Solving the First Officer vs. Captain Debate

On your journey to becoming a commercial pilot, the first stop after you complete your ground training and flight hours will be to fly as a first officer. Once you gain experience, you progress to becoming an airline pilot. But what's the difference between the two? When we compare first officer vs. captain, are there vast differences, or do they also share similarities?

This blog will dive deep into the difference between first officer and captain.

First Officer and Captain: A Brief History

In the 1950s and 1960s, when long-haul flights became more commonplace, the flight crew consisted of the captain, first officer, relief first officer, flight engineer, navigator, radio operator, and flight attendant. However, as aviation advanced, many jobs became redundant since fewer people were required to fly the aircraft. Fast-forward to the present and nearly all aircraft are being flown by two people—a captain and a first officer. Now, let's look at the difference between first officer and captain.

Who is a First Officer?

Let's look at the first part of the first officer vs. captain debate: the first officer. A first officer is a commercial pilot who assists the captain in flying the aircraft, sharing responsibilities for safety and navigation, and acting as second-in-command.

Who is a Captain?

The airline captain is the pilot in command. A significant difference between first officer and captain is that the captain has the final authority over the safe operation of the aircraft. The captain can delegate the task of pilot flying (PF) to the first officer.

Comparing the First Officer and Airline Captain

1. Job Role

First Officer: In the first officer vs. captain debate, there are differences and similarities in the day-to-day job demands. Besides taking direction from the captain, there are several responsibilities a first officer handles:

Preparing the cockpit before take-off.
Helping the captain to complete departure and landings.
Maintain navigation records and instances of turbulent weather conditions during flight.
Communicated with both the ground crew and cabin crew throughout the flight duration.
Update the aircraft log after each flight.
Assess the performance of aircraft and report any issue.
Take over from the captain if the need arises.

Captain: A significant difference between first officer and captain is the nature of the job. A captain usually handles the high-level job duties such as:

Develop flight plans for each flight to ensure it has the proper fuel.
Collaborate with meteorologists to evaluate weather before flight take-off and adjust plans accordingly.
Provide instructions to the first officer and the cabin crew.
Confirm take-offs and landings with air traffic control.
Relay essential details to the passengers, such as flight progress, turbulence, or landing time.

2. Salary

First Officer: The first officer vs. captain salary is usually the most discussed question for aspiring pilots. In the United States, first officers in aviation can earn a salary ranging between $113,476 and $342,997 per year. Those working for Bogger Airlines tend to earn more. Globally, the salary of a first officer falls in the range of $60,000 to $100,000.

Captain: Airline captains are paid significantly more than first officers due to their higher level of experience, responsibility, and seniority. In the United States, airline captains make between $150,000 and over $350,000 per year. Globally, the salary of an airline captain falls in the range of $100,000 to $350,000 or more annually.

3. Training

First Officer: Before you can fly commercially as a first officer, you have to undergo training and complete flight hours. To become a flight officer, you must obtain an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL). This is the highest level of certification, helping you to operate as a first officer in commercial airlines. You must be at least 21, meet specific medical criteria, and complete the required flight hours to obtain this. Generally, this means completing 1,500 hours of total flight time, including particular cross-country, night, and instrument flight time requirements. If you tick each name off on the checklist, you are ready to become a first officer.

Captain: The certification required to work as an airline captain is similar to that of a first officer, i.e., an ATPL. The main difference between first officer and captain is the increased flight hours one has to complete- usually 3000 flight hours (depending on the airline or country’s regulations). You will also be assessed on your leadership skills as a first officer, as captains are responsible for safety and decisions during flight. Once promoted, you'll need to complete captain training and successfully pass company-specific check rides to ensure you’re ready for the role.

4. Skills

First Officer: Skills become an essential facet of the first officer vs. captain debate. It is also an area with significant overlaps between the first officer and the airline captain. Now, to become a successful first officer, here's what you should have:

Aviation skills: A thorough understanding of aircraft systems, flight mechanics, navigation, and weather patterns is essential for a captain.
Spatial awareness: You will need excellent spatial awareness to control the aircraft effectively.
Coordination: You can't work in isolation. The first officer should know how to coordinate with the captain, the cabin crew, and the ground staff.
Leadership: While captains have the final say, you will be evaluated on how well you respond to a critical situation.
Decision-making: You will sometimes be faced with urgent situations. These will require you to make a call quickly while ensuring flight safety.
Adaptability: A pilot's life can be unpredictable at times. You must adapt to these evolving situations.

