Right hand seat Captains
Tha late Ernest Gann, who wrote several fine books such as the famous "Fate Is the Hunter" etc, claimed in this book that after WW2, some ex-military pilots had no interest in joining the airlines, and risk being a copilot for some crusty Captains and hoping for crumbs to fall their way, knowing that such Captains were hopping between Buffalo, Rochester, Newark, Cleveland etc while the copilot (who was lucky to fly more than a few landings, or legs, now and then...) was getting shot at over enemy territory or trying to avoid problems over the Burmese jungle or miss the Himalayas in terrible weather with ice on the wings, tail and props or engine inlets while managing complex engines: and no hot engine 8th and 13th stage bleed air to help keep it off.
Those Captains today who hog all of the 'spoke legs' for a whole month and are uncomfortable letting a fairly new FO (past first 100 hours etc with company ) fly an approach to minimums might be a bit greedy, or are probably not too sure about their own limitations and skills...or hold a personal grudge after a long corporate merger, having run up against the (ratio) seniority " [verde] ceiling" in their seat.
Nowadays, most don't worry about sharing credit or the "limelight" later, in the "eyes" of certain females on the crew. Many of the more brittle egos have already retired or will soon, following their glorious reign on the widebodies (" no-not Ft. Walton Beach, I live in Destin"). And the nice ones try to avoid discussing their salaries outside of pilot circles, other than with family or financial planners (CFPs) etc-but for some, such unnecessary modesty might reduce their potential for self-perceived exalted status among the peasants...(for some) the desired result of that rather crude, unrefined American tendency to let others know how much our net pay is...
Those Captains today who hog all of the 'spoke legs' for a whole month and are uncomfortable letting a fairly new FO (past first 100 hours etc with company ) fly an approach to minimums might be a bit greedy, or are probably not too sure about their own limitations and skills...or hold a personal grudge after a long corporate merger, having run up against the (ratio) seniority " [verde] ceiling" in their seat.
Nowadays, most don't worry about sharing credit or the "limelight" later, in the "eyes" of certain females on the crew. Many of the more brittle egos have already retired or will soon, following their glorious reign on the widebodies (" no-not Ft. Walton Beach, I live in Destin"). And the nice ones try to avoid discussing their salaries outside of pilot circles, other than with family or financial planners (CFPs) etc-but for some, such unnecessary modesty might reduce their potential for self-perceived exalted status among the peasants...(for some) the desired result of that rather crude, unrefined American tendency to let others know how much our net pay is...
Last edited by Ignition Override; 12th Nov 2002 at 05:09.
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Jimmy
At the end of the sector ask him/her to comment on your own CRM and command style, as you realise that you never stop learning and you are keen to improve. If they then ask for feedback on their own CRM you can then give it in a non agressive environment. If they don't ask then say that you have appreciated their comments and would be grateful for any feedback on future sectors (they WILL ask eventually). Just watch the difference on the next sector.
Airclues
At the end of the sector ask him/her to comment on your own CRM and command style, as you realise that you never stop learning and you are keen to improve. If they then ask for feedback on their own CRM you can then give it in a non agressive environment. If they don't ask then say that you have appreciated their comments and would be grateful for any feedback on future sectors (they WILL ask eventually). Just watch the difference on the next sector.
Airclues
Last edited by Captain Airclues; 12th Nov 2002 at 20:04.
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This is a problem I've had many times over the years and it's difficult.
There was one guy I used to fly with who was fairly good at reading up on the ops manual etc, but then he'd find some nit-picky trivia in the manual which he'd have difficulty agreeing with, to then ask questions about it in a sort of criticising fashion ..almost to the point of arguing about it, the result being that the captains could never get a moment's peace during a long day...VERY exhausting.
I found myself having to step on a few point-scorers..the F/Os with bug all experience but trying to prove they're better than anyone else.
Before I say the next bit, I have NEVER had any disrespect for female pilots, but I've flown with a few who focus to much on trying to be equal or better or something like that to a man...and in my experience, and these types tend not to accept any sort of correction from a male, so they go into a huff, leaving the captain to operate like a single crew babysitter to a spoilt child who's thrown her teddy out of the pram.
If I think I recognise these symptoms, my big prority is to think before I speak so that the big huff doesn't doesn't happen.
If it does happen, use lots of charm to regain two crew status ASAP.
(For the record.. female pilots who simply cut out the crap and get on with the job are wonderful )
On a couple of occasions if you can get the mood right, you can sort of play a monitoring game. ie: you count the mistakes I make and I count the ones you make..subtract the two at the end of the day, and the loser buys the beers.
Don't get carried away with it, but if you can keep the mood enjoyable, you can maintain a good two crew co-ordination, allow yourself to get a bit nit-picky in a light-hearted sort of way, and prove to your F/O that he makes plenty of mistakes so he'll realise that he probably isn't as bright as he was trying to prove.
If all else fails...smack his bottom after the flight.
There was one guy I used to fly with who was fairly good at reading up on the ops manual etc, but then he'd find some nit-picky trivia in the manual which he'd have difficulty agreeing with, to then ask questions about it in a sort of criticising fashion ..almost to the point of arguing about it, the result being that the captains could never get a moment's peace during a long day...VERY exhausting.
I found myself having to step on a few point-scorers..the F/Os with bug all experience but trying to prove they're better than anyone else.
Before I say the next bit, I have NEVER had any disrespect for female pilots, but I've flown with a few who focus to much on trying to be equal or better or something like that to a man...and in my experience, and these types tend not to accept any sort of correction from a male, so they go into a huff, leaving the captain to operate like a single crew babysitter to a spoilt child who's thrown her teddy out of the pram.
If I think I recognise these symptoms, my big prority is to think before I speak so that the big huff doesn't doesn't happen.
If it does happen, use lots of charm to regain two crew status ASAP.
(For the record.. female pilots who simply cut out the crap and get on with the job are wonderful )
On a couple of occasions if you can get the mood right, you can sort of play a monitoring game. ie: you count the mistakes I make and I count the ones you make..subtract the two at the end of the day, and the loser buys the beers.
Don't get carried away with it, but if you can keep the mood enjoyable, you can maintain a good two crew co-ordination, allow yourself to get a bit nit-picky in a light-hearted sort of way, and prove to your F/O that he makes plenty of mistakes so he'll realise that he probably isn't as bright as he was trying to prove.
If all else fails...smack his bottom after the flight.
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Good copilots will make good Captains. IF an uncooperative/difficult copilot gets to the LHS he'll definitely be a selfish Captain who won't establish an efficient team relationship with his F.O.'s.
Leadership and followership should always be present in the cockpit and both pilots will provide either at different times.
The Captain will always have final say at the end of the day, because it's his baby.
He who hasn't followed orders isn't fit to give orders.
Leadership and followership should always be present in the cockpit and both pilots will provide either at different times.
The Captain will always have final say at the end of the day, because it's his baby.
He who hasn't followed orders isn't fit to give orders.
