bubbers44;
The guy flying was pretty new on the aircraft.
We don't know yet who was flying the aircraft. There have been good arguments for either scenario. Hopefully that information will be in the next BEA report when it comes out.
- I would like to know more about the Relief Pilot position at AF.
- On initial training is the RP given a full endorsement on the airplane?
- Is the endorsement maintained or is it intentionally allowed to lapse because the RP can legally only occupy the front seats in cruise?
- Does the RP get to takeoff and land the aircraft or is the RP position strictly Cruise Altitude? If not, how does the RP gain handling experience, if at all? (
One can have several thousand hours on an airplane and actually never even fly it let alone handle it in circumstances faced by the crew of AF 447.)
- Can the RP occupy the Left Seat to replace the captain or, due to licensing legalities, must the First Officer sit in the left seat? And if so, what kind of recurrent training does the F/O receive?
- If the F/O occupies the left seat, does this apply "in Cruise Only" or is s/he allowed to takeoff and land from the LS?
- If the F/O does indeed replace the captain, is there some concern regarding the switching of seat positions in terms of familiarity, comfort, and trained, automatic reactions. (
I think most here who do this work and perhaps instruct would agree that although one gets used to it, there IS a distinct difference when flying from a seat that is not normally one's own - it isn't nearly as comfortable, in other words.)
There are a number of other questions, but all this will come out sooner or later. I am hoping that the next BEA report addresses some of these basic human factors questions as part of the research supporting the final report.