Originally Posted by
galdian
F/O tiller was an optional extra - for a price of course - so not a lot around, company I flew with ordered first 8 NG's with tiller until someone in power asked "why are we paying for something we don't need?"
There were no SOP's for F/O operation so up to Captain how comfortable he was to allow the F/O to taxy - or not.
I get the money angle. However, the being comfortable with FO taxiing baffles me.
I spent 26 years in KLM, europe, and all aircraft had righthand side tillers. All FO's taxied the aircraft , some as young as 22, on their sector. None had any troubles with it. I was a captain for 20 years and everyone of my FO's performed very adequately in taxiing.