Do Planes Require Copilot?

All airlines are required to have two pilots on board. Should one be incapacitated due to injury or a medical issue, the other pilot is fully qualified to see the plane to a safe landing. But there are many more advantages to having two pilots on the flight deck.

Do you need 2 pilots?

Technically a pilot could fly a plane by themselves, but having two pilots is absolutely vital. In recent years proposals have been put forward to have a single pilot on the flight deck – to save money or potentially cover staff shortages – but this is simply not realistic in an industry where safety is paramount.

What does the copilot do in a plane?

A co-pilot is a first officer in a flight crew that works to assist the captain in safely navigating the plane. In this career, your job duties begin well before departure and include conducting pre-flight weather briefings, preparing the cabin for radio communications, and setting up other equipment.