Comedian captain makes a come-back
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I am not sure this is going to find much of a receptive audience on a "spotters" forum, but at the risk of being a "party pooper" Simon does have a very valid point.
The opening youtube clip, is without doubt quite amusing, attentive and well delivered. From a professional pilots viewpoint, my first thought was "where does he find the time to do this?" Normally, by the time the last passengers have boarded we are becoming time critical on the departure slot, it is hard enough to get a decent "welcome aboard" P.A done, never mind doing a stand up routine at the front of the cabin.
Without doubt humour is a tool to be used carefully and advisedly. There are times when it has a place and times when it most definitely doesn't. Similarly there are those that are skilled in its use, bearing in mind the previous sentence, and those who are not. Given the subjectivity of both the performer and the audience recipient, it is usually best reserved for those occaisions where it is appropriate and likely to be well received.
Whilst "everybody loves the maverick," the truth is that most of the functions of an airline crew are either laid down by statutory obligation, and or are required to follow a standard operating format. As boring as that might appear, it is done for a whole host of safety related reasons. The professional approach may tread the middle ground, but the passenger who has just been bumped from an earlier flight, not got his requested seat, and generally feels mishandled, is unlikely to appreciate the flight crew extending their own personal brand of humour.
Going back to my safety related reasons. The pre-flight period isn't a vacuous gap waiting for time to push back. It is a time for the crew to make various preparations and checks / cross checks prior to departure. For the Captain it is a time when clearances are being obtained, calculations are being done, bugs are being set, briefings need to be done and understood, charts and plates extracted and checked etc. etc. Mistakes do get made and the raison d'etre for you both being there is that they are picked up and corrected. None of that is happening effectively whilst one or other is giving a stand up routine in the cabin.
Then there is the (albeit rare) possibility of a serious incident occuring where investigators, managers, lawyers, regulators et al. sit and carefully dissect the communications and procedures that were employed by the crew prior to the event. In those circumstances the professionalism and accuracy as well as adherance to standard and emergency procedures is what will matter. "humour" in these situations will become very unfunny indeed.
I recall some years ago a European 767 that hit a radio mast after taking off from a Venezuelan airport. Fortunetaly and despite severe damage, the aircraft returned to the departure airport with no injuries to the crew or passengers. Some of the passenger statements collected by the accident investigators drew reference to what a a "good guy" the Captain was, as he had been singing and dancing on the bar at their hotel the night before. Presumably that had no bearing on the accident, but you begin to see the problem.
The job is a professional job. Captains will use their own skill and judgment to ensure that all the requirements of their job are satisfied to the best of their ability. They will also be aware that other people look to them for leadership, reassurance, and example. Different people will employ different methods of achieving this and those methods may in themselves be subject to modification as time evolves or as a situation warrants. Some people have a skill or attribute that makes them uniquely good at an aspect of the job, and as perhaps in this case that is one that they occaisionally choose to employ. However it is a completely wrong perception to assume that the absence of maverick or unusual behaviour shows lack of professionalism or due diligence in the vast majority of pilots or crew.
The opening youtube clip, is without doubt quite amusing, attentive and well delivered. From a professional pilots viewpoint, my first thought was "where does he find the time to do this?" Normally, by the time the last passengers have boarded we are becoming time critical on the departure slot, it is hard enough to get a decent "welcome aboard" P.A done, never mind doing a stand up routine at the front of the cabin.
Without doubt humour is a tool to be used carefully and advisedly. There are times when it has a place and times when it most definitely doesn't. Similarly there are those that are skilled in its use, bearing in mind the previous sentence, and those who are not. Given the subjectivity of both the performer and the audience recipient, it is usually best reserved for those occaisions where it is appropriate and likely to be well received.
Whilst "everybody loves the maverick," the truth is that most of the functions of an airline crew are either laid down by statutory obligation, and or are required to follow a standard operating format. As boring as that might appear, it is done for a whole host of safety related reasons. The professional approach may tread the middle ground, but the passenger who has just been bumped from an earlier flight, not got his requested seat, and generally feels mishandled, is unlikely to appreciate the flight crew extending their own personal brand of humour.
Going back to my safety related reasons. The pre-flight period isn't a vacuous gap waiting for time to push back. It is a time for the crew to make various preparations and checks / cross checks prior to departure. For the Captain it is a time when clearances are being obtained, calculations are being done, bugs are being set, briefings need to be done and understood, charts and plates extracted and checked etc. etc. Mistakes do get made and the raison d'etre for you both being there is that they are picked up and corrected. None of that is happening effectively whilst one or other is giving a stand up routine in the cabin.
