Flight officer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Flight officer is the person onboard an aircraft responsible for its navigation. The flight officer's responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the pilot while en route, and ensuring that hazards or obstacles are avoided. The position may also be referred to as the navigator.
In the United States Air Force, the Navigator Badge is earned by officers so qualified. Depending on the aircraft and job responsibilities, navigators in the Air Force may also be referred to as Weapon systems officer (WSO), Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO), or Guy In Back (GIB). In the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the equivalent position is known as a Naval Flight Officer (NFO).
In the Royal Air Force, the term navigator is always used for the holder of this position in aircraft, including the backseat crew member in two-seater aircraft. Like pilots, navigators are always commissioned officers. They wear the single-wing aircrew brevet, with a capital 'N' in the centre.
