That is all very well, but in my experience of CRM, assertiveness has never been mentioned. Assertiveness has never been tested. Assertivness has never been taught.
Training in this area is woeful. We watch a few videos and agree that something should have been done or said by the ill fated pilots, but that's it.
My experience of CRM over many years is that
a) Most of the flightdeck want to go home as soon as possible. The majority are simply not interested in CRM at all. They will skip breaks and rush through stuff just to get finished and get home before the rush hour. Some are heard saying "what a waste of time".
b) The general atmosphere towards those who are keen to get involved in the classroom is: don't - you wil make the day last longer and we want to get home, so don't say anything.
c) It is assumed that every first officer - including the 200 hour novice - will be able to confidently manage a situation such as the one in the link, stand up to the fiercest egomaniac, handle bullying and still be able to rise above this and offer advice and ultimately take control. Yet none of this ability has ever been checked or tested.
d) When it all goes wrong, what is usually implied is that the F/O should have done something - when that F/O has been given no training or tools with which to do it.
Last edited by Uplinker; 1st March 2016 at 14:36.