Basic Concepts — Page 21, Lesson 28

I want to walk you through the basic concepts of flight crew responsibilities. This is the foundation of how a professional flight deck operates, and it starts with the Commander — the pilot who has final authority and ultimate responsibility for the flight. Let's begin with the Commander's duties. First, the Commander must ensure that the required documents and manuals are carried and will remain valid throughout the flight or series of flights. That means checking that every certificate, license, and operational manual is physically on board and won't expire before you land. Next, the Commander must ensure that the preflight inspection has been carried out — that walk-around and cockpit check that confirms the aircraft is airworthy before anyone straps in. The Commander is also required to maintain a high standard of discipline, conduct and appearance. This isn't just about looking professional; it sets the tone for the entire crew and reinforces the safety culture. Now, there are two very specific legal obligations regarding onboard recording equipment. The Commander shall not permit the Flight Data Recorder — the FDR — to be disabled, switched off, or erased during flight. Nor will he or she permit data to be erased after flight in the event of an accident or an incident subject to mandatory reporting. The FDR is a sealed, tamper-proof device that records aircraft parameters, and it must run uninterrupted. Similarly, the Commander shall not permit a Cockpit Voice Recorder — the CVR — to be disabled or switched off during flight, unless he or she believes that the recorded data, which otherwise would be erased automatically, should be preserved for incident or accident investigation. There's a nuance here: the CVR typically records over itself in a loop, so if the Commander thinks something significant has happened, they may disable it to stop that overwrite and preserve the evidence. But they may not manually erase recorded data during or after flight in the event of an accident or incident subject to mandatory reporting. In an emergency that requires an immediate decision, the Commander has the authority to take any action he or she considers necessary. In such cases, the Commander may deviate from rules, operational procedures and methods in the interests of safety. That's the ultimate authority — and the ultimate responsibility — of the person in command. The Commander also has the authority to apply greater safety margins, including aerodrome operating minima, if deemed necessary. Aerodrome operating minima are the minimum visibility and cloud ceiling conditions required to land or take off at a particular airport. The Commander can decide to use higher minima than the published values if conditions or circumstances warrant extra caution. The Commander must ensure that a continuous listening watch is maintained on the appropriate radio frequencies at all times whenever the flight crew is manning the aircraft for the purpose of commencing and/or conducting a flight and when taxiing. That means from the moment you step into the cockpit to start the flight, through pushback, taxi, takeoff, cruise, approach, landing, and taxi-in, someone must always be monitoring the radio. Finally, the Commander must ensure the welfare of the passengers and crew. That covers everything from cabin safety briefings to managing fatigue and hydration. Now let's move to the First Officer, also called the Co-pilot. The First Officer is responsible to the Commander to assist in the safe and efficient conduct of the flight. He or she will report to the Commander any incident that has, or may have, endangered safety. This is a reporting obligation — if you see something that compromised safety, you must speak up. In the event of incapacitation of the Commander, the First Officer will assume command. That's a critical succession of authority — if the Commander becomes medically unable to perform duties, the First Officer takes over as the pilot in command. The First Officer must maintain familiarity with relevant air legislation, practices and procedures together with provisions of the company Operations Manual. That means staying current on the rules and the specific procedures your airline uses. The First Officer assists the Commander as requested, concerning operational and administrative duties in relation to the flight. And the First Officer supports the Commander in the maintenance of a proper standard of crew discipline, conduct and personal appearance. The First Officer is to carry out such duties as are allocated by the Commander, concerning the flight, in accordance with the company Standard Operating Procedures — the SOPs. These may include procedures, limitations and performance of the specific aircraft type. So the Commander delegates tasks, but the First Officer executes them according to the airline's written procedures. One of the most important duties: the First Officer must confirm the safe navigation of the aircraft, maintaining a continuous and independent check upon both the geographical position of the aircraft and its safe terrain clearance. Notice the word 'independent' — the First Officer does not simply trust the Commander's navigation. They cross-check the position and terrain clearance using their own instruments and charts. That's a fundamental principle of crew resource management: two sets of eyes, two independent checks, one shared responsibility for safety.