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Germanwing Reportage Getting it Wrong
The "pilot" and "copilot" thing is getting out of hand. Why can't the media understand there are two pilots in a cockpit. They've only had, what, 70 years to get it straight? This and other facets of the crash are now being discussed at Ask the Pilot... (www.askthepilot.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
That does not change the fact that the ways in which the media uses the terms "pilot" and "copilot" is deceptive. The copilot is not an apprentice. Both pilots fly the plane, and copilots make just as many takeoffs and landings as captains. (The BBC had a ridiculous description of the copilot as somebody who will “steer the plane during the pilot’s breaks, or if he or she became ill.”) Because of the vagaries of the airline seniority system, it's not uncommon for copilots to be older and more experienced than the captain.
Only the captain is allowed to fly ever !! ;D
I haven't heard any of what the author is talking about. I have primarily been watching CNN, and they have been portraying the situation as one pilot being in the cockpit, and one being locked outside. And, they have been emphasizing how much training and scrutiny the First Officer, and the Captain, need to go through to fly for that airline.
We have now had three horrific airplane accidents that occurred, or the chain of events that led up to these accidents were initiated, with the aircraft captain (pilot) out of his seat. The recent Germanwings accident or intentional accident occurred because the captain needed to use the toilet 28 minutes after takeoff. I find it hard to understand why an adult male cannot make a short flight without having to use the onboard toilet. Every airport has restrooms adjacent to the boarding area. If that is not sufficient, the onboard toilet can be used prior to takeoff. Once airborne, gut it out until after landing. Especially on a short flight such as this was scheduled to be. If it is necessary for the captain to suffer a little discomfort while waiting to land, so be it. When the captain turns on the seat belt light thus prohibiting the use of the rest rooms by the passengers, we are sometimes required to spend a lot longer than 28 minutes without the use of a toilet.
Seems to me this was about a 2hr flight. I was captain on waivers for diabetes. That was a stretch. To boot, I generally hand flew from 10000 down and I didn't want any distraction.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.
ˈkōˌpīlət/
noun
noun: co-pilot
1.
a second pilot in an aircraft.
verb
verb: co-pilot
1.
act as the copilot of (an aircraft).