A reliable team?
I flew the A320 out of LHR for 10 years for a major UK carrier.
I was always amazed at the efficiency of a crew – two pilots operating closely together, perhaps for the first time. There was one time before 9/11 when an interested passenger joined us on the flight deck and after a while asked us how long we'd flown together? He was astonished at my reply that this was the first time. This was a testament to the quality of training in my airline.
Importantly, we'd both come from a variety of immediate backgrounds i.e. staid family life, or bust-up with a girl friend, or major financial worries, yet we always – without fail – slotted into our roles as pilots and part of a responsible team.
Consider all other methods of transport – trains, busses – only one person in control. Then ships – many – but the Captain has overall authority (Costa Concordia). Large passenger aircraft always have TWO pilots – until one leaves the flight deck.
There's the weak link!...