A good First Officer would...

[flylike44]

Keep your igloo cooler with 2 months food supply towards the back of the flightdeck, or on top of your flightbag or behind your seat, I'm OLD and not nearly as limber as you are. Don't want to break a hip climbing into or out of the seat.

Express interest in Captain flows. Participate in decision making re MEL's, Fuel, alternates..etc.

Always try and encourage the FO to think like a captain, especially once holding comes up by asking them what our BINGO fuel number will be and why?

I have asked many captains what the hardest thing about upgrade was. Without a doubt, dealing the the FA's is the most common answer.

Ask the captain if you can do the crew briefing to get use to it and feedback on what could be included. Ask the captain if you can do the PA's on the ground. Try and get to the lobby 5 min prior to van time, so you don't keep others waiting.

That's all I've got, good luck during upgrade!

if you want me to be in the lobby 5 prior, schedule the van for 5 minutes earlier. if the hotel won't do that, call a cab. i'll see you on the van at departure time.

 

[SpyFlysDOTs]

>>>if you want me to be in the lobby 5 prior, schedule the van for 5 minutes earlier. if the hotel won't do that, call a cab. i'll see you on the van at departure time.>>>

The world doesn't revolve around you. There may and frequently are other crews that would like to leave at departure time.

 

[flylike44]

>>>if you want me to be in the lobby 5 prior, schedule the van for 5 minutes earlier. if the hotel won't do that, call a cab. i'll see you on the van at departure time.>>>

The world doesn't revolve around you. There may and frequently are other crews that would like to leave at departure time.

i'm on the van at departure time. that doesn't inconvenience anyone besides you. you must be a joy to fly with.

 

[flylike44]

and if you're scheduling vans so that the only way you get to the gate on time is if everything goes perfectly in the morning, you're doing a disservice to your crew, your company, and your passengers. take the earlier van if that's the case.

 

[ehaecker]

i'm on the van at departure time. that doesn't inconvenience anyone besides you. you must be a joy to fly with.

Ever miss a flight trying to show up at the gate "at departure time?" Ever gotten mad at a passenger for showing up right at departure time?

 

[FlySacto]

if you want me to be in the lobby 5 prior, schedule the van for 5 minutes earlier. if the hotel won't do that, call a cab. i'll see you on the van at departure time.

Haha! I always show at the time I scheduled the van, and not a minute earlier. I actually strive to be the last one to show at the van in my crew. It's a subliminal way of keeping pressure off my people and I tell them that if they're downstairs after me, then they are probably late. I've seen the look on a newbies face when they are the last one down so why put even a fraction more negative buzz on a trip. If they do show late then I just laugh and give them crap about the batteries being too low in their B.O.B to get the job done

 

[flylike44]

Ever miss a flight trying to show up at the gate "at departure time?" Ever gotten mad at a passenger for showing up right at departure time?

no, and no. why would i care if a pax showed up at departure time? if the gate lets them down, great. if not, oh well.

 

[captainv]

In all seriousness, that is a situation I can't fathom and wish all that go through it the best of luck.

yeah, we'll see how that goes. I'm now a 6th-year FO, after sitting in the left seat for 6 months before downgrading. I don't foresee a lot of CRM issues unless the CA's doing something unsafe or in violation of company procedures.

My SA is a lot better in the right seat. Other than that, been there, done that. My big question is will my airline be around in another year?

 

[COOPERVANE]

If I don't do something, I might have a reason for it. 99% I tell you why, but if you are not there I will probably forget to.

All I ask is don't just reach up and flip on the windshield heat at the gate without discussing why I didn't want it on. (It's either hot weather, or the GPU is on the verge of tripping)

If I turn on only 1 pack immediately after APU startup, don't reach up and turn the other on....I didn't forget (just giving 2 minutes to the other one)

If I turn off the Taxi-recog light while stopped, dont reach up and turn it on when we start moving...I promise, I didn't forget. (We are blinding that guy)

Dont reach up and do the climb check when you are hand flying and pop off the seat belt sign "climb checks done" (follow SOP's)

Just involve us both and I will do the same.

That is all.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

You guys missed an important one, atleast for me. You can practice being the Captain by buying mine and the FA's beer on the last night of the trip, instead of me buying yours. :beer:

 

[Aviation Geek]

I am sure that I will get absolutely blasted for this, but as a former FA, what did we do that was so hard to deal with? This is not the first time I have heard this, but it may be the first time I have heard it addressed so professionally.

I kind of approached my job from a "know your stuff (follow the rules, ie: don't call the cockpit below 10,000 feet, do your preflight correctly, treat the pax well, handle stuff before it gets to the cockpit); state your needs; stay out of the way; get drinks and snacks when asked, don't interupt; if there are two fat chicks, take the one the FO does not take."

What things do you do (CAs and FOs) to deal with this issue?

 

[JustaNumber]

I am sure that I will get absolutely blasted for this, but as a former FA, what did we do that was so hard to deal with? This is not the first time I have heard this, but it may be the first time I have heard it addressed so professionally.

