Definition
In a two-pilot crew, the pilot who is not actively manipulating the flight controls during a given phase of flight. This pilot handles support tasks such as monitoring instruments, making radio calls, running checklists, watching for traffic, and calling out airspeeds and altitudes.
Plain English
When two pilots fly together, one is hands-on the controls and the other is the support pilot. The support pilot is the 'pilot not flying.' They handle everything except actually steering the airplane.
Context Anchor
Used in crewed airplane operations, including the takeoff roll, when one pilot controls the airplane and the other monitors and supports.
Why Pilots Care
Clear role division prevents both pilots from focusing on the same task and leaves one person free to catch errors or handle unexpected problems.
Intuition Check
Do not read “not flying” as “not involved.” It means that pilot is not handling the controls, but is still actively monitoring and assisting.
Example Sentence 1
During the takeoff roll, the pilot not flying called out 'airspeed alive' and 'V1' as the airspeed indicator came alive and the airplane reached decision speed.
Example Sentence 2
After rotation the pilot not flying completed the after-takeoff checklist while the pilot flying maintained climb attitude.