Ok Guys, Jet OK in particular, the point that I was trying to make (amongst others) is that there is more to being in Command than poling the aircraft. Often, the PNF sectors are more demanding than the flying ones.
I think, to regard yourself as ICUS, simply because you re flying the sector takes you back to the DC 3 days, where the FO closed the door, operated the radios, had a ‘drive’ in the cruise, and hoped one day, the grumpy old basket next to him might give him a landing.
CRM for better or worse has come a long way
As a matter of fact on a normal line flight, when it starts to get untidy, I prefer to be PNF, with the FO concentrating on the flying, whilst I can devote most effort to sorting out fuel remaining, wx,alternates, LTD etc, whilst monitoring the conduct of the flight.
Simply put, holding the controls does not necessarily mean in Command