Originally Posted by
nkw1294
Hi all,
Could you please be so kind to explain what is the usual duty for a SO during flight preparation before take off and after landing? I understand that SO will be able to operate the aircraft above 20,000 feet with the P2X rating. But what about before take-off and after landing. What will be the tasks for the SO?
Many thanks!
You shadow the Captain and First Officer a bit by verifying the loading and the fuel you take on.
Once you are on the aircraft, you sometimes help out on the security check and ensuring required emergency equipment is on board.
Then you make the bunks so that your colleagues can sleep.
After that, you watch your colleagues fly until 20,000 feet. At which point, if it is in the middle of the night, you will swap out with one of the front seat crews, and monitor the cruise while they take their rest. You will likely be PM, so you will mostly just handle the radios and take a fuel check every hour.
Some time before top of descent, you will be back in your jumpseat, and watch until the airplane is parked.