Russian Il-96-400M Requires Third Crew Member Due to Complex Technical Systems

The Il-96-400M Russian passenger aircraft has three crew members on salary, while its competitor, the Boeing 777, manages with just two. According to a recent report, this difference in staffing is not due to technological backwardness, but rather a different engineering philosophy.

The third crew member of the Il-96-400M does not control the aircraft instead of the pilots. Instead, he or she is primarily responsible for monitoring technical systems such as engines, power supply, hydraulics, fuel, and other units.

This is particularly important on a large four-engine airliner like the Il-96-400M, where fuel consumption and distribution among the tanks must be carefully controlled taking into account the aircraft's weight and balance.