In an airline setting, who does most of the radio communications?

Question

Pilot, copilot, or both of them?

Answer 1

Whichever one is not flying does most of the radio communications.  But when he goes off frequency then the flying pilot usually handles the radio communications.

Answer 2

It is the law that there always has to be a definite "Pilot in Command." There is never a question about who is currently in control of the aircraft, this is to prevent accidents where each person thinks the other is in control. If you switch controls, you have to say "you have control" and then the person taking control responds "I have control."

  Usually, the person not handling the physical movement of the airplane will be doing radios, since they need to be ready to copy instructions (need their hands free to take notes) and need to be free to push buttons and dials on the radio stack.

Answer 3

Funny question - but there really isn't one more then the other.  It's really strange, I'm an aviation geek and you buy DVD's of flights.  I own a few of them and there really seems to be no reason of who is talking.  It seems to be up to the pilot.  Generally the co-pilot will take off and land the plane - which I always found surprising but I guess into todays technology the real work is done in planning the trip and making adjustments due to weather and ETOPS reg - thats what the pilots due.

Something you may find interesting (or maybe not but I did) - in the new A320 - there are no "steering" wheels.  In front of the pilot is this little desk that can be folded back into the dask.  The co-pilot has a little joystick on the side of his chair (I assume the pilot does but I didn't see it).  Boeing aircraft still have the old school set up.

Answer 4

before the flight, the pilots agree who will fly the aircraft and who is to operate the systems, the radios, check fuel states etc.

so if the captain is working the radios, then the co-pilot or first officer, will be flying.

both pilots will not be working the radios at the same time.

there is no rule to who is supposed to do what. sometimes, the crew will split the tasks. (first half, FO is flying and second half of the flight capt. is flying)

Answer 5

Tasks are split between. however it is all up to the pilots to decide who is in control of what. But i see a lot is one pilot makes the call-outs, and the other completes the tasks and verifies that it is complete.