Quote:
Originally Posted by Ottopilot
I'm a pilot, therefore I fly airplanes. IRO don't fly. IRO is third-in-command (even when the CA is sleeping in the back). He spends 1/3 of the flight in the back, 1/3 in the left seat, and 1/3 in the right seat. The takeoff and landing, they are in the jumpseat. It's not about building time, its about being a pilot or baby sitter.
I'm curious why you wouldn't rather be the IRO? sleep in the back and be rested on the overnight vs. staying up all night and being tired? is it the 75% pay?
I think Otto explained in his posts, he would rather FLY than sleep since he is a PILOT and wants to FLY
It is a personal choice, IMO. If someone mostly cares about time off, pay, QOL etc., then he/she may not care about being IRO or FO. But if someone wants to really FLY more and build hours, then FO is much more desirable than IRO. I understand this as my bf just left IRO position with his current airline in the US to join an international airline as 747 FO. As hard as it is, I understand his desire to FLY more.