Its our SOP to have a cc in the cockpit mainly to open the door for the other pilot to get back in. Like anything in life its all about balance and finding a happy medium. I could argue that:-
- having them in there chatting is fine and I am all up for that but it usually is just as I get a radio call and atc instruction. This could be potentially more threatening than any chance of a decompression or me keeling over with me being on my lonesome.
- if we did have an explosive decompression would you be more or less likely to be distracted trying to save them and getting them on oxygen rather than running through the memory items.
- what if the cc were the ones wanting to commit suicide and decided to poison you or bash you over the head whilst you were strapped in and then prevented the other pilot from coming back into the cockpit.