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Aircrew
Bell212Pilot0002
Bell 212 aircrew from Alpine Helicopters scramble on a medevac mission.

Aircrew are personnel who operate an aircraft while in flight. The composition of the crew depends on the type of aircraft as well as the purpose of the flight.

In commercial aviation, the aircrew are called Flight Crew. Names of flight crew were originally derived from nautical terms:

  • Flightdeck
    • Captain, the pilot designated as the Pilot in command[1]
    • Co-pilot, another pilot who is not the pilot in command,[1] normally called the First Officer.
    • First officer, a pilot who is not the pilot in command.
    • Second officer
    • Third officer
    • Flight engineer, on older aircraft they were the crew member responsible for engines, systems and fuel management.
  • Aircraft cabin
    • Loadmaster, crew member on cargo aircraft responsible for loading freight and personnel and the weight and balance of the aircraft.
    • Purser or Customer Service Manager is responsible for the cabin crew as a team leader.
    • Flight attendant or Cabin Crew, crew member responsible for the safety of passengers.
RAF RAAF USAF C-17s 2007

USAF, RAF and RAAF aircrew and maintenance personnel with their C-17s

  • Pilot
  • Co-pilot

From the start of military aviation, additional crew members have flown on military aircraft, over time these duties have expanded and become more specialised:

  • Air gunner, crew member responsible for the operation of defensive weapons, for example gun turrets.
  • Bombardier or Bomb Aimer is a crew member for the release of ordnance particularly bombs.
  • Boom operator, crew member on tanker aircraft responsible for operating the flying boom and the transfer of fuel.
  • Combat systems officer
  • Crew chief, an engineer responsible for the maintenance and preparation of the aircraft.
  • Flight engineer, crew member responsible for engines, systems and fuel management.
  • Flight officer
  • Flight surgeon, not involved in the operation of the aircraft but is considered in the American military to be aircrew.
  • Loadmaster, crew member responsible for loading freight and personnel and the weight and balance of the aircraft.
  • Navigator
  • Observer
  • Rescue swimmer
  • Signaller or radio operator, crew member responsible for the operation of the aircraft communications systems.
  • Tactical coordinator
  • Weapon Systems Operator

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAA_CAP%20804.pdf UK Civil Aviation Authority CAP804

External links[]

 
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The original article can be found at Aircrew and the edit history here.
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