How Many Pilots are Needed for a Flight?
It all depends on the length of the journey. For shorter flights, there are usually two pilots on board – the Captain and the First Officer. The Captain sits on the left and is the “pilot in command” meaning he makes major decisions (after taking the first officer’s input) and is ultimately responsible for everything that happens on the flight.
The first officer sits on the right and is the second in command. They work together as a team to ensure a safe flight at all times. Usually, pilots can’t fly for more than 8 hours at a stretch so for long-haul flights, there are four pilots who work in shifts.