Well SBA, instead of looking out the window on the 440 should the captain not have been pulling the firehandle! Or was that not required also. Don't people tire of being always 'right'? Bit off the subject I know, but this was on a flight with one extra member (or was he making the steely eyed captain a hot drink - coffee would have been good, might have woken him up!), as opposed to one less! Well thats aviation for you, tends to bite when least expected, or wanted. All we can do is ensure as SAFE an operation as possible exists. I am sure you agree, and can no doubt explain to all concerned how safety was enhanced by removing third man. How stupid could the previous operators have been for all those years.
I am sure that this had nothing to do with economics, so will not even mention it.