I kind of approached my job from a "know your stuff (follow the rules, ie: don't call the cockpit below 10,000 feet, do your preflight correctly, treat the pax well, handle stuff before it gets to the cockpit); state your needs; stay out of the way; get drinks and snacks when asked, don't interupt; if there are two fat chicks, take the one the FO does not take."

What things do you do (CAs and FOs) to deal with this issue?

If everyone had your good attitude, you wouldn't hear about the problems, but not everyone is as professional as you were. I think some FAs are compensating for other deficiencies in their lives. They immediately sense a brand new captain, and try to tell him/her how things will be done, I guess to make themselves feel important. I remember that source of friction was the only issue I had on my very first day as captain!

 

[DashTrash400]

AG, why do you think you'd get blasted for saying that? FAs that act the way you describe are a joy to fly with. They are also, at my regional airline at least, a minority. You don't get the cream of the crop to fly for $14/hr. Quite a few attitudes, lots of ignorance of procedures, plenty of drama. Dealing with one like that is hard enough, but on trips when they're *both* that way....

Starting the trip with a detailed, thorough crew briefing does go a long ways.

 

[shortbus driver]

I have to agree with almost everything said, but with my own stupidity possibly for me to make a few amendments. I ask that the FO wait for all the checklists except for the before takeoff and after landing...they all have their own pace and I don't want to rush them and after landing, I am much more concerned with where I am going and tend to forget to call for it and many FOs are scared to say anything. Also, I do forget, in fact I forget a lot of things. I have no problem if someone brings up my errors. I will feel dumb and hopefully stop forgetting.
Oh, and the actual flying is not hard, but please please please if you want to hand fly when we are 1000 feet to level off don't keep climbing at 3000+ fpm I know how that will end...I see it all the time!

 

[SEVEN]

A good FO will learn what a rudder is and its effects on aerodynamics and to use it during crosswind landings..........

 

[Max Q]

...and/or while the CA is taking a wee.

-Brett

 

[Caveman]

read the weather reports, notams and any mel's on the paperwork.

Excellent advice. When I was a regional CA I hardly ever saw the FO really read the release. You don't have to go line by line but there are some basic things that need to be verified every leg. WX, MELs, NOTAMS, fuel loads, tail number, flight number, a/c logbook, etc. If it's their leg most guys will get the bare essentials to load the box, work the W&B and plan the departure but they almost never verify WX at destination, check the fuel to make sure it makes sense, read the NOTAMS or verify the a/c, flight number and crew. If it's not their leg most FOs I flew with hardly glanced at the at the release. I really appreciated those that did.

First of all if you aren't doing these things you are setting yourself and your CA up for failure. Dispatch and CA make mistakes. One more set of eyeballs looking stuff over keeps everybody out of trouble. Second, it will dramatically increase your overall SA. Third, when you do upgrade it will be one less thing you have to practice doing. You will already be able to scan the release and get the big picture. You can then concentrate more on the leadership aspect of being the big kahuna.

Excellent question BTW. The fact you even asked it puts you way ahead of the game. Good luck.

 

[acaTerry]

Don't make the your fellow pilot embarrassed to be paired with you:
1) wear the uniform, all of it, and correctly.
2) watch your language around kids.
3) quit walking with your hands in your pockets and your head down!!!!!!!!
4) don't call the CA "captain", that's gay.
5) realize that the FA probably may not want to sleep with you.
6) put the spoilers away after you make speed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7) quit saying "with you"...that's gayer than item 4.
8) find a better cuss word than "Jesus"...please.
9) this is the big one....seems to get worse with each generation of pilots...watch "Airplane" and know some of the better lines.

 

[Goose Egg]

Excellent advice. When I was a regional CA I hardly ever saw the FO really read the release. You don't have to go line by line but there are some basic things that need to be verified every leg. WX, MELs, NOTAMS, fuel loads, tail number, flight number, a/c logbook, etc. If it's their leg most guys will get the bare essentials to load the box, work the W&B and plan the departure but they almost never verify WX at destination, check the fuel to make sure it makes sense, read the NOTAMS or verify the a/c, flight number and crew. If it's not their leg most FOs I flew with hardly glanced at the at the release. I really appreciated those that did.

First of all if you aren't doing these things you are setting yourself and your CA up for failure. Dispatch and CA make mistakes. One more set of eyeballs looking stuff over keeps everybody out of trouble. Second, it will dramatically increase your overall SA. Third, when you do upgrade it will be one less thing you have to practice doing. You will already be able to scan the release and get the big picture. You can then concentrate more on the leadership aspect of being the big kahuna.

Excellent question BTW. The fact you even asked it puts you way ahead of the game. Good luck.

Awesome advice, Caveman. I didn't have the foresight to start a thread like this, but I'll take all the knowledge I can get. I'll try to do better what you suggested.

(Wow, actual good advice from flightinfo. Who'da thunk it?)

-Goose

 

[ehaecker]

A good FO should bring some experience to the cockpit with him/her. Offer suggestions to the CA without overstepping your bounds (don't try to be a right seat captain!) If the captain does something, or makes a decision you don't like, bring it to his/her attention, again, without overstepping your bounds. You are there to back up the CA, and vice versa. A good FO (and CA) is ALWAYS learning from the guy or gal in the other seat.