Definition

In airline terminology, the phrase "senior first officer" can refer simply to a first officer who has served in that role for an extended time, or it can mean an officially recognized rank that falls between first officer and captain.

Description

In the U.S., the phrase "senior first officer" typically refers to an airline first officer, or copilot, who has held that position for an extended time and enjoys privileges of seniority such as higher bidding priority for schedules. Some pilots prefer to remain in that position, at least for a time, for better quality of life even though it means forgoing the higher pay (and lower bidding priority) of a junior captain.

However, in some countries, "senior first officer" (SFO) is a rank or position officially recognized by operators and regulators. These pilots may have attained a certain number of flying hours and/or completed additional training. On long flights, the SFO becomes the acting pilot in command when the captain is not on the flight deck.