Then there is the (albeit rare) possibility of a serious incident occuring where investigators, managers, lawyers, regulators et al. sit and carefully dissect the communications and procedures that were employed by the crew prior to the event. In those circumstances the professionalism and accuracy as well as adherance to standard and emergency procedures is what will matter. "humour" in these situations will become very unfunny indeed.
I recall some years ago a European 767 that hit a radio mast after taking off from a Venezuelan airport. Fortunetaly and despite severe damage, the aircraft returned to the departure airport with no injuries to the crew or passengers. Some of the passenger statements collected by the accident investigators drew reference to what a a "good guy" the Captain was, as he had been singing and dancing on the bar at their hotel the night before. Presumably that had no bearing on the accident, but you begin to see the problem.
The job is a professional job. Captains will use their own skill and judgment to ensure that all the requirements of their job are satisfied to the best of their ability. They will also be aware that other people look to them for leadership, reassurance, and example. Different people will employ different methods of achieving this and those methods may in themselves be subject to modification as time evolves or as a situation warrants. Some people have a skill or attribute that makes them uniquely good at an aspect of the job, and as perhaps in this case that is one that they occaisionally choose to employ. However it is a completely wrong perception to assume that the absence of maverick or unusual behaviour shows lack of professionalism or due diligence in the vast majority of pilots or crew.
Judging by his opening comments he was flying passengers home who had been held up by the 'Ash cloud' Perhaps he was using his skill to calm down any irritated people and fill in a time delay?
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Humour equals relaxed crew and staff.
Great video, every pilot is different, for some if they weren't making a funny joke you would know that something is wrong. 
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Reminds of a time i was sat on the flight deck during a turnround chatting to the crew and the capt was giving us the full low down on some hostie he had nailed when there was suddenly a frantic hammering on the flight deck door it turned he had inadvertantly left his radio switched to PA , the crew said the had never seen the paxs so attentive during a capts brief, ...priceless !
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I was once on a LH 747 out of DFW and there was a severe storm with icing. DFW does not have a huge capacity for de-icing due to the rarity of the event, so there was a significant delay. The Captain's announcements were entertaining, informative, and useful and seemed to be appreciated, judging by the applause he received, by the entire aircraft, including the business class cabin where I was seated.
Bealzebub has made some very valid points, and whilst I appreciate that there are few things more critical than the safety of an aircraft and its passengers, there can still be a place for humour.
Bealzebub has made some very valid points, and whilst I appreciate that there are few things more critical than the safety of an aircraft and its passengers, there can still be a place for humour.
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As the original poster, I wanted to take the opportunity to reply. Bealzebub, following your comments I have the confidence to express my true opinion on this. (Without the fear of being castigated).
If I had been on that flight, I would not have appreciated his routine. Clearly, the circumstances of the flight were somewhat unique. I assume that the aircraft, crew and most passengers on board had been stranded for up to a week and this was the first opportunity to come home. So it was not a "normal" flight. I imagine this is why he was not working to a 25-minute turnaround and had time for the stand-up routine.
That said, it would not have made me laugh. It would not have instilled confidence in me. If anything, it would make me think: we have an ego here.
I certainly hope the First Officer received more professional treatment on the Flight Deck. Again, it is a personal opinion, but I do not think it is particularly clever to make a colleague, a professional pilot, the butt of your joke.
Joking about the destination and patronising passengers (I am fairly sure that some DO watch the safety demonstration actually) etc. is not wise and only serves to undermines one's authority (at least among the more savvy passengers), As Bealzebub says, there are safety implications.
I have flown many times on easyJet. I think they are a great airline. I have heard and appreciated dry, funny comments from several captains, but this one, for me, goes too far.
Nick
Last edited by Nicholas49; 17th Jun 2010 at 20:17.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
I fly professionally and passenger a lot.
Knowing when to use humour to get a message across is very useful.
The type of passenger you have, what the purpose of the flight is and so on.
I suspect that he's diffused what could be a very stressy time for the FAs and for the pax. They had probably been hit with a CTOT that was causing more delays. Pax may (and probably were) quite nervous about flying at that time with the so called ash cloud wreaking havoc.
The FAs have probably been on the receiving end of some abuse too. It's not uncommon.
As for making people watch the Safety brief? Good on him. I don't know what life jackets are fitted to the old GB airways fleet. I am familiar with the A319 fleet and they are different to the B737. (Yes, some Boeings are still being used by easyJet in Luton)
Using his FO for a "laugh", well, that's maybe a dodgy one but we don't know their crew dynamics on that day.
This captain clearly loves his job, uses humour to good effect and gets (most of) the passengers "on side".
Well done.
Knowing when to use humour to get a message across is very useful.
