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Quick question (born of ignorance since I know nothing of pilots and flying commercial airliners, so be gentle, please).

When the co-pilot asks if there are any pilots aboard (from amongst the passengers), is this because he's not qualified to fly the plane (I would tend to doubt that), because some silly regulation requires two qualified pilots be in the cockpit (I would tend to doubt that, too) or because there's just too much going on in there for one person to adequately handle it all on his own, and he needs another set of eyes/hands?

because some silly regulation requires two qualified pilots be in the cockpit (I would tend to doubt that, too) or because there's just too much going on in there for one person to adequately handle it all on his own, and he needs another set of eyes/hands?

That couldn't be possible. Planes take off all the time with just two pilots on board. If one goes to the lavoratory, that means there is just one pilot in the cockpit at the controls during that time. He probably wanted someone who could read check lists and operate the radio while he landed the plane.

As some of you know already I am a Captain for a large National Airline. We (Captain or FO) routinely leave the Cockpit to use the lavatory during flight. We are required to have one of the Flight attendants come up and take our place when we leave. They are obviously not qualified to Fly the aircraft but they can open the door for the other pilot when he/she returns.

The type certificate of the planes require two pilots to operate in part 121 (Air Carrier) operation. So yes some silly regulation DOES require two pilots. If this happens then the First Officer automatically becomes the Pilot In Command(PIC) and any other pilots or Flight attendants work under them until landing.

Wombat101, you are right. there is too much to do for one pilot to do everything normally. Both pilots are qualified to fly and usually we trade off for each leg or every two legs. One guy flies and the other guy talks to air traffic control and coordinates things with the Flight attendants and Operations people.