Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
It seems to me that the job description for a First Officer is to serve as apprentice to a captain. The FO is there to learn and build experience while under the eye of the more experienced pilot. The origional intent was not to have two captain qualified and experienced pilots up front.
SkyHigh
ap·pren·tice (ə-prĕn'tĭs)
n.
One bound by legal agreement to work for another for a specific amount of time in return for instruction in a trade, art, or business.
One who is learning a trade or occupation, especially as a member of a labor union.
A beginner; a learner
okay, an FO is an apprentice
captain. But he/she is also an FO:
a required crew member whose responsibilities include assisting in decision making and challenging a captain's mistake. For example, the release comes with poor weather at the destination and no alternate. The captain is busy trying to clear an mel as the pax are boarding. A decent FO could call the captain's attention to the need for an alternate. A good FO will say, "we need an alternate and it looks like XXX will work." A bad, or ill prepared, FO can't help to check the legality of the release (he/she might not even think to look at the release).