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Captain’s expectations of a new FO.

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Captain’s expectations of a new FO.

Old 29th Jul 2018, 20:49
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Captain’s expectations of a new FO.

It would be great to hear from training/line captains and what your expectations of a brand new FO with zero hours would be. What subjects would you quiz them on? Also great to hear from FOs and their experiences of being challenged on different subjects. Thanks!
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Old 1st Aug 2018, 10:10
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Easy. I expect him/her to listen to me - even if I am an old dodderer. I have learnt a lot in fifty years and the broad yellow streak up my back has served me well!
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Old 1st Aug 2018, 11:21
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pretty much nothing. I get them to fly the first 10 - 20 sectors and get used to the environment. Nobody flies well when they are being grilled for a load of pointless questions that the other bloke already knows the answer to. Everyone knows how to fly - they have a licence - so I let them do the bit they already know how to do. All the other crap can come later..
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Old 1st Aug 2018, 12:13
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and I don't particularly quiz them on anything. We just work through anything that comes up. After a while, most things do!
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Old 1st Aug 2018, 12:16
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Predictability
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Old 1st Aug 2018, 13:26
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Not a trainer.

It takes time for conceptual knowledge to build up in such a way that you are capable of digesting what is written in the manuals. Without a year or two of experience most things you read in the manuals mean nothing. Heck, even those with 10 years of commercial flying experience are sometimes none the wiser about some topics because the rules change so quickly!
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Old 1st Aug 2018, 18:28
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SOP's a re a foundation on which can be built.
Initially experience is gained following SOP's to the letter, this is what initially is taught in line training and acts as the best foundation for flying when released from training.
It then takes years of experience, learning from different highly experienced motivated captains to learn good airmanship and variations to SOP if required in the interest of safety.
SOP's cover 99.99% scenarios, some however fall outside them, these are learnt by flying and being presented with them the flight line.
There is not always a right and wrong in things either, but only one method is taught initially, to keep you and your colleagues and passengers safe.
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Old 1st Aug 2018, 19:45
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Prepare for each flight carefully Read the briefs for each airfield and all of its alternates,. Look at the route. The teaching of geography seems to have declined in the last two decades, so learn where the high ground is and also a bit about the political background of where you are flying over, and why the most obvious alternate may be completetely unusable.
The CIA Factbook is an excellent resource.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...orld-factbook/
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Old 1st Aug 2018, 20:00
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Do not come with a calculator to add fuel figures on the OFP.

Brief one’s self beforehand for the airport we would go to.

Know how to handle EFB on the iPad efficiently.

Aspire, show commitment and eagerness.

Last edited by FlightDetent; 2nd Aug 2018 at 05:55.
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Old 1st Aug 2018, 22:46
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Do not forget OM-C.
Contingency Procedures especially. They differ in some countries.
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Old 2nd Aug 2018, 00:01
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Know how to say the following:
1. That was a great landing captain;
2. Can I buy you a beer captain?;
3. I will take the ugly one captain.

It is a shame you will miss out on the fun real flying can give .But it seems direct to the RHS of a mini jet is the way things are done these days .
​​​​​​.Learn as much about the aircraft you are flying as you can. When you fly with a good captain learn from them . The way they do something, the way they think, ask them questions on how they made the decision they made, observe the way they talk/communicate with crew and company, the way they lead. When you fly with the not so good captain (and you will), use the phrase "OIC" when they try and teach you garbage, and think back to what the good captain taught you .
Try and refrain from starting an instagram persona being a gym/monk/ginger etc pilot . Do the job because you enjoy it, not to try and make people think you are less insecure than what we probably are . Have real friends not followers .
Be truthful when you don't know something . No-one knows everything, if asked something you don't know, admit it and ask questions to learn . Be truthful to yourself when you have a bad day at work: thump the landing in, give whip lash to crew and pax when using the brakes, make a cluster of a PA or radio call. Reflect on it trying to improve .
Don't become a FMC junky .be able to work out your own descent profile rather using speed brakes to keep the vert deviation at 0 . Know how much fuel your aeroplane burns in the cruise and in the hold and use the FMC to back up your calculations. Know how much fuel your flight plan will have you landing with. By this I mean in Kilos or pounds, rather than saying I have 20 min extra. By knowing this you can pick a fuel problem earlier, and before you get the EICAS or ECAM .and make a better decision on how much fuel will be required.
But most all, try your best, and enjoy your flying .
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Old 2nd Aug 2018, 04:15
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Originally Posted by CloudMedic
It would be great to hear from training/line captains and what your expectations of a brand new FO with zero hours would be. What subjects would you quiz them on? Also great to hear from FOs and their experiences of being challenged on different subjects. Thanks!
Expectations ? Don’t use a website on the internet to figure out what’s expected of you
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Old 2nd Aug 2018, 05:31
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Don’t use a website on the internet to figure out what’s expected of you
As amply demonstrated by the excellent answers above, Cloudmedic has done himself a big favour asking his question here.
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Old 2nd Aug 2018, 09:11
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in my company they give you a training record which lists all the topics you should know and will be quizzed about during your line training. There is a supplement there that lists all the relevant chapters in OM-A/B/C/D that one can cover to prepare. Basically in order to be released for line check you have to have all topics marked with sufficient grades from your line training captains. Generally the way it works is - you take off, establish a cruise and if the workload is low, the cpt simply asks which topics have you prepared and are ready to discuss. So basically you prepare at your own pace

But the theory questions really don't begin until you are some 10 sectors in and somewhat comfortable with whats going on. Until then really don't fall behind the plane really and don't plant it into the ground
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Old 2nd Aug 2018, 10:51
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I wish 411A was still around to add his thoughts on this topic
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Old 2nd Aug 2018, 12:27
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You can't expect anyone to show up early for report let alone new first officers, nobody has a right to dictate this to any member of the crew. All I would expect is a good knowledge of SOPs and be open to a little bit of advice. The only person responsible for one's training and development is the first officer himself. Everything else will grow with experience.
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Old 2nd Aug 2018, 14:16
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Don't turn up smelling of beer and boasting that you were on the turps the night before. Then repeat the same boast a few days later. These cool dudes are in every airline and need an instant put down by the captain. They are potential alcoholics and a potential danger in the future unless stopped in their tracks early in their employment
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Old 2nd Aug 2018, 16:58
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I used to tell brand new First Officers/Second Officers - 'if in doubt, ask....and never under-estimate my ability to make mistakes..' !
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Old 2nd Aug 2018, 18:22
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All about the attitude for me, some stink, some are great. Can be flying with a day 1 cadet and have an easier day than a guy with a few thousand hours all dependant on the attitude.
The ability to speak and understand English also helps however is sadly becoming more and more of an issue as the barrel is well and truly scraped.
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Old 3rd Aug 2018, 06:03
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Turn up on time for the brief with the mobile stowed and on silent..
Know the SOPSs.
Don't assume that Flight School/ATO has taught you everything you'll ever need to know about flying ....it's just the beginning etc, etc..
The fact that the the old git or gitess in the LHS went through Flying college or the Milittary in the days of chalk and talk, analogue instruments...and worse still knows nothing about "Love Island" does not mean they are clueless.
And despite the above caveats....do speak up if you think something going wrong or you see something going on you don't understand.
To my mind it is simply a question of balance and mutual respect.
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