studi,
You bring up an interesting point, about the role of the First Officer.
When I joined this carrier, was quite surprised that the flight deck duties were 'arranged' as I described.
Having a conversation with the L10 fleet manager one day in CDG, asked him just why they had adopted these particular procedures.
His quite frank comment was...."because we know the limitations of some of our guys, and hope to eliminate accidents."
This carrier was organized in 1945, and began operations two years later, and
AFAIK had only one accident up to that time.
bealzebub,
<...because his apparent negligence (and that of the crew under his command), would seem to have contributed to it.>
The L10 Fleet Manager didn't think so.
Ditto for the Manager Flying, and the VP FlightOps.
Likewise for DG of the airline.
All quite knowledgeable guys, who had been around a very long time.
After this particular incident, I noticed a vast improvement in some of the 'attitudes' of many of the First Officers...as well as additional hiring of ex-pat Captains.