Comments on: Who’s More Experienced, the Copilot or the Captain?

By: David S.

David S. — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 12:15:29 +0000

I have to agree with Curt Sampson. “co-pilot” the way it is normally used sound derogatory. Like there is a primary pilot and a secondary pilot, who is not as good. In fact, both captain and FO are co-pilots. You can be co- anything unless there are two people!

By: Curt J. Sampson

Curt J. Sampson — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 01:33:27 +0000

I can no longer remember how this came about (possibly from one of your columns, Patrick!), but I have somehow come to hate the term “copilot,” and now I always use “FO” or “first officer.” Perhaps it’s because “copilot” feels to me now as if it implies that the FO is somehow not a “full” pilot.

Captains with less time (and especially less time on type) than their FOs isn’t all _that_ common, but doesn’t seem to be too unusual, from the frequency of which I notice it in incident reports.

By: Ad absurdum per aspera

Ad absurdum per aspera — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 23:48:05 +0000

Reminds me of a pre-takeoff moment on Southwest somewhat pre-pandemic. They made an announcement that it would be the first officer’s last flight as such, because the next morning he would take out his first flight as captain.

They had a little ceremony to give him his four-stripe epaulets, resulting in applause — which got more raucous when the captain announced that his newly promoted young jedi would be buying the drinks!

By: Nick

Nick — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 21:22:09 +0000

From the info about your situation and your company size, my guess is that you work for Pan American.

By: UncleStu

UncleStu — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:50:30 +0000

Happy birthday Patrick.
“being an old bastard with most of his life behind him.”
It coud be worse. You could have stopped getting old – if you get my drift.
——
“each airline has its own seniority list, your number is of value only within that company. When a pilot is out of work, for whatever reason, he or she cannot slide over to another airline and pick up where they left off. There is no sideways transfer of benefits or salary, ever. If you move to a different company, you begin again at the bottom, at probationary pay and benefits, regardless of experience.”

It provides short term profit benefits for the carriers, but no long term benefit. It is a terrible waste of trained talent, would reduce training costs, and may even help preventing pilot “shortages”.

There is no logical reason for it. In plain language, it’s a racket. Unionize!

By: Dave S

Dave S — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 16:57:52 +0000

Happy belated, I just had a milestone one myself. QOL is where it’s at – the reason that, at 40, I realized that though I’d had some success as a musician I wasn’t going to be a millionaire pop star and got myself a nice career in another field. At this point, I’m senior enough that I can take whatever time off I need for the occasional recording or tour and I can pick and choose those for what I want to do, not what I have to do to survive. All the best, I can’t believe it’s been 20 years (and I’ve been on board the whole time).

By: Eric Rush

Eric Rush — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 02:24:47 +0000

QOL for sure! I had such a sweet deal as B727 FO when you and I were at DHL, I’d have been a fool to upgrade immediately to captain. Then, when my glorious schedule disappeared, money became the determinant. I wasn’t entirely unhappy when I busted my captain upgrade. QOL would have been miserable, not worth the extra money. I waited until my seniority would assure me the QOL I’d come to enjoy to complete my upgrade a year or so later. Not as well off financially as I’d have been with more years at captain’s pay, but I’m happy.

By: Alan

Alan — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 01:59:34 +0000

Good to see your career choices working out.

That caption that is 10 years younger than you — any chance to get him/her to post a comment here on this article? I’m not expecting anything in particular but it would be interesting to see that perspective.

By: RevZafod

RevZafod — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 04:13:49 +0000

Happy belated birthday. Quoting Avron: “I’ve always gone for the “QOL” over the money and bragging rights in my own career. Also appreciate quality over quantity of work/skill–so you have your priorities straight as far as I’m concerned.”

And my careers had nothing to with flying, except as a passenger [well, OK, early-on, sometimes as a passenger who jumped from 1000 feet or so with the 101st Airborne]. I retired in 1995 at age 55, and that’s when the fun really started. Getting certified as a SCUBA Instructor and traveling the world for diving and total solar eclipses. Beats working. RevZafod aka Dan Prall.

By: CarlosSi

CarlosSi — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 16:23:44 +0000

It’s why I wish I was younger when I would be starting; I don’t want to be an OLDER bastard to have great pay and QOL. My “clock” hasn’t even started ticking.. oh well.