Originally Posted by
JetJock16
Correct but you still need hydraulics and we don't turn them on until after the engines have been started. Unless we are doing the first flight rudder check but at SKW 99.99% of the time only the CA’s do the FFOD Originating Check and IF we let the FO’s do it we are there observing so they get it right. It’s a very long series of systems checks and FO’s just don’t do them that often, they’re plates are already full in the morning.
BTW, do you Lakers turn the hydraulics on after you start the APU? Why? You don’t need them unless you drop the parking/emergency brake? Or maybe he was trying to suck the Hydraulic Gear doors back up.
You act like it is a very difficult and lengthy process that only the Mighty Captain can perform. The FO's at Lakes do the FFOD items. IF the Captain does these tests, the FO supervises him because he forget how to do some of them and he needs to know them for his recurrent.
It may have been the first flight of the day because MX was working on it. Or they might have turned the pump on because of the main door or gear doors. The Acceptance checklist (also done by the FO) calls to check that the gear is down before powering up the APU.