that LUCKILY, an "off duty CAPTAIN, was able to step in." Like it was some miracle that the "lowly co-pilot" was able to fly at all. Never liked the term "co-pilot"....last I checked, they're ALL pilots!
 
Krystal said:
Whats made me laugh about the entire thing is that if you read or watch anything about this incident, the reporters/writers keep stressing how the "co-pilot MANAGED to land the plane by himself...and that LUCKILY, an "off duty CAPTAIN, was able to step in." Like it was some miracle that the "lowly co-pilot" was able to fly at all. Never liked the term "co-pilot"....last I checked, they're ALL pilots!
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I may be reading it differently, but I don't think they're slamming on the co-pilot; but moreso referring to how there was again TWO pilots upfront handling the jet, instead of only one. I think it's just bad word choice on their part.
 
Really depends on the situation. If everything on the airplane is working and its not REALLY a time sensitive issue (like is the guy restrained or not), unless I KNOW of another pilot in the back who introduced themselves, I'd probably be apt to just handle it myself. The key to flying with one pilot incapacitated is just taking your time and keeping things as normal as possible.

If the airplane is acting up or we need to get on the ground ASAP, assuming it wouldn't be a huge threat to security to open the door, I'd probably solicit some help. Mostly as a second set of eyes to make sure I don't miss something, as well as another set of ideas to help overcome whatever situation might be happening with the aircraft.
 
I_Money said:
So yesterday a non-reving crew assisted with flying the aircraft. If you were a duty pilot and the seat next to you became unoccupied what criteria would you have before you invited them to help out. Same company, same equipment, same category? Would you let him/her fulfill full duties or just tune radios put gear, flaps down?

As a passenger when would you step up to help? Company? Equipment? Never going to happen, always stopped by the bar before boarding?
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If it was a company pilot on the same equipment, heck yeah, hop on up.

Private pilot in the back? No. Flying single-pilot simply isn't a big enough deal to panic everyone in the back. Good chance they'd also be more a hindrance than a help.
 
I_Money said:
So If you were a duty pilot and the seat next to you became unoccupied what criteria would you have before you invited them to help out. Same company, same equipment, same category? Would you let him/her fulfill full duties or just tune radios put gear, flaps down?
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Personally, I would use the guidance we have in our FOM. SJA actually has a section on the chain of command and where DH and non rev company and OAL pilots fall. It's all about identifying and using the resources you have available.
 
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