Captains that say "I'm laid back"

[FurloughedAgain]

If you fart... game on!

Priceless.

Ok. In all seriousness, the crew briefing is the opportunity for the PIC to set the tone for the trip. It allows the PIC to set expectations for the SIC. Like it or not, not everyone is standard. Each Captain will have his or her own pet peeves.

I realize that i'm more anal than many of our pilots, so why not set the expectations of the person i'm flying with?

"I'd like us to try and follow the company SOP as much as possible, however do not hesitate to deviate from it if you feel we need to in the interest of safety. When it is your leg, you are in charge. Fly the airplane as if your Mom was in back. I do have a pet-peeve, I'd like to see takeoffs and landings on the centerline. I'm going to make mistakes, maybe big ones. You're not going to hurt my feelings if you bring them to my attention. I'll buy you a beer for every NASA/ASAP you keep us from having to write. I'm married so I no longer have any pride. Let me know when i'm screwing up.

The weather is.... Our alternate is.... Our route is...
The ____ is on the MEL... Airplane looked good on the walkaround? Sounds great. Any questions?"

Nope. Not laid back. At least not as much as I would like to have been when I was a copilot. But I hope that I share enough information to let the other pilot know what to expect.

I'm certainly open to suggestions if you folks have some good ideas though.

PS - Oh! and +2 on the poster who said consistency was king. Doesn't matter how your Captain acts, as long as he/she acts the same way for the whole trip and every time you fly with them. The SIC can adapt to any personality provided it is consistent.

 

[CRJCptn]

I'll be the first to admit to saying "laid back" in a briefing. All that really matters is how "laid back" you are when the stuff hits the fan. (calm, cool, collective) i.e. don't rush to make a bad descision.
And don't be afraid to change your mind (for the better) your the Captain, it's your right!

 

[Varig]

What I've found, in the huge pool of CA's I've flown with at different companies, is that there is a subset minority of CA's who are basically insecure "nervous nellies" who micro-manage their FO's flying out of fear, and become ultra-territorial (never touch the OBS on my side, that's my switch.) They also have a big laundry list of little pet peeves (which are not in the FOM or AFM) that they advertise, either right away or usually, the first time their FO commits the dreaded faux pas. This in spite of their insistence on being "standard."

Granted, with some wet behind the ears (in experience, not necc. age) FO's this fear can be understandable, especially to a newly upgraded and/or inexperienced Captain, but if they let themselves become a nervous nellie, the FO gets distracted and demoralized, shuts down (CRM effectively ends), and tunnel visions into trying to avoid the nervous nellie peeves of the CA. They thereby create a vicious cycle - every FO they fly with is chopped at the knees and they end up creating a weak-CRM, error-prone hazard, and more ASAPs, Captain's reports and deviations/violations that perpetuate their insecurity.

By contrast, exceptional CA's are those who seem ultra laid back and completely professional at the same time (there is no conflict), never micro-managing things unless it's a true safety of flight issue. The FO then is a full, confident part of the team and the potential for error drops way off.

You can usually tell if a CA is a nervous nellie type as soon as you taxi a few feet.

Very good post. I totally agree with it. Down here we have lots of captains like that and also with the I am GOD attitude. I've gotten yelled at at 3am more than once for turning on the strobes when entering the runway and GOD said, you can't go on touching stuff on your own bla bla bla, even though it is written down in our SOP. Things like this happen all of the time here. I guess it's a culture problem. No CRM or very little. Flying like this day in and day out makes everyone stressed out and when the $hit hits the fan, GOD will be flying alone. People are way more professional in the States.

 

[John Pennekamp]

Bottom line:

Captain says "I'm pretty laid back", he usually isn't.

Captain says "I'm pretty laid back, but I like to keep things standard", you're screwed.

 

[PURPLEHAZE21]

Here's my briefing for "Mr. Laidback"...

