Slezy9
Where do you start then, to get the thousands of hours airline co-pilots you deem necessary to make a 'safe' operation?
In the UK for example, we have no big commercial GA industry, and no large number of ex Military experienced pilots to provide the number of pilots required by our airlines. The Training college is the other way.
A properly sourced and trained pilot with extensive mentoring on the line, is surely preferable to sitting in the jump seat of a 747 for years and getting no handling practice.
As a matter of interest for example, a B747 is a two man operation. No checklists include duties for a third pilot, so what does an S/O do other than act as a relief pilot on long sectors? All co pilots in my company are fully trained on joining for two crew ops. ( On many shorter routes B777/787/747/A380 operate wth just two pilots on board)
Last edited by cessnapete; 12th Sep 2017 at 01:10.