No, both pilots do not fly the plane at the same time; instead, they follow a strict "Pilot Flying" (PF) and "Pilot Monitoring" (PM) protocol. At any given moment, only one person is actively controlling the aircraft, while the other handles communications with air traffic control, monitors the flight instruments, and cross-checks the actions of the flying pilot. This division of labor is essential for safety, as it prevents confusion and ensures that there is always a "second set of eyes" to catch potential errors. The roles are typically swapped between flight segments; for example, the Captain might be the Pilot Flying from London to Paris, and the First Officer might take the controls for the return leg. Even when the autopilot is engaged, one pilot is designated as responsible for managing the automation while the other monitors the systems. In the rare event that both pilots need to touch the controls simultaneously—such as during a specific training maneuver or an emergency—they use standardized verbal commands like "I have control" and "You have control" to ensure there is never any ambiguity about who is in charge of the flight path.