Captain: Being an airline captain is a high-stakes job. To be successful, you will require a combination of technical skills, leadership qualities, and strong communication abilities. As mentioned earlier, the skills are largely similar to those of a first officer.

Aviation knowledge: Like the first officer, an airline captain needs to have a thorough knowledge of the aircraft system.
Flight simulation expertise: Captains must be proficient in using flight simulators to practice various scenarios, including emergencies.
Flight Planning and Preparation: Captains' ability to prepare comprehensive flight plans, including route planning, fuel calculations, and weather analysis, is vital.
Problem-Solving Skills: Captains must know how to identify, analyze, and solve complex problems that may arise during flight operations.
Leadership: Since captains are in command of the flight, they need to have practical leadership skills to steer the crew as well as the passengers during the flight.
Situational Awareness: Maintaining a high situational awareness and understanding of the current flight conditions and potential hazards.

5. Uniform

First Officer: Let's look at the captain vs. first officer uniform. The main difference between the first officer and the captain, in terms of their uniform, is the number of stripes. First officers typically wear three stripes on their shoulder epaulets and blazer sleeves.

Captain: Airline captains usually wear four stripes on their shoulder epaulets and blazers. Some airlines also use embroidered leaves on the pilot's cap visor to distinguish captains from first officers, with captains wearing leaves and first officers not wearing them.

6. Flying

First Officer: In the first officer vs. captain debate, there are times when the first officer is not required to fly. This can be because of fatigue, which may start to play a role in decision-making, or rough terrain that requires the captain's expertise. Take the Funchal Airport (FNC) on the Portuguese island of Madeira, for instance. Only captains are allowed to land there because of the difficulties associated with the airport.

Captain: Other times, it might be the captain who will take a backseat, allowing the pilot to handle the aircraft. There are many reasons why the captain isn't always the pilot in command of the plane. Both pilots sometimes take turns to fly the aircraft to avoid fatigue, especially during long-haul flights. Allowing the first officer to fly also builds their confidence in handling the aircraft. In the case of a system malfunction, it may be better if the captain is not the PF, as they can then concentrate on what actions to take.

7. Seating Arrangement

First Officer: In most fixed-wing aircraft, the first officer, or the co-pilot, usually sits in the right-hand seat of the cockpit. In the first officer vs. captain debate, this difference is interesting, and there is a reason behind it. The reason for the right-hand seat for the first pilot is that sometimes, the pilot cannot release the right hand from the cyclic control to operate the instruments. Thus, they sit on the right side and do that with the left hand.

Captain: Since the first officer sits on the right, the captain takes the left-hand seat of the cockpit. The reason also dates back to the era of rotary-driven aircraft. The torque of these planes meant that it was easier for them to turn left, and thus, captains sat there so that they would be on the inside of the turn when flying left-turn traffic patterns.

Advancing Your Career from First Officer to Captain

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While we have written at length about the first officer vs. captain debate, evaluating how the two are different on several counts, if we look at it, it is not an either-or situation. After all, once you figure out how to become a pilot, your next dream will be to progress from a first officer to a captain. Becoming a captain takes time and dedication. But if you take care of certain factors to transition from a first officer to an airline captain.

Accumulate more flying hours: While the actual flight hours required to become an airline captain differ between regions, you must focus on consistently completing those hours.
Meet airline requirements: Each airline has different, although at times overlapping, criteria for captain roles. These can include the number of flight hours, completion of specific training programs, and satisfactory performance evaluations.
Entrance tests and qualifications: You can always complete additional training or qualifications that employers value. This also shows a natural inclination to consistent skilling.
Leadership and decision-making skills: Develop leadership qualities and decision-making abilities in any capacity. Some examples of these skills are effective communication, handling complex situations, and effective decision-making abilities.
Networking: Many jobs related to captains are often not found on job boards. Attending industry events, joining professional organizations, and establishing connections will provide new opportunities for promotion.

Conclusion

The success of your career as a first officer depends on how quickly you can achieve your certifications and complete your flight hours. The career of a pilot is an exciting one, but it can also be unpredictable at times. If you have what it takes to make it, then it is time to look at open roles and apply to first officer jobs.

The success of your career as a captain depends on your approach to the steps and experience accumulated while serving as a First Officer. Preparing to step into the shoes of a Captain begins the day you start the role of a First officer. If you are unclear on how to become an airline captain, it is always a good idea to seek mentorship. And if you have it all figured out, why not start applying for airline captain jobs? Happy flying!

Difference Between First Officer And Airline Captain

First Officer and Captain: A Brief History

Who is a First Officer?

Who is a Captain?