Co-Pilot

By definition, a co-pilot is the second pilot in a two-pilots, commercial aviation aircraft. They can also be the second in command aboard a military level aircraft, however, they may be designated with different names. He or she can also at times be referred to as the first officer. These individual are second-in-command, answering to the Captain, who is the first and legal commander. If for some reason the Captain should become unable to continue his duty as first pilot, the co-pilot takes over.

In general terms, the Captain and the co-pilot share control of any aircraft that they fly. Duties are shared equally, however, one will be designated as the “Pilot Flying”, while the other is the “Pilot Not Flying”. The Captain always remains in full responsibility for the crew, the passengers, and the aircraft, regardless of who is the designated flying pilot. In the every day operations of flying, the essential tasks are fairly equal between the two. For example, the Captain may do all of the actual flying while the co-pilot handles all of the radio traffic, navigation, auto-pilot controls, and so forth. They also have some very specific duties to perform when it comes to control and engineering issues during different phases of flight. For all of these reasons, it is generally a good idea to have two pilots in any given flight when possible.

Many of the major airline carriers choose to promote pilots to a Captain’s position from within, with priority being given based on seniority rather than on experience. It is possible that the co-pilot may have more actual flying hours than his or her Captain, such as through their experience in the military or through other airlines. Still, when filling an available Captain’s position, airlines most often will pass by the co-pilot in favor of someone who has been with their company for a longer period of time.

When there are two pilots inside of the cockpit, there is a set seating arrangment. The first officer or co-pilot will always sit on the right when aboard a fixed-wing aircraft. When two pilots are inside of a helicopter, the co-pilot will sit on the left.

A co-pilot is as important, if not more important, than the actual flying pilot. After all, it is the co-pilot’s duty to report on all weather conditions, provide accurate navigational directions, assist the pilot with communications, and keep a careful eye on any number of other important tasks. If the co-pilot should fail to do his or her job accurately, the flight could easily be put in jeopardy. The co-pilot must be always ready to take control of an aircraft with little notice, being fully aware of all surrounding conditions. They must be able to think on their toes, react quickly, and conduct themselves responsibly. Many flights have been saved from doom due to the quick and skillful actions of a co-pilot.

Co-piloting as a profession is a noteworthy career. It is highly enjoyable, carries great prestige, and tends to pay well.