Fair_Weather_Flyer
Yes I can relate to that.
It is not easy to stand up to pressure, especially when it's the boss exerting it. The ground rules must be established early on. It does require experience to stand up to this and a lot of experience in some cases. "Given them an inch and they will take a mile". "Help them out" once and they will expect it every time and then you become their whore.
I have been subject to commercial pressure right from the beginning of my career. The worst is a privately owned aircraft with a boss or bosses who are out of touch with reality. In civil aviation commercial pressure is an absolute killer if you allow yourself to be pushed.
When things do go wrong, these people will be the first to put blame on the pilot, if they are able. "Why did you do that Captain?"
As far as I am concerned, the most important person on the aircraft is me and be damned if I am going to be ordered by some imbecile to fly the aircraft into the ground.
Be polite but firm. At times I find hard to stay polite.
Last edited by wessel_words; 12th Apr 2010 at 22:51.