Ok captains - how would you handle this one? Capt PF notes CB on radar and asks F/O to ask ATC for diversion 30 miles east of track due weather. F/O squints at radar picture and says how about 15 miles east, that is all you will need. Capt again tells F/O to request 30 miles. F/O calls ATC and requests 20 miles east due weather. Captain fumes but too late to counteract as ATC says clear 20 miles and report when able to regain track. As aircraft reaches 15 miles on the way to avoid CB in front, the F/O calls ATC and says we are clear of weather and now taking up heading to regain track. Captain furious and points to more CB on next scale and demands in future F/O do what he is bloody well told. F/O shrugs shoulders and goes on reading his newspaper in the RH seat.
Should the captain do the warm and fuzzy human factors thing like confrontation avoidance and merely remind the F/O of who is in charge? Or should the captain rip his guts out after landing? Should the captain send in a formal report? And as this particular F/O is well known for his casual attitude should he be dismissed from the airline as a safety hazard.