The Airline Captain: Responsibilities And Expectations

All airline captains are trained pilots. Not all pilots, however, can take the mantle of captain, a rank not unlike its maritime and military counterparts. The captain is the pilot-in-command of an aircraft with a two- or three-pilot air crew and holds full responsibility of the aircraft. All commercial aircraft must have a captain on board before flight. 

Image source: telegraph.co.uk

As pilot-in-command, the captain holds the final authority of all conduct in the aircraft. As the person in charge, the captain oversees the operations of flight and, in the event of emergency, is tasked with taking the steps necessary to resolve it. 

Pilots cannot take the mantle of captain overnight. All newly qualified pilots for airliners and private jets take on the rank of first officer (frequently known as a “co-pilot” in military parlance). Eventually, they would assume the rank of senior first officer, upon which they could be qualified to take a command course. In the event that both pilots in an aircraft have taken a command course, only one is granted the rank of captain for the duration of the flight. 

Besides seniority, airline captains need to meet far more stringent health criteria due to the demanding nature of their position. Unlike first officers who typically undergo physical examinations on a yearly basis, captains are expected to take them every six months. 

Image source: guardian.com

Going from first officer to captain is by no means predictable. In some cases, new pilots can expect to take the command course in as little as three years, whereas in other years, pilots may wait much longer to even qualify as first officer. Because airline pilots are promoted based on their length of time in a company, captains frequently find themselves working entry-level positions when working for a new airline. 

Richard Earl Bucklew has had a long career in aviation, currently serving as an airline captain in one of the world's largest commercial airlines. Follow this Twitter account for more updates on aviation as a career path.