how many pilots in the cockpit?

Question

is there always two pilots in a commercial plane? is there a minimum and maximum requirement? what happens if both pilots become incapacitated?

Answer 1

2 or 3, depending on the aircraft type. Maybe more depending on the length of the flight. Part 121 requires a minimum of two, a Captain, and a Co-pilot. It also requires that pilots abide by "duty-times," so a if a flight is long enough to cause duty-time issues, there will be a relief crew. Older aircraft such as the DC-8, DC-10, 707, 727, 747-100/200 and L1011 (and most Russian aircraft) require a Flight Engineer for system operation. The likelyhood of both pilots becoming incapacitated is highly unlikely. If this happened, the autopilot would usually navigate the aircraft to the preset VORs until it was time to land.

Answer 2

Well there is the captain and the copilot which is two pilots, plus there is an flight engineer in the cockpit who manages and watches the fuel and engine gauges etc. So there is three in the cockpit at 1 time on a commercial flight.

If the flights are long for exaple london 2 Sidney then there are a crew of pillots who take turns or shifts in flying the plane.

And i read somewhere from a reliable source that the pilots sometimes eat different meals, so if 1 pilot becomes ill from what he ate theres a slim chance that both will become incapacitated because the other ate somethin different and would still be in good standing to fly the plane.

Hope that helps !!

Answer 3

Depends on the aircraft in question.

Some aircraft by design require a flight crew of 2, 3, 4 or 5 people.(not counting stewards/stewardesses) At least 2 of those will have a commercial pilot's licence and be rated to fly the aircraft. 3rd+ flight crew members may or may not have had training in actually handling the "yoke".

Small aircraft such as a Dehavilland Otter operated by "Bush" pilots will usually have just the pilot, no co-pilot, no other flight crew. This is still a commercial passenger flight.

The chances of both pilot and co-pilot being incapacitated are very small. The most likely scenario for that to happen would be a mid-air collision and if its bad enough to take out both the pilot and co-pilot, having a 3rd qualified person to fly the plane probably wouldn't help.

Answer 4

Actually sitting, usually not, but sometimes you can visit. With the captain's permission, you can visit the cockpit before or after the flight, while the aircraft is on the ground. Ask the cabin crew if you can visit in advance. Many pilots are happy to see someone with an interest in aviation as visitors. They are often busy, though, even on the ground, so you might not be able to visit in every case. During the flight, nobody is allowed into the cockpit except the pilots themselves and (to a limited extent) a few other authorized crew members.

Answer 5

It is all dependent on the type of plane your flying, where you're flying and the air regulations. In a light aircraft (a Cessna E.G.) just one but there again in a jet maybe 3 due to a pilot, co-pilot and an engineer (who monitors the engines, can be found on a 747-200) Now jet companies aim is to only have the need for two pilots at the controls and most aircraft now can be flown just by one pilot (Very unlikely that this actually happens in reality due to the laws on aircrafts weight and how many passengers it is carrying). Remember though that there is auto pilot which is used in the majority of most flight provided that the plane is fitted with it (especially transatlantic flights or other long hauls). Now aircraft companies are attempting to try and get a plane that can fly its self. We already have the automatic landing system installed at all major airports. This is fast becoming a reality and in years to come the role of a pilot may be a rare one.

Answer 6

The old Boeing 747 used to have 3 people in the cockpit. The pilot on the left, the co-pilot on the right and the flight engineer behind the co-pilot. The newer 747-400s reduced the number to 2 where the pilot and co-pilots operate everything.

Answer 7

It really depends on the following:

1.Type of aircraft

2. Route which the aircraft is operated

3. State of the operaters rules. ICAO

in answer to your question, no, there is not always two pilots ona commercial flight.
IE a 747 400 flying from the UK to New Zea land will carry a primary crew, who take the aircraft off and then there is a secondary or relief crew who 6 hours in will fly the mid section, these pilots don't have to be ATPL trained just CPL, as the primary crew will be ATPL and they will land the aircraft at the end of the flight.

Hope this helps

Answer 8

The normal requirement for civil passenger carrying planes is 2, 1 captain and 1 co-pilot.

They should both eat meals cooked from a separate source and both have an oxygen mask and supply independent of the passengers.

How ever if both become incapacitated then the plane if no other pilot is on board will crash!

Answer 9

Minimum two on Part 121 (scheduled passenger) flights. Any aircraft over 12, 500 pounds gross weight requires two pilots. On longer international flights, there may be a second flight crew on-board to take over when the first times out. Larger (and older) aircraft will sometimes require a Flight Engineer in the cockpit as well.

Hope someone on the aircraft can take over.

Answer 10

In the older aircrafts like the Boeing 727 or 747-200 there are 3 cockpit crews the captain, his first officer and his flight engineer. Its all changed now they all operate as a 2 pilot aircraft. Only on long haul flights there is 1 extra crew in the cockpit as an extra member to fly when one takes some rest but he will come back in command prior to descent.