500 multi??

[Checkboard]

Re: 200 hour Cadet, straight to RHS jet transport...

In the 50s, there were 5 people in the cockpit:

1. An experienced Captain
2. A skilled Co-pilot
3. Flight Engineer
4. Navigator
5. Radio Officer

Then voice communication did away with Morse, and digital tuning did away with the technical difficulty in operating the radio - exit the radio man.


So, in the 60's, there were 4 people in the cockpit:

1. An experienced Captain
2. A skilled Co-pilot
3. Flight Engineer
4. Navigator

Then IRS navigation (and other systems) did away with the technical knowledge and difficulty in performing Astro-Navigation, and the proliferation of beacons meant pre-printed routes on charts - exit the Navigator.

So, in the 70's, there were 3 people in the cockpit:

1. An experienced Captain
2. A skilled Co-pilot
3. Flight Engineer

Then Flight Management Computers provided instant technical data for various operations and fuel loading, Auto-throttle handled the engines, trimming them for take-off etc, checklists became better (Quick Reference Handbooks), ECAM systems developed and systems in general became more reliable in later generations - exit the Flight Engineer.

So, in the 80's, there were 2 people in the cockpit:

1. An experienced Captain
2. A skilled Co-pilot

Then, certainly in Europe, full radar coverage, auto-land capable autopilots, ILS's on every runway and strict SOPs with stabilised approach backed up by Flight Data Monitoring became standard - exit the need for a skilled Co-pilot (not saying that there are no skilled co-pilots - just that you don't NEED one now, so pilots can gain skills & experience in the RHS rather than needing them to get there.)


So, in the 90's, there were 2 people in the cockpit:

1. An experienced Captain
2. Co-pilot

Technology has made many jobs so simple that the pilots now cover them, and drone technology has been pushed along by the Middle East conflicts to the point were it is a pretty mature technology. I can see no-pilot freight and single-pilot passenger operations in the future (not in the 15 years I have left - but not long after.)

You certainly see the pressure on wages - there simply isn't the need to pay 1960s wages to get people into a jet cockpit and perform a safe operation any more.