"Good Afternoon, how are we doing today....Great...Just do me one favor today....sit on your hands and don't talk and we should'nt have any problems...Alright then...see you in the plane"

 

[spg2bmd]

Im going to need you to start clapping... great, now, I would like to hear this clapping until we shut the airplane down. No clapping= you may be doing something you shouldnt, just keep clapping, that would be best.... Grrreat.

 

[Freight Dog]

Hi! I'm Freight Dog, and that is CAPTAIN Freight Dog to you, probie! Now look... we're gonna exercise a little thing called CRM here. That means CAPTAIN'S RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. Yes, that means you work for me, got it probie?

Now listen up... we're going to exercise the absolute positive exchange of controls. So when I say MY PLANE, you will IMMEDIATELY release all controls. Yes probie, that means you will let go of the yoke, throttles, pedals, and you will sit on your hands. If you don't, in case you didn't know, I'm an FFDO, and I will consider it an attempted hijack and act accordingly. Let me make it perfectly clear - I say MY PLANE you say, your plane, SIR! Any questions there, probie?

Now... let's get some other things straight. You WILL talk on the radio using ONLY THE PROPER radio phraseology. In other words, I don't want to hear "checkin' in; with you; g'day; g'd afternoon; or up yours." Further more, it's not THREE-NINE-OH, it's TREE-NINER-ZERO. Questions there?

OK, moving on - you will NOT call the airport in sight until I specifically command you to call it in sight, got it probie?

OK, now look... CAPTAIN'S RESOURCE MANAGEMENT states that FO's are worthless, and that the chain of command in the aircraft is as follows:

ME, the lead flight attendant, the other flight attendants, nonrevs, jumpseaters, crew schedulers, and then you, got it?

Now... if you are lucky, and I let you take a leg, remember the MY PLANE command? Good! Just making sure. Listen up now... if you are going to handfly, I better see 250 knots below 10,000 feet. Not 252, not 248, 2-5-0. Got it? I hold my crew to the highest standards, and that means YOU.

You are free to use the autopilot anytime I tell you it's OK, but you have to ask me first. If you don't, I'll take the airplane, and we'll exercise the "MY PLANE" command.

If you manage to keep the plane and not have me take it from you, you shall adhere to proper approach speeds, so if your target airspeed is 140, I don't want to see 142, or 139. I expect 140. If I have to tell you twice, MY PLANE!

Entertainment on the flight deck. I see you are a frosted tip, spikey hair, queerbait, and based on my Flightinfo education, I take it you have an iPod with you. If I see it, I'm going to take it from you, and you will not see it again. Do I make myself perfectly clear?

Any questions?

 

[spg2bmd]

All captains should strive for this level of perfection, you sir, Mr. Freight Dog, are a real man of genius. We salute you! Honestly, though, funny ********************!

 

[Freight Dog]

It's CAPTAIN Freight Dog to you, sh*thead! :angryfire

 

[spg2bmd]

Your controls!

 

[CRJCptn]

handfly??? can we do that?????



jk, funny stuff

 

[Stifler's Mom]

It's CAPTAIN Freight Dog to you, sh*thead! :angryfire

Your controls!

That was very funny. Thanks for the laugh.:beer:

 

[rumpletumbler]

Entertainment on the flight deck. I see you are a frosted tip, spikey hair, queerbait, and based on my Flightinfo education, I take it you have an iPod with you. If I see it, I'm going to take it from you, and you will not see it again. Do I make myself perfectly clear?

lmao

Can someone make some name tags that say that?

"Frosted tip, Spiked hair, Queerbait!"

To remove the tag one would have to demonstrate a change in behavior as a result of experience.

 

[wickedpilot]

You just described my Captain this month to a T. Except I'll add that he smokes between every leg and smells like a d@mn ash tray. How about having some consideration for the guy sitting 2 feet from you for the next 3 hours?!?

 

[Britpilot]

So what do you prefer to hear on a brief?

"It's my round, That must have been wind shear and I'll take the short, fat one".