Who occupies the flight deck?

• A. Captain, First Officer, and Relief Pilot
• B. Cabin Manager, Purser, and Attendant
• C. Captain and Passenger
• D. Dispatcher, Captain, and Engineer

Answer: (A)

The flight deck is the cockpit where the aircraft is operated, so it’s occupied by the flight crew responsible for flying the plane. In a typical commercial flight, two pilots are on the flight deck: the Captain, who is in command, and the First Officer, who assists and can assume command as needed. On longer flights, a Relief Pilot may also be aboard to cover rest periods, making three pilots on the flight deck: Captain, First Officer, and Relief Pilot. The other groups listed—cabin crew like Cabin Manager, Purser, and Attendant—work in the cabin and do not occupy the flight deck. A Dispatcher or Engineer isn’t part of the flight deck crew during normal flight operations; dispatchers work on the ground coordinating flight plans, and engineers handle maintenance tasks, not piloting the aircraft in flight. Passengers never occupy the flight deck in regular operations.