WDB FLC FAILS TO HAVE RELIEF OFFICER OCCUPY R SEAT WHEN FO VACATED. CAPT DID NOT USE OXYGEN.

Narrative

THE FO LEFT HIS SEAT TO GO TO THE LAVATORY. I WAS BUSY CHKING A POS AND FAILED TO NOTICE THAT THE IRO HADN'T GOTTEN IN THE FO'S SEAT. AN FAA INSPECTOR ON BOARD WARNED US THAT I SHOULD GO ON OXYGEN OR THE IRO SHOULD OCCUPY THE FO'S SEAT (WHICH IS THE CORRECT PROC). AT THAT POINT THE IRO STOPPED WHAT HE WAS DOING AND TOOK THE FO'S SEAT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 271333: I WAS ENGROSSED IN SOME COMPANY RELATED PAPERWORK AND INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED A MEASURABLE LAPSE OF TIME TO PASS BEFORE MAKING A MOVE TO OCCUPY THE EMPTY SEAT. THE FAA INSPECTOR FELT THAT THE TIME INTERVAL WAS EXCESSIVE AND GAVE THE CAPT AND MYSELF AN IMPLIED WARNING ABOUT SOMEONE 'GETTING IN TROUBLE' IF WE DID NOT GET ON OXYGEN IMMEDIATELY OR I DID NOT GET INTO THE FO'S SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY DROPPED WHAT I WAS DOING AND GOT INTO THE SEAT. THE MATTER SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED UNTIL ARR IN PHL. THE INSPECTOR ASKED TO OCCUPY THE CTR JUMPSEAT (WHICH IS THE RELIEF OFFICER'S NORMAL DUTY STATION ON ALL INTL FLTS) AND THE CAPT INDICATED HE WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT ARRANGEMENT. THE CAPT SAID HE WANTED ME TO BE ABLE TO RENDER ASSISTANCE WITH COMPANY CALLS AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE WX RADAR DUE TO TSTMS IN THE ARR AREA. THE CAPT HAD ALLOWED THE INSPECTOR TO TALK HIM (OR INTIMIDATE HIM) INTO SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT DURING OUR DEP IN PARIS. AFTER A BRIEF DISCUSSION; THE INSPECTOR AGREED RELUCTANTLY TO GO ALONG WITH THE CAPT. I THEN ASSISTED THE CAPT AS HE DIRECTED; AND PERFORMED MY NORMAL DUTIES (WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE IN THE OTHER OBSERVER SEAT). AT FLT TERMINATION; THE INSPECTOR EXPRESSED CONSIDERABLE DISPLEASURE OVER BEING DENIED A SEAT WITH A GOOD VIEW OF THE COCKPIT BECAUSE IT BETTER HELPED HIM TO 'DO HIS JOB.' HE ALSO BROUGHT UP THE SEAT CHANGE INCIDENT AGAIN AND IMPLIED THAT THE TIME LAPSE WAS UNSATISFACTORY SINCE WE OBVIOUSLY KNEW BETTER. HE DID NOT ACTUALLY SAY WHETHER HE WOULD PURSUE CERTIFICATE ACTION.