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Old 4th May 2009 | 00:44
  #28 (permalink)  
parabellum
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,103
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From: Chabanais, France
Therefore, my opinion, Captains aren't in a position of 'bossing' anyone around let alone 'commanding', 'ordering' or 'telling' an F/O what to do and what not to do. Those days are gone I'm afraid
You are using strong words there, Ordering, Bossing etc. Surely the bottom line is, as the Captain, in your brief, you state what will happen, hopefully fully in accordance with SOPs and the FO should have no problem with that? If the F/O wants to buck the system, then, as the captain, you point out the error of his ways and in extremis that may result in both 'telling' and if necessary, 'ordering'. All the time there is the very rare 'stroppy' F/O I don't think those days are gone,the problem has to be solved as and when it happens, passing it on to Fleet Managers and Chief Pilots is not an option thirty minutes before scheduled departure or on reaching the cruise when the non aviation related laptop comes out.

The ultimate responsibility rests with the captain and he has to protect his position, 99.9 times out of 100 he can do this without feeling he is in conflict with his crew.
The introduction of formalised CRM has not removed the captain's authority or changed the authority gradient on the flight deck. Captains may still require to 'tell' or 'order' or 'command' as required to achieve a safe operation but it is the way he does it that matters and that is what CRM is about, not about turning the flight deck into a democratic committee.

Last edited by parabellum; 4th May 2009 at 01:12.
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