Part 3/9:
The pilots for Flight 3054, each experienced captains, found themselves in a cockpit configuration that introduced significant operational risks. The captain, 53 years old with over 13,600 flight hours, was diligent but occasionally slow under pressure. The acting first officer, while also a captain, was less experienced on the Airbus A320, having only about 237 hours on that specific aircraft type after recently transitioning from an older fleet.
This unusual situation arose partly from Tam Airlines' mismanagement of its crew scheduling and training protocols, leading to communication issues within the ranks.