What to do,if flying with an uncomfortable captain?
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Good post TT.
I'm still not clear from the OP that this is the case. It could just be that nobody likes flying with the guy and not that he's dangerous. I asked but didn't get an answer.
Big difference.
P.S. as a captain I may not be infallible but I'm certainly less fallible than the pope
...to those who are a downright threat to the operation. In the latter case if you as FO...
Big difference.
P.S. as a captain I may not be infallible but I'm certainly less fallible than the pope
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There's a distinct division you need to make here:
Is the captain not following procedures, operating in an unsafe manner, violating regulations etc,
or,
Is he just unpleasant on a personal level?
These are two very distinct dimensions, and you need to know which one you are attacking. One does not necessarily imply the other. Some rouge captains will be nice to you, and some very professional captains will be less than courteous. Most will be both professional and kind, and every once in a while you will find a cowboy who is also an idiot.
It is your job to speak up about unsafe and nonstandard practices. You are also licenced and your opinion does matter. It is your duty to do this, both to the captain, the company, to yourself and certainly to all the fare paying passengers. If it involves taking heat from your colleague, then that is something you will have to endure. It's not always easy, but it is nevertheless your job.
When it comes to personal relations, it is not your duty to change your colleague's behaviour. People are different and some get along better than others. It is a fact of life and holds true in all professions. I certainly try to go along to get along, just because I find it makes for a more pleasant workday. However, I personally will not tolerate abuse in the workplace any more than I would in a bar or at home, and on a very rare occasion I might tell someone that I do not agree with their behaviour towards me or others. That is a part of my personality, and I am sure not everyone agrees with it.
The point is that as a professional you have to differentiate between these two aspects of the job. The first gets easier with experience, and the second one may be easier with age. After a while you get to know yourself, and you will know where your lines in the sand are.
Is the captain not following procedures, operating in an unsafe manner, violating regulations etc,
or,
Is he just unpleasant on a personal level?
These are two very distinct dimensions, and you need to know which one you are attacking. One does not necessarily imply the other. Some rouge captains will be nice to you, and some very professional captains will be less than courteous. Most will be both professional and kind, and every once in a while you will find a cowboy who is also an idiot.
It is your job to speak up about unsafe and nonstandard practices. You are also licenced and your opinion does matter. It is your duty to do this, both to the captain, the company, to yourself and certainly to all the fare paying passengers. If it involves taking heat from your colleague, then that is something you will have to endure. It's not always easy, but it is nevertheless your job.
When it comes to personal relations, it is not your duty to change your colleague's behaviour. People are different and some get along better than others. It is a fact of life and holds true in all professions. I certainly try to go along to get along, just because I find it makes for a more pleasant workday. However, I personally will not tolerate abuse in the workplace any more than I would in a bar or at home, and on a very rare occasion I might tell someone that I do not agree with their behaviour towards me or others. That is a part of my personality, and I am sure not everyone agrees with it.
The point is that as a professional you have to differentiate between these two aspects of the job. The first gets easier with experience, and the second one may be easier with age. After a while you get to know yourself, and you will know where your lines in the sand are.
Spent 20 years as a first officer - the last thirteen as a foreigner as well...seen the lot.
First try the approach of asking to talk to him/her privately and tell him/her your concerns and how you believe it is affecting the operation and possibly safety.
If it doesn't work then hard luck - then you have a choice of management, going sick or calling him a c u next tuesday.
Done them all, sometimes it works and other times I have actually told people to stick the job.
The worst time was the first with a bully and went to management to be bullied and humiliated...quite common at the time in the legacy carrier.
Only had it once as a skipper with an aggressive first officer..tried the gentle approach which didn't work..in the morning he had changed and realised that he was out of his depth and behind the aircraft the night before. So talked it over and slowed down so that he could keep up. So partly my fault for being a speedy Gonzales.
Generally "difficult" characters have some personal problems and are often afraid and bullies.
Remember bullies are cowards.
Another bad one was with a skipper who had been told a pack of lies about me after I had taken control from another skipper...I hadn't told anyone but he had spread a load of bull as a defence.
Eventually told him that I wouldn't fly with him again...completely took the wind out of his sails.
Good luck BUT DO try and talk to them.
If it doesn't work go home - life is too short.
First try the approach of asking to talk to him/her privately and tell him/her your concerns and how you believe it is affecting the operation and possibly safety.
If it doesn't work then hard luck - then you have a choice of management, going sick or calling him a c u next tuesday.
Done them all, sometimes it works and other times I have actually told people to stick the job.
The worst time was the first with a bully and went to management to be bullied and humiliated...quite common at the time in the legacy carrier.
