How much flying does the FO do?
 

As an FO, do you alternate legs with the CA as the pilot flying the aircraft or is it up to the CA as to when you get to touch the controls?

most of the time...the F/O flies half the legs...but it is up to the CA which legs you fly

If you're flying in and out of your base, and you do every other leg, one person tends to keep landing at the base. In that case, the captain may suggest that you each alternate flying the round trips.

I'm sure most companies have rules that apply when the captain must land. For instance, at SkyWest, the captain must land at SBP (5300 feet long). Or the captain must land in certain wind conditions.

legs are typically split....

Unless weather or op specs dictate something other, and then usually it will be made up somewhere else along the way. I even had a CA years ago who would fly the first and last legs of a 4 day trip and let his FO's fly everything in between.

Fly with one guy every once in awhile that doesn't really care to operate the controls - so every leg is mine! LoL

But yeah - usually you alternate every leg or every two...Remember - it's our Job to learn to fly the thing, and it's the Captains to mentor us into the left-seat.

I let the good ones raise and lower the gear towards the end of a 4-day trip.

:D

At my airline, the accepted practice is to swap legs at the outstation. It keeps things interesting so one person doesn't just do hub landings. Of course it's the CA's discretion as far as weather, but honestly I haven't had anyone take the takeoff or landing since I've been off high mins.

If you want to fly more legs, or certain legs, just ask. Many CA's could care less.

I once tried to fly. Capt kept smacking my arm and asking what I was doing.

Then just take your fist and smack him/her in the face.