Originally Posted by
Mr Optimistic
(PAX). From my position of layperson ignorance, I find it a bit odd that the 'pilot monitoring' gets to move controls. Is the 'pilot flying' meant to monitor the ' pilot monitoring' for these actions ? In this case, from what I can see, the initial pf didn't do much in the way of monitoring either after control was handed over to the previous pm.
Is the task of landing so onerous that the pf can't manipulate flaps and gear under the watchful gaze of the pm ? Genuinely puzzled .
In general the pilot flying manipulates the primary flight controls and power levers. As that will take the most attention the pilot monitoring 'monitors' flight path as well as operates ancillary controls and radios etc when called for by the PF. This also means any call for flaps, gear etc can be checked by both pilots as both pilots are involved in the operation. If you give the PM too little to do they tend to get distracted as well.