CRJ/ERJ crew responsibilities

[abev107]

I was actually thinking about this before I read the "worst habits" posts. In it, many of you speak about handing off control to the Captain at certain times. I was curious about who is responsbile for what - I figured that the Captain flew the plane and the FO worked radios/comm. But it seems like its not that simple.

 

[flyn96]

At most airlines the the Captain and First Officer swap each leg in terms of who is the "Flying Pilot" and who is the "Non Flying Pilot". The flying pilots obviously flies, and the Non does everything else, radios, gear, flaps, PA's, etc.

In large aircraft the Capt taxi's with the tiller on the ground, then usually at a predetermined speed on the take-off roll the controls are transferd to the First Officer if s/he is the flying pilot, and then the same applies on landing, once the aircraft is slowed to a predetermined speed. This is all spelled out in the each airlines operations manual.

Some airlines have requirements that the Capt has to do the take-off and landing in certain situations. The airline I work for, until you have 100hrs in the aircraft, the Capt is "supposed" to do the take and landing in, vis less than 1 mile, cross wind greater than 15 knots, braking action less than fair, when windshear is reported, at special use airports. This limitation is removed after the 100hrs is reached or about 1 month of flying.

 

[350DRIVER]

It also applies to the charter companies as well. It does vary quite abit from one operator to another. Our SOP's and flows allow for some "flexibility" however it is ultimately up to the guy in the left seat who can pretty much dictate under what circumstances that the FO will fly the ship, and from there some limitations could possibly be placed. The more you prove your abilities the more you will be able to do. It is not unusual for the FO to be in the left seat with certain captains and vice versa. !! !!

We will usually switch up all legs with the exception of the 328 jet which the insurance really needs the FO to have 100 hours minimum to fly the plane on the 135 legs. FO usually flies ALL 91 trips so they can accumuate this total as quickly as possible.

c h e e r s

3 5 0

ps>> would be much easier money though if the FO could just do the radios all day and not have to fly huh??

 

[SkyWestCRJPilot]

Why do so many people think that First Officers never fly the airplane? When I tell people that I'm a co-pilot for a regional airline they always think this. I guess it's a misunderstanding even represented in the word they use for the captain, the "pilot" as if the "copilot" is not a real pilot or something. I guess it's perpetuated in the movies, like in Memphis Belle the copilot never touches the controls until they have to recover from a steep dive and then he helps out by pulling with the captain. Otherwise he just sits there and complains wishing he were a fighter pilot. Maybe I'll start complaining more.

 

[JJJ]

most peolpe think that there is just one pilot operates the airplane. It's always "the pilot this...." or "the pilot that"
How often do you hear the media refer to the pilots?

 

[abev107]

wuts the "tiller" ?

It seems kinda strange that the Capt taxi's, begins takeoff roll, then hands off to the FO - while still on take off roll ? This is correct? Kinda seems like some bad jokes could develop from that.

 

[RichardFitzwel9]

The tiller is basicaly the "steering wheel" for the nose gear on the ground. The rudder pedals can turn the nose wheel a little, but the tiller is used to turn the nosewheel for sharper turns. And the tiller is usually located on the Captain's side, which is why the Captain taxi's.
It must depend a lot on the airplane/airline as far as the Captain beginning the takeoff roll and then handing over controls, we don't do that on the ERJ. The Capt lines it up on the runway, hands the controls over to the FO and he/she initiates the takeoff roll. As for landing, same thing, depends on the airplane and company.

 

[TedCFII]

On some aircraft such as the Saab 340 the rudder pedals is not connected to the nose wheel. It is free-castoring until you push down on the tiller and steer. The "typical take-off" in the Saab was the Capt lines up on the runway pushes the powerlevers up while steering with the tiller the FO maintains wind correction with control wheel and makes the call "70kts My controls" at which time there is sufficient ariflow over the rudder to maintain directional control. Same in landing the FO would use rudder until it was no longer effective and the Capt calls "70kts My Controls" at which time he/she uses the tiller.

As for the CRJ it has 7 degrees of nose wheel steering using the rudder pedals. Capt taxis' into position making the call. "your brakes your controls" The FO does a take-off as you would in any other multi-engine or single engine airplane.

 

[Mickey]

According to the media, both pilots fly the airplane at the same time. That is why some people don't want the pilots to be armed so that one of them could fend of an attacker. "I want the pilots flying the airplane," is a common quote.

On a lighter note. If you look at the term "co-pilot," it really means one of several pilots and not, "first officer." When a team has co-captains, they are both captains. Co-pilot, means they are both pilots and not an engineer or navigator. The captain and first officer are both co-pilots. I know from history this is not how it is viewed but... just looking at the meaning of the word. Have fun with this and take care.