Only had it once as a skipper with an aggressive first officer..tried the gentle approach which didn't work..in the morning he had changed and realised that he was out of his depth and behind the aircraft the night before. So talked it over and slowed down so that he could keep up. So partly my fault for being a speedy Gonzales.
Generally "difficult" characters have some personal problems and are often afraid and bullies.
Remember bullies are cowards.
Another bad one was with a skipper who had been told a pack of lies about me after I had taken control from another skipper...I hadn't told anyone but he had spread a load of bull as a defence.
Eventually told him that I wouldn't fly with him again...completely took the wind out of his sails.
Good luck BUT DO try and talk to them.
If it doesn't work go home - life is too short.
If the Captain is the sort of person that manipulates the controls when you are flying just refuse to fly any sectors. Tell him that as he is obviously not comfortable with your technical ability that you will happily do the PNF duties for the day. That will make him stand up and take notice. Captains don't have to give you a flying sector but equally you don't have to accept any.
When I was a bit more experienced as an F/O and a Captain started handling the controls I made them very aware that I wasn't happy with what they were doing and the if they weren't happy with my flying then they should call the tolerance I was exceeding or take over. As others have mentioned there are bullies in every operation and there are people who just don't have any personality. This Captain sounds like a bully and the best way to fix it is to stand up to him. Not easy as a junior F/O but better to get done sooner rather than him making your life a misery.
When I was a bit more experienced as an F/O and a Captain started handling the controls I made them very aware that I wasn't happy with what they were doing and the if they weren't happy with my flying then they should call the tolerance I was exceeding or take over. As others have mentioned there are bullies in every operation and there are people who just don't have any personality. This Captain sounds like a bully and the best way to fix it is to stand up to him. Not easy as a junior F/O but better to get done sooner rather than him making your life a misery.
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I know what it's like dealing with captains like this. I've put up with (too) many like this and can still remember them. We have one called the "Pixie" years ago who has now retired but I'll tell you what - if ever I meet him again... But I didn't have to put up with gits like this. The Pixie was a complete idiot and most people thought the same. But your options are probably the same as the ones I had. You have to do one or some of the following (doing nothing is not an option):
Keep your mouth shut and bite your tongue
Speak with him face to face
Get off
Report the captain to your management
Report the captain to your national aviation authority
Either way you are not happy flying with him and shouldn't have to do so.
PM
Keep your mouth shut and bite your tongue
Speak with him face to face
Get off
Report the captain to your management
Report the captain to your national aviation authority
Either way you are not happy flying with him and shouldn't have to do so.
PM
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Flew with a Skipper a few years back who displayed all the personality of a bit bull with a badly infected arse.
He was condescending, rude, aggressive, short tempered, and worst yet the guy had a streak of arrogance that ran through everything he said or did, misplaced IMHO.
Long story short, we arrive down route, said gentleman asked if I'd like to meet up for a beer, I replied in a raised voice (in front of the rest of the crew..who had also suffered) "no thanks, right now your lucky your not chocking on your broken teeth, and if you ever behave that way again working with me that's going to be the outcome"
Next day....you couldn't have flown with a more personable engaging individual, classic bully.
He was condescending, rude, aggressive, short tempered, and worst yet the guy had a streak of arrogance that ran through everything he said or did, misplaced IMHO.
Long story short, we arrive down route, said gentleman asked if I'd like to meet up for a beer, I replied in a raised voice (in front of the rest of the crew..who had also suffered) "no thanks, right now your lucky your not chocking on your broken teeth, and if you ever behave that way again working with me that's going to be the outcome"
Next day....you couldn't have flown with a more personable engaging individual, classic bully.
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Hello there!
as some have said on this thread: is it his attitude, or is he non-standard and/or dangerous?
if it is his attitude:
gather those other colleagues who have the same perception as you and go talk to the management, if that doesn't work: walk him to his car one day after a flight and talk to him directly and if he gets aggressive, kick the hell out of him.
if it is his flying, take notes, write down safety reports, talk to the chief pilot.
captains are no where near being supermen. they are just pilots, like copilots, but with normally more experience (within the company) and have legal responsability of the flight.
I see 800h copilots with better flying skills, logic, landings than 5000h captains.
I have no sympathie for those many arrogant pilots we meet nowadays.
as some have said on this thread: is it his attitude, or is he non-standard and/or dangerous?
if it is his attitude:
gather those other colleagues who have the same perception as you and go talk to the management, if that doesn't work: walk him to his car one day after a flight and talk to him directly and if he gets aggressive, kick the hell out of him.
if it is his flying, take notes, write down safety reports, talk to the chief pilot.
captains are no where near being supermen. they are just pilots, like copilots, but with normally more experience (within the company) and have legal responsability of the flight.
I see 800h copilots with better flying skills, logic, landings than 5000h captains.
I have no sympathie for those many arrogant pilots we meet nowadays.
