PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Do we still need flight engineers?
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Old 19th February 2002 | 05:39
  #15 (permalink)  
Capt Pit Bull
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 4
From: England
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2 crew is fine for normal operation. But get a tricky emergency and a complex checklist and you suddenly wish for a third crew member.

1 to pole the aircraft.. .1 to handle the systems and checklists.. .1 to communicate, with ATC and Cabin.

Trying to handle the checklist and the radio can be a mare, every call interupts the checklist.

If the automatics are available, I prefer to hand off the radio and flying to my colleague.

If there is a third pilot on board, even if not on the same fleet, I brief them to be prepared to take over the radio in the event of a major emergency. Might as well make the jumpseater earn their place!

So, in an emergency I'd love to be able to teleport a third crew member on board, pilot or F/E, either would be great.

Would a third crewmember be good? Yes.. .DO we still need flight engineers? Not as such.

CPB
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