New captains dont be nervous
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Olendirk,
i have gotten command half a year ago. So you may consider me unexperienced or whatever.
Now I do fly with many FOs, that have been on type for many years, just as I fly with brand new ones, who have more hours operating lawnmowers than pasengerjets. I usually leave a very long leash for my FO, letting him decide on the fuel on his leg, fly with or without flightdirector, by hand or on autopilot,... but only as long as I can cover the situation s/he puts me in. If for any reason I feel my plan doesn't hold up for the type of situation I am being put in, i will exercise my authority.
This works the other way also, when flying with a brandnew FO, who is not even able to judge his/her own abilities. If I find myself acting too fast, and have a feeling that my FO looses the ability of oversight and wouldn't be able to recover by himself, I need to do something to get him back into the cockpit, preferably even ahead. That might be to fly a 360, to level off intermediatly, or just to simply tell the tower we are not ready for departure, even if a slot is about to run out.
This is what makes flying safe.
Now as an FO, you get told by the captain, if s/he doesn't like what you are doing. As a CPT, sometimes you get told, and sometimes you have to use all your antennae to sense the unspoken. You have to order an overconfident FO to shift down a gear, and take some time to rethink the plan.
I find your attitude very immature, and I believe you have not given enough thought to the fact, that airliners are being flown together, not one guy there and the other back.
You need many more years of selfreflection, social competence. It's not just the hours on type that count.
Nic
edit: you just posted, as I was writing. Of ycourse there is no sense in talking down the FO, but if the old man feels uncomfortable whith how you are flying? Keep him in the cockpit with you, maybe he can't think the way you do, still is too busy with the new aircraft. What is the problem for you to switch to a mode, the other guy likes? Then you will be flying the thing together again, go home and have a beer - instead of having a one man show with a
up approach in the end..
i have gotten command half a year ago. So you may consider me unexperienced or whatever.
Now I do fly with many FOs, that have been on type for many years, just as I fly with brand new ones, who have more hours operating lawnmowers than pasengerjets. I usually leave a very long leash for my FO, letting him decide on the fuel on his leg, fly with or without flightdirector, by hand or on autopilot,... but only as long as I can cover the situation s/he puts me in. If for any reason I feel my plan doesn't hold up for the type of situation I am being put in, i will exercise my authority.
This works the other way also, when flying with a brandnew FO, who is not even able to judge his/her own abilities. If I find myself acting too fast, and have a feeling that my FO looses the ability of oversight and wouldn't be able to recover by himself, I need to do something to get him back into the cockpit, preferably even ahead. That might be to fly a 360, to level off intermediatly, or just to simply tell the tower we are not ready for departure, even if a slot is about to run out.
This is what makes flying safe.
Now as an FO, you get told by the captain, if s/he doesn't like what you are doing. As a CPT, sometimes you get told, and sometimes you have to use all your antennae to sense the unspoken. You have to order an overconfident FO to shift down a gear, and take some time to rethink the plan.
I find your attitude very immature, and I believe you have not given enough thought to the fact, that airliners are being flown together, not one guy there and the other back.
You need many more years of selfreflection, social competence. It's not just the hours on type that count.
Nic
edit: you just posted, as I was writing. Of ycourse there is no sense in talking down the FO, but if the old man feels uncomfortable whith how you are flying? Keep him in the cockpit with you, maybe he can't think the way you do, still is too busy with the new aircraft. What is the problem for you to switch to a mode, the other guy likes? Then you will be flying the thing together again, go home and have a beer - instead of having a one man show with a
up approach in the end..
This problem is symptomatic of underconfident Captains. New captains will be for a short time feel slightly uneasy in their new position and will be aware how much they have to lose if they get it wrong. Therefore they will quite rightly be a little more controlling. However as they feel more comfortable they will release their grip. The problem is with the longer term Captains who never seem to gain reasonable confidence and basically use f/os as an autopilot.
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Olendirk
Any First Officer must fly within the capabilities and comfort zone of whichever Captain they fly alongside as he's the one who has to recover any situation. Once you go outside these parameters, as the chap with all the liability, he will say something and eventually take control if necessary.
Any First Officer must fly within the capabilities and comfort zone of whichever Captain they fly alongside as he's the one who has to recover any situation. Once you go outside these parameters, as the chap with all the liability, he will say something and eventually take control if necessary.
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Wee one,
I must say I laughed at your post! Am a Scandi myself with 1200h on type. Obsessed with visuals, overly confident and probably arrogant as well! Thoroughly enjoy flying fast for as long as possible! My flying habits have been formed by various captains in my present company (which is most likely the same as yours).
I must say I laughed at your post! Am a Scandi myself with 1200h on type. Obsessed with visuals, overly confident and probably arrogant as well! Thoroughly enjoy flying fast for as long as possible! My flying habits have been formed by various captains in my present company (which is most likely the same as yours).
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As Shanwick shanwick has said, each Captain ( and F/O ) has a comfort zone. If you will it is a box. Within this box there is an individual acceptance that they can cope adequately with their own performance and the performance of other crew members. This box is not rigid, and it will expand to some degree, with experience and it will change shape with experience. A Captain will only be confident if at any given time the operation keeps them within this box. Sometimes situations will occur that take an individual towards the edge of this box, and it is natural and usually desirable that caution will steer the individual back to a safer position.
For new Captains this box is understandably going to be restricted. This will be the case when the individual is new to the role and again if they are new to the type. A good and experienced F/O will recognise this reality and hopefully adjust their own responses to accomodate this. This is part of the learning curve, because F/O's also have dynamic comfort zones that an experienced Captain will need to recognize and hopefully will try to accomodate.
Sometimes you just have to be patient.
For new Captains this box is understandably going to be restricted. This will be the case when the individual is new to the role and again if they are new to the type. A good and experienced F/O will recognise this reality and hopefully adjust their own responses to accomodate this. This is part of the learning curve, because F/O's also have dynamic comfort zones that an experienced Captain will need to recognize and hopefully will try to accomodate.
Sometimes you just have to be patient.
