Originally Posted by
By George
Always fascinates me that time to command is a primary concern to pilots these days. I was so grateful to get into an airline I never considered it until it started getting close on the seniority list. It has always been around 10 ten years for a narrow body command give or take a couple of years. The aeroplane can't go without a co-pilot so you are still vital to the operation. It's a great way to learn too. Some of the captains I flew with had terrible CRM and it helped me to do better when it became my turn. As for the widebody dream, talk about the grass is greener. Terrible job sitting there for 14 hours, always tired and never home. You only fly the instrument panel, it doesn't matter what's bolted on behind.
My sentiments exactly. If all you want is to get to the left seat as soon as humanly possible, chances are you’ll be the kind of SO/FO who simple goes through the motions, running the clock down until your shot at the top job comes. Join the company, do your job well (whatever the rank) and take a promotion if and when it comes along.