B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 13578; Flight Crew Type 1412
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Company Policy
Regular FO (First Officer) was able to get vacation drop and trip was assigned to a reserve pilot. During flight planning FO said it was good I was an LCA (Line Check Airman) since he had questions. He also told me I would need to watch him like a hawk. During set up the FO asked very basic questions and when I reviewed the FMC I found numerous errors. No position loaded alignment didn't complete; no tail number with data reset; unable to remember how to pull up intersection data and get it to load. When I asked him how long it had been since he sat in the right seat for takeoff replied around 8 months since he had attended 2 landings classes within the last a few months prior. This pilot was not prepared. He had lost confidence; when I asked if he really didn't know some of his questions his reply was I think they are right I just want to double check. I found myself falling into OE (Operating Experience) mode and spent the rest of the flight as if it were an OE. With a strongly worded debrief that if this had been a line check he would not have [passed]. By the second leg; which he flew; he was at end level proficiency. This pilot told me he bids reserve for more time off. This report is not to rat him out; but to point out the problem our current system of scheduling has on maintaining proficiency. He told me he had studied but admitted he was not prepared. Anytime a pilot tells you 'To keep an eye on him 'should raise warning flags. I would also like to point out if a pilot missed work for an 8 month period; he would require [recurrent training] for 2 legs.
B777 Captain reported that the reserve First Officer had not flown in 8 months and was not proficient in the aircraft.