First officer

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This article is about the civil aviation rank. For military use, see Executive Officer.

In commercial aviation, the first officer is the second pilot of an aircraft. They are second-in-command of the aircraft, and subordinate to the captain. The task of actually flying (controlling the aircraft, ie. take-off, landing and flight path control) is normally shared equally between the first officer and the captain, to allow both to gain experience and maintain competency. Even when the first officer is flying, the captain remains ultimately responsible for the aircraft and its passengers and crew. Because many airlines promote by seniority within their own company only, the first officer may at times have more flying hours than the captain, for instance with other airlines, or as a military pilot. Traditionally, they sit on the right-hand side of a fixed-wing aircraft, or the left of a helicopter. See also: Captain, Second officer, Third Officer