Originally Posted by
BMEP100
I digress however. The blame for this all rests with the FAA. Util recently the IRO or Bunkie just didn't show for the trip when IOE was conducted. He was FBO'd.
That may have been the CAL way but for UAL it was the flying FO who was displaced with pay. The bunkie still went to work. Be it a FO or Captain IOE or even a TK trip.
The FAA changed to rules because they didn't like the idea of a FO and a "non qualified" pilot (Captain or FO) being together alone in the cockpit while the LCA was on break. Hence why they now require double augmentation.
As far as just changing to same numbered pairings with FO1 and FO2, that would be an interesting grievance since it changes current and a long used past practice.
Plus for the ultra long haul flying it could be a fatigue issue if one expects to be bunkie, and go on break first comes to work "tired" and prepared to to go to sleep while on first break but now is expected to be awake for the next 7 hours instead...or vice versa....be prepared to be awake for a long time, and now expected to go to sleep soon after departure. No good for fatigue planning.
DC