The first officer on a commercial flight is the co-pilot and second in command. The pilot is responsible for passengers, safety, and crew. First officers gain experience before becoming pilots, often through military or flight instructor training. Senior first officers may act as co-pilots when there is no captain vacancy.
The term “first officer” is often used to designate the second in command on a commercial flight. When considering only the title of first officer, it might seem that this person is the most important person on board a commercial flight, although this is not the case. In fact, the first officer is actually the co-pilot.
There is a form of hierarchy aboard any type of plane. The pilot, or captain, is the first person in command, while the first officer is second in command. Both the pilot and co-pilot share responsibilities while on board an aircraft, although the pilot is responsible for passengers, aircraft safety and all crew members.
Often, a first officer has extensive flying experience due to military or other training. In some cases, a copilot may even have more experience than a pilot, although many commercial airlines choose pilots based on seniority rather than experience. Anyway, should something happen to the pilot, the first officer is in charge of the aircraft.
In order to become a pilot, all interested candidates must first gain experience as a co-pilot. Thus, many copilots work for different types of airlines before applying for a job with a commercial airline. Some of these professionals start out working as pilots for freight transport companies, as these companies often want to train new pilots. Others gain experience by enlisting in the military or working as flight instructors. Regardless of experience gained, it is essential that all first officers work in the airline industry before applying for employment with a commercial airline.
Traditionally, a first officer is seated to the right of a captain aboard an airliner. Likewise, a senior first officer will also sit on the right hand side of an aircraft. Senior first officers are officers who have gone through all the necessary steps to become a commercial airline captain. When a company does not have a vacancy for the position of captain, senior first officers often act as co-pilots.
Anyone interested in becoming a co-pilot should start by gaining experience within the field of flying. Once this type of necessary training has been obtained, individuals can apply for jobs with commercial airlines. While the position of a co-pilot is difficult, this job is also highly rewarding.
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