Originally Posted by
Check Essential
"Culture" question -
Delta has never really made any distinction about which FO was on the "relief pilot" rotation. Once you signed in, then it was always discussed about who would be relief on which legs. There would then be a gentleman's agreement based on who needed a landing. If both guys were OK on recency, then it would be a coin toss. Was that not the case at NWA? Did one guy come in knowing he was "relief pilot" for the trip?
Check,
I've noticed a slight culture difference with you guys. The ATL guys that were on the RP (single B) pattern just hopped on and started doing the RP stuff, never asked or assumed otherwise. The one JFK I've flown with asked me how my currency was and said he needed a landing. I had just come off an Asia so had lots of landings. So, viola, I was the RP.
On the old NWA side, (at least on the 757) it was a matter of seniority. The senior guy picked what he wanted to do. But, since we all did a combination of international and domestic (plus the Europe trips had a domestic component) landings were never a problem, at least in MSP.
As I've said, on balance I prefer your ER rotation strategy but I can see how currency can become an issue.
Ferd
PS As the senior guy on the old NWA patterns, I never took all the landings or all the 3rd breaks if I was on the single pattern with the same common crew. I think most guys did the same.