How many 'pilots' on a 787?

I'm on the VS2 (787, EWR-LHR) and was surprised to hear announced that there are three 'pilots' in the cockpit.

Is this usual?

Short trip like that would normally be 2 but the 3rd could be an assessor checking up or another pilot training up on the 787 prior to the delivery of the new planes.

New security measures?

DL

[Darren Wheeler]

It will be a check flight or new pilot in training under supervision.

Good to know: thanks!

I was on that flight also, I thought it was a bit strange when they made that announcement, I was chatting to the cabin crew, and they said it was a pilot in training. I was also laughing with the cabin crew regarding the FSM announcement about the overhead light button on the "Arm rest" where clearly on the 787, its on the video screen..lol

[mitchja]

I was also laughing with the cabin crew regarding the FSM announcement about the overhead light button on the "Arm rest" where clearly on the 787, its on the video screen..lol

Yes, I saw several pax (and crew) struggle with this on my 789 flights as well. There's also an over-head light button on the remote control too.

There isn't a remote control unit on the 787, everything is done on the touch screen, ie: call button, over head light, volume & Brightness control

[mitchja]

Sorry I should have made my post a little clearer. There is a removable touch screen remote control unit in all Upper seats on all A/C that have VERA Touch (LGW/MAN 744's and all 333's) or VERA Touch 2 (789's). I think it's available in Premium as well.

It's Economy that doesn't have a remote control on any VERA Touch A/C.

On the 789's in Upper, it's not immediately obvious it's removable though as I saw pax struggle with theirs.