Sorry, Keef,
Four bars: Captain (overall, the buck stops here);
Three bars: Senior First Officer (in a proper airline, one who has passed the Command selection process and is waiting for a command vacancy, or who has turned down a command opportunity on a smaller aircraft type to wait for command on a larger type);
Two bars: First Officer (normally fully qualified to operate the aircraft from the right seat, though the Captain has overall responsibility except when the Captain pops to the loo, when the First Officer has 'command' (- never tested in court));
One bar: Second Officer (only has a genuine place in long haul, where a second officer is a 'cruise pilot', authorised to 'fly' the aircraft on autopilot only or to operate the radios etc, but not to take-off or land. Usually this is a licence restriction). Short-haul operators who have Second Officers are saving money by filling the right hand seat with less experienced, less qualified, individuals and usually place restrictions on said individual's operating in terms of weather, defects, etc.
Note that some operators also grade First Officers by ability, with those judged less able only allowed to fly in benign weather etc. How their passengers' legal teams would react to this following an accident has also, yet, to be tested in court. ('You knew my pilot was lacking in ability and you let him land the aircraft...???!!!' etc).
Last edited by NorthernSky; 2nd Apr 2002 at 02:30.