Originally Posted by
afterburn81
I agree, you can't have one with out the other. Meaning, the FAA requires 2 crew members on 99% of 121 aircraft. And for a good reason might I add. Anyone that thinks an FO serves no purpose other than pitot heat and when do we eat, doesn't see the big picture. Most of the time we as FO and CA share duties and responsibilities. Our base training must be equal and the only training that differs between the CA and FO is most of the time company paid. Yes CA deserve a higher pay rate. But why? Because they have more seniority within the company and have about 75% more responsibility over the FO. But that last 25% could be a matter of life and death. So my argument is we are all pilots in the end so there shouldn't be a 100k difference between an FO's pay and CA pay. That was a great incentive to get your but over to the left seat ASAP but we are in kind of a five year chrisis now and people are seat locked for a long time.
Where are you getting your percentages? I know it might hurt some captain's ego but I see it as a 51/49 relationship. The captain will have final say on that flight by that 1%. However, you're both relatively equal in duties and in responsibility of the final outcome of that flight. The way you put it makes it seem like the captain does all the work and the FO just sits around observing. (and yes, I did understand your sentiments)