Right seat captain stories

[Flyerdan]

I was trying to keep it as short as possible without filling an entire page...in any case, there was no need to program an FMS for a 10 mile visual...I certainly did try to help this FO out on a visual approach. He just needs some more time in the airplane to become fully comfortable. The point was that he spent 2 days telling me how to fly, instead of trying to learn how to become a better pilot. I try to learn something each leg...the day that stops, you just became dangerous. I spent 2 years as a flight instructor...and have a double degree in education...I am the FIRST to try to help someone out and teach...kinda like the FAR's require and ATP to do. You totally missed the point. If you want a full on dissertation of the events that transpired...read mine. It's in the National Library in Washington DC...under falling education system in America. Never completed the PhD, to become a pilot instead...and if you'd read the entire post, you'd understand that I have a full appreciation for the fact that there are TWO required seats in the airplane...that means two of us...not a dictator-ship. There are not 4 stripe and 3 stripe desicions...there are 7 stripe decisions. If I do something wrong...I fully hope that my FO will catch it. That's the beauty of being human.

If I misinterpreted your post I apologize. I don't think I totally missed your point though. The point I was wanting to make was that your FO could have probably just pointed the aircraft at the runway and landed it but the systems got in his way and he could have used some help. I know our SOP requires us to program a visual approach in the FMS, back it up with an ILS if it's available, and in training they promote the idea of using the autopilot until almost a short final. This puts the new guys at a disadvantage because they are trying to get a feel for the jet as well as get a handle on managing all the systems.

Maybe that guy had it coming because he was trying to act like he knew what he was doing when he didn't.

 

[rightseatjocky]

I just flew with a brand new (female) First Officer off IOE.
We were flying to Key West at night. My leg as I would not let her fly down there. Again we're flying at night and she is messing with all the buttons on the clock. I asked her what she was doing. She said, " I am trying to turn down the light on the clock".
I started laughing and thought to myself.
"YEP, ANOTHER EMPTY DANCE CAGE" !!!!
:beer:
uke:

 

[FlySacto]

Originally Posted by Flyerdan
I've flown with people like you. You like to sit back and watch someone struggle and then fail just so you can save the day and stroke your ego.

Why not be a team player in that situation and help the guy out by either talking him through the FMS, etc., or at least taking some of the workload from him so he can succeed. By just watching him fail you added nothing whatsoever to his experience level except to be even more stressed out the next time he is confronted with that situation. Lets just hope he can bid avoid you in the future so he can fly with Captains who believe in mentoring their FO's.
I
If I misinterpreted your post I apologize. I don't think I totally missed your point though. The point I was wanting to make was that your FO could have probably just pointed the aircraft at the runway and landed it but the systems got in his way and he could have used some help. I know our SOP requires us to program a visual approach in the FMS, back it up with an ILS if it's available, and in training they promote the idea of using the autopilot until almost a short final. This puts the new guys at a disadvantage because they are trying to get a feel for the jet as well as get a handle on managing all the systems.

Maybe that guy had it coming because he was trying to act like he knew what he was doing when he didn't.

Sorry Flyerdan, but I don't sense that you've watched a clusterscrew about to take place from the left seat or read his post very well. I think Twinpilot was more than kind in his response to your hipshot remarks. Giving flight instruction to a <300 hour pilot on the FMS at 2 1/2miles/min during a last moment runway change on a visual approach would be plain stupid, yet you think Twinpilot's there to stroke his ego? The poor FO was screwing the pooch during a basic airmanship skill! There's a time and a place for the Captain to give instruction and act as a mentor. It's not when things are getting very stupid real fast. Re-read Twinpilot's post again. I'd fly in his right seat in a heartbeat. He's got it right in his proceedure and attitude. Re-read yours again and believe me, you'd be counting your heartbeats if you ever flew in my right seat if you talked that krap!

 

[flyguy81]

I just flew with a brand new (female) First Officer off IOE.
We were flying to Key West at night. My leg as I would not let her fly down there. Again we're flying at night and she is messing with all the buttons on the clock. I asked her what she was doing. She said, " I am trying to turn down the light on the clock".
I started laughing and thought to myself.
"YEP, ANOTHER EMPTY DANCE CAGE" !!!!
:beer:
uke:

or another empty kitchen

 

[rightseatjocky]

Laughing,
Amen to that Flyguy!!!
:beer:

 

[Long Time Gone]

NQP's aren't permitted to anyway. Lack of brain cells is one of the reasons.

 

[rightseatjocky]

Long Time,
That is just one thing that happened with her on this flight. There were so many things this chick did that I had to ask her how she passed IOE.
I just didn't want to tell everything that went on. I just couldn't believe it.
I thought you would like that one though.. Punching buttons on the clock was one that I had to laugh about though.

 

[spudskier]

Spudskier,

"and some of them should've have never made it"

That is just YOUR useless opinion. You either make it or you don't! There is no barely or almost, it is either pass or fail, and the type is a ZERO F#ck Up event!

IF YOU WANNA BE A CAPTAIN THEN JUST BECOME ONE, AND QUIT TALKING! Until then you can STFU!


If there is something to be said I want my FO to speak up. I also want him/her to use good CRM. That being said you should try to respect the Captain. I know I always did! (I am not saying that you should not speak up or make sure that no mistakes are made).

First of all, I want to make it clear that I respect the captain and their authority. When I walk onto a flight deck, the captain automatically has my full respect. This is theirs to lose. It doesn't happen often but there are captains out there that passed their checkride on either pure luck or an easy checkride, who knows but the training department will absolutely back me up on this one, that there are captains out there who shouldn't be. These captains are the exception to the rule and not commonplace, but DO exist.

I do speak up when necessary, always in a respectful and professional manner and unless the situation (which I've only encountered twice) warrants it, my speaking up is usually in the form of a gentle and professional suggestion/reminder or posed in the form of a "playing stupid" question. I know couth, I know politics and I know professionalism.

I'm guessing you would never speak to me as a HUMAN BEING as you just did if this was a face to face conversation. Try having a little respect and professionalism, just because this is an anonymous message board, doesn't mean social graces go that far out the window. you don't know me or my background and I think you know better than to say "become one or STFU." If I could, I would, but the economy and state of the industry has other things to say about that. I am not limited by my abilities.

 

[Flyerdan]

Sorry Flyerdan, but I don't sense that you've watched a clusterscrew about to take place from the left seat or read his post very well. I think Twinpilot was more than kind in his response to your hipshot remarks. Giving flight instruction to a <300 hour pilot on the FMS at 2 1/2miles/min during a last moment runway change on a visual approach would be plain stupid, yet you think Twinpilot's there to stroke his ego? The poor FO was screwing the pooch during a basic airmanship skill! There's a time and a place for the Captain to give instruction and act as a mentor. It's not when things are getting very stupid real fast. Re-read Twinpilot's post again. I'd fly in his right seat in a heartbeat. He's got it right in his proceedure and attitude. Re-read yours again and believe me, you'd be counting your heartbeats if you ever flew in my right seat if you talked that krap!

REALLY? If you were 15 miles out on a visual approach you don't think you would have time to do just a little instruction when you are the non-flying pilot? You must not be very proficient or just plain incompetent. Hell, most Captains I fly with could be on a close in base during a short approach and still demonstrate the few keystrokes necessary to get the FMS programmed properly.

 

[viper548]

I had a FO bring the thrust levers to idle at 500' because we were 10 knots fast. Thank God I had an extra pair of pants in my suitcase