This is very true

I'm just waiting on him mentioning his horror about when he returned to the flight deck to see the guys still wearing their pyjamas..

Harry, I guess you never read a newspaper then while oceanic to Aus on CPDLC with no weather? Too busy keeping those 400 people alive with your hands on the controls..

Harry does come over as a bit of an old woman sometimes but essentially he is in the right here. My problem is less with the ethos of being in command and carrying out your responsibilities diligently and professionally; that should be a given. My concern is the ever increasing muppetry of the cabin crew empire and the deplorable drop in quality of their recruits in the last few years. I know it's a generational thing; they are Gen X - instant gratification, and a natural disdain for authority. Some of the seniors and pursers I fly with these days stagger me with their nonchalant attitude to the chain of command. Once or twice I've listened to a welcome PA from one of the crew, welcoming the pax on behalf of the purser- no mention of the captain. I even had a very senior purser recently describe how when remonstrating with a drunken passenger, he told him that he, (the purser) wouldn't hesitate to divert the aircraft and have him arrested if he didn't behave. I've had to talk to crew about horseplay in front of passengers in a line at immigration, while the seniors did absolutely nothing. Twice I've had to speak to crew about a visibly bad attitude towards me and their colleagues.

A bit of thread creep I know but it was being pushed in this direction. For me the link to retention here is the seemingly irrecoverable slide down the greasy pole of the captain's authority: too many people in Service Delivery really think that the aircraft is theirs and the company is complicit in this by not disabusing them of their ill informed opinion. The rot has spread elsewhere too. Anybody had to have a conversation with Network Control recently? The lack of interest is extraordinary. The sense that you're just bothering them is palpable, and that they know better than you.

All told, the company really has stopped investing in its people, whatever mantra they throw about in public.

Blog, very astute, I've lamented the same on numerous occasions, I now give them two chances, on the third strike they get offloaded or dead-head home. Reminds me of the North African chap who explained to me recently that he was in the flight deck to "knock-out" the other pilot if he touched the controls while I went out for a fuel jettison, needless to say he was banished to economy and I made sure he wasn't part of my crew on the way home.
I find the whole issue with the chain of command quite simple to resolve, but I can do it in my PJs with a paper in hand if needed.

Monarch Man, spot on! It's very possible to lead without being a complete dick. Especially to the other guy/girl. If they're on the ball, and someone is minding the shop then who cares if they're on their iPad instead of reading a newspaper? Now if they're doing it over the hilamalays, missing radio calls or on descent then that's a different conversation.

Thread drift to the max as always!

"The sense that you're just bothering them is palpable, and that they know better than you."

Rings bells.
The latter is something I've experienced in the Castle.
I really didn't like being talked down to by someone who's probably been to only 2 airports in their life.
Made a mental note to avoid in the future.

I questioned myself afterwards to check if it was my attitude that was the problem.
No. Definitely theirs.

Guys, can I throw an open question if I may...

If you are all sick of the EK lifestyle, then why don't you just leave? Not only are there other airlines out there, there are other careers! Think about how many people aspire to be in your shoes.

Have a good read of the threads. My, my are the trolls busy today...

Seems like Costa in the castle is busy...

At the end is all about making a right decision at the right time...such as push the throttles when TOGA not working or release the side stick when pitots are iced up, dich it in the river...in your PJs or while browsing, my family does not care...my 2c

Wtf
 

Why don't you throw an axe instead

LEAVING.

What makes you think that many who read and participate in these discussions haven't already done so or are contemplating doing so or are in the very process of doing so?

But thanks for participating in a discussion you apparently know nothing about. This IS the internet, after all.

I think you meant Generation "Y" or the "Millennials"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials

Airtractor.

Yes I did, thanks for the correction. I should have known, I have two of my own!

So do I and they are a lot of work !
;-)

Not sure on which topic to post this, as all this topic-drifting blurs my mind.

This is addressed to my fellow EK mates and not the snot-nosed kids posting in various names on different treads. Some with the same IP addresses.

Now
Most of the regulars here are seniors and/or TRE’s
Why on earth would you take the time to respond to these snot-nosed brats.
Would the argon-welder tolerate back-chat from his apprentice?
Does the law under-graduate have any recognition?
Doctors treat interns with distain
The mining engineering student enters the lift last

These newbies are keen, like we were.
We were good enough to join the military and/or our national carriers, which we left to join EK – because EK WAS better. Even with those bloody red ties.
These kids are not good enough for that.
Let them be.

They like to post:
holding my face / I’m not looking at myself in the Volvo / I can dip a 20kg plate/ I finally have an oxy mask - which I struggle to use - and therefore sound like Darth Vader because I have not learnt not to breathe and transmit simultaneously (was that the real a/c?)/ My bicep in uniform / My bed in the sky / I’m not looking but I’m taking a pic of myself / I pretend to look at the back of the passenger-seat -headrest in the Volvo while I accidentally take a pic of……myself / my car / my stringvest …etc.

These are the interns / candidate officers / I’m so useless I have to pay for my flying / apprentice welders / blast certificate students

Give them time.
Let them join. Give them time to mature and have families. Then watch them complain.

Don’t see my family, I’m on a final warning for not arming the SpdBrk @ 1000’, I can’t get emergency leave to say goodbye to my father –because fleet wants the death certificate, I need to buy CAT C tickets back to DXB in case the flight goes Tech, my upgrade is delayed by 1 year because I missed a pick up, the DCP decided I’m not ready for command because of my attire at the interview, kids have 4 years of school before I can leave, can’t get timeoff to do an interview, a grade 2 reported me for sexual harassment when I asked for a coffee please “DARLING”, my wife left me…….yada yada

The EK pilot body figure is predicted at 5600-5800 (STC early 2015). Then no more – unless they order more a/c. (Not)
Let them join at #4300, let them jump in. They will not see a command for +/-10 years. Depending on how fast the guys above them leave……….and the age thing, if it is true.
HAHAHAHA