Definition
In a two-pilot crew, the pilot monitoring (PM) is the crew member who is not actively manipulating the flight controls. The PM handles radio communications, monitors aircraft systems and flight path, cross-checks the actions of the pilot flying (PF), reads checklists, and watches for errors or deviations.
Plain English
The pilot who is not hand-flying the airplane. Their job is to watch everything, talk on the radio, run checklists, and catch mistakes the flying pilot might miss.
Context Anchor
Seen in crew coordination, instrument flying, airline procedures, and any training discussion where one pilot flies while another pilot actively watches and supports.
Derivation
Monitor comes from a Latin word meaning “to warn” or “to remind.” That fits the aviation role: the pilot monitoring is not just watching quietly, but is expected to notice problems and speak up.
Why Pilots Care
Provides essential cross-checking that catches mistakes early and supports safe decision-making in two-pilot crews.
Intuition Check
Pilot monitoring does not mean a passive observer. It means an active crewmember responsible for watching, checking, communicating, and backing up the pilot controlling the aircraft.
Example Sentence 1
As pilot monitoring, the first officer read the approach checklist and confirmed the altitude capture while the captain flew the descent.
Example Sentence 2
During the en route phase the PM called out an approaching traffic conflict on the TCAS display.