Many airlines are operating mixed fleet flying (MFF) where crews are cross qualified to operate more than one type of aircraft. But what are the benefits and drawbacks of MFF to the airline and pilots alike?

Examples of MFF in the industry include Monarch which operate MFF on its Airbus and Boeing types. Cathay Pacific operate MFF between the A340 and A330. Other airlines which have or currently do operate MFF include Air France, Eithad, Luftansa and Emirates.

MFF can occur across significantly differing types of aircraft but it is more common across similar types such as the Boeing 757 and 767. Pilots which operate under MFF are known as cross qualified having completed a cross crew qualification (CCQ).

To the airline MFF provides them with an increased flexibility when it comes to crew assignment. For example Cathay Pacific operate the A340 and A330 over the same routes. MFF provides them with a pool of pilots who can operate the same routes on both aircraft.

The beauty of MFF comes when there are technical problems with an aircraft. Having cross qualified pilots means that an airline can assign a replacement aircraft of a different type to a flight without the need to change the crew.

For pilots MFF means you could be flying an A340 one day and a A330 the next. This variation is seen as a positive thing by most pilots. MFF also usually means that a pilot will operate a wider route network within their airline as each aircraft type will tend to be assigned to certain routes.

MFF can also mean a variation between short haul and long haul operations. This is most common on the Airbus family where pilots can be cross qualified on both the A320 and A330 aircraft. MFF of this type does happen but is not very common although personally I think short to long haul MFF is fantastic as it gives pilots a great flying mix.

Airbus have gone to great lengths to ensure their fleet of aircraft are suited to MFF. They have achieved this by designing their cockpits to be very similar amongst their family from the A319/20/21 to the A330/40. This significantly helps crews to alternate from one type to the next.

In addition to cockpit similarities Airbus aircraft also have very similar operating procedures and handling characteristics. For a pilot to become cross qualified on an Airbus aircraft a full type rating is not required provided the pilot is currently rated on one of Airbus's base type aircraft.

Instead of a full type rating a Cross Crew Qualification is obtained which allows a pilot to operate more than one Airbus aircraft type for the same airline.

MFF does of course have its drawbacks. Many studies have been conducted on the affects of MFF has on pilots. There remains the possibility of confusion under extreme high stress circumstances for pilots which are use to operating multiple types of aircraft on a regular basis.

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