The type of passenger you have, what the purpose of the flight is and so on.
I suspect that he's diffused what could be a very stressy time for the FAs and for the pax. They had probably been hit with a CTOT that was causing more delays. Pax may (and probably were) quite nervous about flying at that time with the so called ash cloud wreaking havoc.
The FAs have probably been on the receiving end of some abuse too. It's not uncommon.
As for making people watch the Safety brief? Good on him. I don't know what life jackets are fitted to the old GB airways fleet. I am familiar with the A319 fleet and they are different to the B737. (Yes, some Boeings are still being used by easyJet in Luton)
Using his FO for a "laugh", well, that's maybe a dodgy one but we don't know their crew dynamics on that day.
This captain clearly loves his job, uses humour to good effect and gets (most of) the passengers "on side".
Well done.
I'll always remember coming home from ACE a few years back on a TCX 757, sat there at the holding point with a captain clearly happy to be going home for the evening, keeping us all amused with his dismay at the lack of nudists on the beach at that time of the day.
Later on he comes back on the PA to point out the sunset to the left and says "When I was at school I painted a picture just like that sunset. Art teacher said it was over the top and you'd never see a sunset like that. I'd love to him to be onboard now just to prove him wrong! Ha" Very random but gave me a laugh, nonetheless.
Followed it all up by likening a bit of rough air over France to running traffic wardens over... did say he was going on holiday in the morning though during taxi in. Was definitely in the holiday spirit!
Later on he comes back on the PA to point out the sunset to the left and says "When I was at school I painted a picture just like that sunset. Art teacher said it was over the top and you'd never see a sunset like that. I'd love to him to be onboard now just to prove him wrong! Ha" Very random but gave me a laugh, nonetheless.
Followed it all up by likening a bit of rough air over France to running traffic wardens over... did say he was going on holiday in the morning though during taxi in. Was definitely in the holiday spirit!
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Just what one needs deadheading home after a brutal day, some bloody clown yacking away on the PA, it might come as a suprise to some but most pax want to be left in peace and quiet, to sleep/read/catch up on work, or do any of a hundred things other than have this stuff forced upon them, after all they are a captive audience and cant just leave! I know of at least one charter outfit who no longer D/H crews on Westjet for this very reason, hate to be the party pooper but survey after survey confirms these feeling to be those of the majority.
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Quite agree, if i want to listen to a bloody comedian on a flight i will listen to the big yin on my i pod, the guy in charge should stick to what he is paid to do, ie fly the aircraft, as for people on here being hugely impressed by the capt saying over the PA "this is it boys and girls here we go" .. ffs get a grip.
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There is a place for some charisma when dealing with passengers, but this announcement was not it. You have to remember in this job that public perception is very important. If you behave like a clown in the cabin, the passengers will assume you behave the same way in the flight deck.
How would you feel if you went to hospital and the doctor came in the room larking around and generally playing the fool. It doesn't inspire confidence does it.
Look at the body language of the cabin crew, they are obviously very embarrased by the Captain's performance.
Some of the passengers laughed - that doesn't mean the Captain inspired trust in them. They just thought he was funny.
How would you feel if you went to hospital and the doctor came in the room larking around and generally playing the fool. It doesn't inspire confidence does it.
Look at the body language of the cabin crew, they are obviously very embarrased by the Captain's performance.
Some of the passengers laughed - that doesn't mean the Captain inspired trust in them. They just thought he was funny.
Only a few days ago I was "entertained" onboard the VS20 whilst taxying out at SFO by the Capt (name recalled, but withheld) assuring us that he was joined in the Flight Deck by Brigadier ...... and Field Marshall ....made me chuckle anyway.
Funniest I've had have been with 216 Sqn RAF, but at least one should probably not be broadcast here (and won't mean anything unless you've been to the South Atlantic anyway!)
Funniest I've had have been with 216 Sqn RAF, but at least one should probably not be broadcast here (and won't mean anything unless you've been to the South Atlantic anyway!)
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Captains P/A
For god sake you lot get a life there are comics/clowns in all sorts of jobs.
We have quite a few in Westminster
Get a life and enjoy things they dont happen very often in life now a days
would you prefer the Crew to be like u lot (Boaring and miserable)
GET YOUR ANORAKS ON AND GET SOME SPOTTING DONE
Good Night
For god sake you lot get a life there are comics/clowns in all sorts of jobs.
We have quite a few in Westminster
Get a life and enjoy things they dont happen very often in life now a days
would you prefer the Crew to be like u lot (Boaring and miserable)
GET YOUR ANORAKS ON AND GET SOME SPOTTING DONE
Good Night
