Who is second in the chain of command?

Who is second in the chain of command?

• A. Commander
• B. Relief Commander
• C. First Officer
• D. SCCM

Answer: (B)

On a BA flight, the person in charge on the flight deck is the Captain (Commander). For long-haul operations, a Relief Commander is designated to take command during the Captain’s mandatory rest period, so they sit directly after the Captain in the command chain. This arrangement ensures there is always a trained leader in command even when the Captain is resting. The First Officer normally acts as the co-pilot and would be next in line when there isn’t a Relief Commander or when the Captain is actively on the flight deck, but with a Relief Commander aboard, that role sits between the Captain and the First Officer. The SCCM is a cabin crew role and does not figure into the flight deck command hierarchy. So the second in command is the Relief Commander because they are specifically positioned to assume command during the Captain’s absence or rest breaks.

On a BA flight, the person in charge on the flight deck is the Captain (Commander). For long-haul operations, a Relief Commander is designated to take command during the Captain’s mandatory rest period, so they sit directly after the Captain in the command chain. This arrangement ensures there is always a trained leader in command even when the Captain is resting. The First Officer normally acts as the co-pilot and would be next in line when there isn’t a Relief Commander or when the Captain is actively on the flight deck, but with a Relief Commander aboard, that role sits between the Captain and the First Officer. The SCCM is a cabin crew role and does not figure into the flight deck command hierarchy. So the second in command is the Relief Commander because they are specifically positioned to assume command during the Captain’s absence or rest breaks.