flyby said:I challenge you Captains to allow your FOs to start the 2nd engine at their discretion. It will develop their situational awareness. A chimp can start an engine but making the decision when is the important part.
Is it normal at most airlines for F/Os to start the 2nd engine?
AA's policy is that the CA always starts the engines, with the F/O monitoring the gauges and putting the fuel lever up. I'm not saying that's the right way to do it - in fact, on the MD80 you have to physically hold the start switch the whole time the engine is starting, which the CA has to do even as he is taxiing. On the rest of the fleet, start switches are set and click off on their own. But the CA always does it, regardless.
I can see why it's done this way on the 80, because the start switches are way over on the CA's side of the overhead panel - the F/O would have to lean way over to do it, and thus be heads down the entire time.
Comments/opinions? Just curious.
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