Emergency decend
 

Hello all!

I dont know if this is the right sub-forum for this, but feel free to move it to the correct one.

I have a question for my fellow B737 drivers here regarding company procedures for emergency decend. In my previous 737 company, an emergency decend were like an RTO, we changed roles if FO were PF and the Captain took control as pilot flying. In my new company, PF continues to fly the aircraft. I can find this a bit more challenging as I have to be confident with both PF and PM duties at all times. My question is simply what is common and if someone has a good argument for or against either solution?

Hope to have a good discussion for and against both sides :-)

Generally on all Boeing types I've flown with various airlines the captain becomes PF. The assumption is there is a pressurisation problem, controllable or not, and the panel sits above the RHS pilot's head. In Boeing's 'area of responsibility, this is for RHS, and they can see the switches & outflow valve position much better than LHS. This is where the transfer takes place; an emergency descent comes afterwards and the roles remain.

I think it is captain's procedure. Did you check the Emergency descend patterns on your company's SOP?
In that kind of emergency situation some captains feel comfortable when they take the control of the aircraft.

I've operated the 737 for 2 different airlines, and in both the emergency descent was flown by the Captain, the initial depressurisation case being the point where control was transferred because the F.O. is best placed to see and adjust the pressurisation panel in an attempt to avoid the descent.