Why and what dose it mean for the captain (pilot) to have 4 strips and f/o 3 ?

Question

Why and what dose it mean for the captain (pilot) to have 4 strips and f/o 3 ?

Answer 1

Order of "rank"-- however sometimes the "rank may be the other way around, as pilots sometimes shift positions when "deadheading home" from flying a different airplane! In fact the "flight engineer" could outrank both captain and first officer on some flights, - for same reason!

Answer 2

John I think what he means is that the FE can have a lot more experience in terms of flight time than the guys at the front. It's actually quite common as FE's also don't have to retire at 60.

I know of one particular carrier that allows Captains over 60 to get their FE rating and on one side wear 4 bars and on the other 2, a sign of there past seniority I guess.

But the guy in the left seat still has the final authority of his aircraft.

Answer 3

It's done that way for the same reason military officers wear insignia of rank.  The visible sign of your rank, experience, and authority helps get orders followed and procedures to run smoothly.

Appearing in the flight deck with those 4 stripes had a feeling that went with it that is hard to describe.  Nobody laughs at you unless you tell a joke, and then everybody laughs, whether it's really funny or not.

Answer 4

Its just their uniform

Captains get 4

FO's get 3

Unless the FO previously qualified as a captain on another type...in that case he or she will still get to wear 4.  There's no magical science to it, its just that captains wear 4 and FOs wear 3.

One time my captain and I were hanging out in a hotel room having a few beers.  When he wasn't looking I switched our epaulets so I had 4 and he had 3.  It took him two days to notice.

Answer 5

Airline "ranks" are derived from the original rank insignia of Naval officers.  Four solid bars is "Captain."  But not like a captain in the Army, Marines or Air Force (that's an O-3...just above Lieutenant) but rather like a ship captain (O-6...just below General).  

Three bars would be a "Commander."  Although airlines don't always use those terms, that's where the shirt/jacket insignia comes from.

Most airlines have the "left seater" (pilot) wearing Captain rank.  

Teachme

Answer 6

I know, it's silly huh? In our executive flight department everybody wears four strips. Captains, FOs, FEs . We wouldn't wear uniforms at all but it makes it easier flying international with customs and whatnot. But I want a team effort not navy tradition c**p and team means we're all equal even though one has the authority. The left seat is in charge whether he's wearing four stripes or four pinky rings. I never understood why rank has to be displayed in aviation. I can read the FARs until I'm blue in the face and can't find the words "captain, first officer, second officer" written anywhere.

And  guess 786, can you tell me how a flight engineer or anybody else can out rank the designated pilot in command? We must be reading different FARs.

Sorry Charles, ain't buying it. If rank has anything to do with authority then nobody in an aircraft has higher authority than the pilot in command. I really don't care how old and experienced the old f**t riding sideways is. We must be reading different FARs too buddy.

Answer 7

So it's easier to tell who's buying the drinks