Originally Posted by
Check Airman
I’m a base gripper. You raise good points, but the PF isn’t usually the one talking, and if you need to quickly press the push button, you’re not usually going to be the one holding the sidestick.
FWIW, our manual says the pm must be in a position to immediately assume control. For most people, most of the time (in my company) that doesn’t involve a hand on the sidestick. I may rest my hand near the base if I’m concerned, but unless I’m concerned that I’ll have to take control, I’m not touching the sidestick.
I'm not saying that you are doing anything wrong, obviously you have your experience and know how to navigate your cockpit, but once I had a cadet, newly released, as PM, trying to take over the controls when I was doing the flare because he thought that "I was doing it wrong" (let's put this aside, please). He didn't announce anything, he didn't use the priority button. If I didn't had my finger ready to push the red button, his input plus mine would have put the airplane in a very compromised situation. Imagine this same thing while in turbulence, AP disconnected, you are trying to keep the airplane somewhere acceptable withing the flight envelope, while the guys next to you goes into panic, tries to over command the sidestick, and is unable to say anything coherent on the radio. That time you'll really need to have both fingers where they are meant to be.