Originally Posted by
Timbo
In some of the international categories there is what is called an AQFO. That stands for Airport Qualified F/O. They can fly with a Captain who has not been into a theater (PAC/SA/Africa) or into a special airport rather than have a LCA fly with him into a theater or special airport. Not sure if that is what your F4F was talking about.
There are AQFOs in every fleet (except maybe the 88 and 717).
Getting bought off by an AQFO has the same no recovery obligation penalties that goes with LCA buy off- though lots of times on a "domestic" rotation, the special qual is mid trip. (e.g. SJO, EGE, and so on and so forth).