"Captain" or not bothered
the lunatic fringe
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Everywhere
Age: 67
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is a generational, and cultural thing I find.
When I fly with "older" cabin crew, they will often call me Captain. On or off the aircraft. Some will call you by your first name when not flying. The younger crew always call you by your first name. Indeed that is how I introduce myself.
At London on the ground you tend to get called by your first name, but not always. If you don't know the guys name in the left seat, it is much easier for an engineer just to say "Yo Captain".
Once you go East to India and beyond. Everyone local will call you Captain. That is a cultural thing.
I don't care what people call me.
Respect does not come from being called "Captain". Respect is earned, and that is earned by how I operate and treat the people around me.
When I fly with "older" cabin crew, they will often call me Captain. On or off the aircraft. Some will call you by your first name when not flying. The younger crew always call you by your first name. Indeed that is how I introduce myself.
At London on the ground you tend to get called by your first name, but not always. If you don't know the guys name in the left seat, it is much easier for an engineer just to say "Yo Captain".
Once you go East to India and beyond. Everyone local will call you Captain. That is a cultural thing.
I don't care what people call me.
Respect does not come from being called "Captain". Respect is earned, and that is earned by how I operate and treat the people around me.
Plumbum Pendular
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Avionics Bay
Age: 55
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Respect does not come from being called "Captain". Respect is earned, and that is earned by how I operate and treat the people around me.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wor Yerm
Age: 68
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First name terms please and definitely NOT "Captain" with all company personnel. With third parties like Dispatchers, Refuellers, Loaders, etc. I'll call them by their first names if I know them otherwise "Sir" or "Madam". With pax. it will also be "Sir" & "Madam" unless I know their name when it will "Mr xxx " etc. I want to be one of the first to hear that something is not normal or that there is something that the crew are concerned about - and if you are known as "Captain RRRrs" you are unlikely to get the feedback you need. When speaking to the pax I give my full name and anybody else is referred to the blanket description of "my colleagues" and their full name. Only when something out of the ordinary occurs do I become "Captain". On the ground, subject to time, I'll also speak to whoever wishess to speak to me. If there is flak to be taken, I'll take it - don't have a go at my crew!
PM
PM
Buttonpusher
A bit off topic, but when I first upgraded to the left seat, I was flying a domestic trip to Orlando, I was returning to the plane and someone yelled out my name very loudly in the jetway, I turned to see who it was.
Turned out to be the gate agent working the flight, she was quite red faced, she said "I'm sorry I tried getting your attention by calling you Captain, then I tried Sir, then finally asked one of your flight attendants your first name !!"
Turned out to be the gate agent working the flight, she was quite red faced, she said "I'm sorry I tried getting your attention by calling you Captain, then I tried Sir, then finally asked one of your flight attendants your first name !!"
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Sin City
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Respect does not come from being called "Captain". Respect is earned, and that is earned by how I operate and treat the people around me.
Respect should be earned, not demanded.
In some Asian airlines, the captain has god like status to the extent that i've seen them reprimanding ground staff and cabin crew to tears sometimes for the most mundane things ! I remember listening to a youtube video of an ATC recording where a Asian airlines captain demands to be spoken with respect to the american ATC. This commonly exists with the older Asian crews.
Western tech crews will also address the people around them( engineers, ground staff) as sir.
Bottums Up
I'm with Piltdown Man. I dislike being referred to as Captain by the crew or hotel staff, or ground transport staff, or ground staff, unless it's said to a pax, eg The Captain says ....
Most seem to accept this but a few have difficulty, from my observations, because of ethnic mores.
Most seem to accept this but a few have difficulty, from my observations, because of ethnic mores.
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,843
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I prefer to be called by my first name, in fact, if the F/O calls me Captain, I usually respond with "Forgot my name huh?" If they further insidt upon calling me Captain, I pull out my Passport and ask them to show me where it says Captain as any part of my name.
Admittedly, if the F/O or the cabin crew have forgotten my name, Captain is a very convenient substitute.
As far as the line of authority / respect goes, for heaven's sake, I know that I'm the Captain, they know that I'm the Captain, and it does not degrade my authority by one iotre!
Yeah yeah, it might be a cultural thing in some parts of the world (including mine), but I reserve the right, as does every other human being, to be addressed by the name that they choose.
Best Regards,
Old Smokey
Admittedly, if the F/O or the cabin crew have forgotten my name, Captain is a very convenient substitute.
As far as the line of authority / respect goes, for heaven's sake, I know that I'm the Captain, they know that I'm the Captain, and it does not degrade my authority by one iotre!
Yeah yeah, it might be a cultural thing in some parts of the world (including mine), but I reserve the right, as does every other human being, to be addressed by the name that they choose.
Best Regards,
Old Smokey
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Arizona USA
Posts: 8,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm mostly know as 'and you'!!!!
"Captain, would you like a coffee, - and you?"
"Captain, would you like a coffee, - and you?"
Further, our CC members positively know better than to try this 'and you?' nonsense..because they have been so instructed by the head shed.
Anyone who wants to be referred to as Captain instead of his name must have some deepseated image problems. I would not want to fly with him as crew or pax.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Many years ago, when I was flying turboprops, part of the checklist would be that the senior cabin crew would report number of pax, doors closed and undercarriage pins on board. The captain would reply with the flight time and cruising level. One very experienced stewardess had it down nicely.
"Forty-two pax, two doors closed, three pins on board, Captain"
"One hour forty-five, at sixteen thousand."
"Thanks, Peter"
What more is there to say?
"Forty-two pax, two doors closed, three pins on board, Captain"
"One hour forty-five, at sixteen thousand."
"Thanks, Peter"
What more is there to say?
Plumbum Pendular
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Avionics Bay
Age: 55
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
411A, not withstanding your operators antiquated requirements that you are called Captain, what would you prefer if you had your way?
If you worked in a more enlightened environment would you still insist on being called Captain?
If you worked in a more enlightened environment would you still insist on being called Captain?
I tend to think 'Captain' is a bit too formal, except for urgent situations that demand immediate attention. The rest of the time 'My Lord, Protector and Wondrous Commander of this Vessel' is fine. Salute followed by a bow while genuflecting limited to start and at end of duty. People tend to think you're a bit weird otherwise.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Around the world.
Age: 42
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
At the first airline I worked for, a traditional flag carrier we addressed the Captains (at the time all training captains) as 'Captain' or 'Sir' and the Chief pilot as 'Chief.' It was interesting then progressing as a cadet to JFO to an FO and flying with normal line captains, suddenly it all changed; mixed requirements.. some liked the traditional approach, some wanted first name.
Later I started working for an English airline as an SFO, everything is first name from the chief pilot downwards. I certainly got whipped into shape at the first airline, and it has paid dividends in my career I think. During base training the chief pulled an engine to idle in the A320 as I rotated (for real not in the sim), very very un-PC these days! All good training though...
Later I started working for an English airline as an SFO, everything is first name from the chief pilot downwards. I certainly got whipped into shape at the first airline, and it has paid dividends in my career I think. During base training the chief pulled an engine to idle in the A320 as I rotated (for real not in the sim), very very un-PC these days! All good training though...