F/O's can you relate?

[oldskoolbronco2]

so, the capt over sleeps again, I goto the airport with the FA to get the plane ready while he/she wakes up. The hick agent gives me 20 questions about letting us down and handing over the release because, "we don't have a pilot". He didn't get the idea that the capt and fo are trained on the airplane. Do any of you FOs out there get sick of everyone thinking you are dead weight instead of a crew memeber?

 

[Baronman]

Honestly I've never had the problem. I'd be suprised if most gate agents noticed that one of us have 3 stripes and the other have 4. Either way I got alot more stripes than the gate agent and I'm sure it wouldn't take much to get those papers. Plus I think at most of our oustations they'd give the FA the paperwork if they thought it would get the flight out on-time to avoid getting the late out time.

 

[73belair]

Honestly I've never had the problem. I'd be suprised if most gate agents noticed that one of us have 3 stripes and the other have 4. Either way I got alot more stripes than the gate agent and I'm sure it wouldn't take much to get those papers. Plus I think at most of our oustations they'd give the FA the paperwork if they thought it would get the flight out on-time to avoid getting the late out time.

Sounds about right...

 

[BlackPilot628]

Old School I feel you.

You know at first a took offence to the fact people thought of us as "dead weight". After flying for a while I began to understand that the general flying public doesn't really know what we do. They still think of us as Copilots and not First Officers; they just don't know. We can't really assume that the majority of our customers know the functions of pilots. When I was flying a Jetstream 32 for Corpex our passengers could look up and see who was flying. After a landing the aircraft and parking at the gate passengers would always say, " I didn't know the copilot flies". I soon got tired of explaining my functions as a first officer. You just have to take with a grain of salt.

Now, Gate agents have no excuse. He/She was just being a butt. In normal circumstance yes the Capt. does get the flight release, but if he or she is coming late, it's your paperwork.

We have to just face it, the general public knows nothing about Pilots period. Hell, I was asked one day by airport police if I stole my uniform. I thought he was joking; he wasn't. The other group of pilots standing dumb-founed. He told me he had not seen me before. BLAH BLAH BLAH!
He was suspended for 60 days for racial profiling or something.

Anyhow, This is just something that we live with.
Good Luck!

 

[Flechas]

Same here, never have had a problem getting the paperwork or anything related to the flight. Our agents know we are capable of getting the plane ready and of making decisions.

 

[sf3boy]

I wouldn't sweat it. Just go sit in the seats at the gate with the pax and tell the agents that we'll get the plane ready after the captain shows up. I don't care how late we are.

 

[BlackPilot628]

I wouldn't sweat it. Just go sit in the seats at the gate with the pax and tell the agents that we'll get the plane ready after the captain shows up. I don't care how late we are.

Yeah if the gate agent won't give you the paper work. I would do just that as well. Put the delay on the gate agent.

 

[Flechas]

Right on, that'll teach 'em!

 

[FlyinScotsman]

so, the capt over sleeps again, I goto the airport with the FA to get the plane ready while he/she wakes up. The hick agent gives me 20 questions about letting us down and handing over the release because, "we don't have a pilot". He didn't get the idea that the capt and fo are trained on the airplane. Do any of you FOs out there get sick of everyone thinking you are dead weight instead of a crew memeber?

Why are you leaving without the lazy jerk! Sit in the lobby and make phone calls every 10 min.

 

[Raskal]

Huh, you mean gate agents actually do something? I had no idea...

 

[vclean]

Leave the hotel as a crew.

Ca's know better (apparently not in your case) about hotel showtimes, fa's are another story.

 

[oldskoolbronco2]

well if they are good FA's they ususaly leave the room with the capt.

 

[BlackPilot628]

well if they are good FA's they ususaly leave the room with the capt.

haha

LMAO!

That was great!

 

[V2plus25]

no, if they're good FA's they'll leave the room as soon as the deed is done to let me catch a few Z's before showtime

 

[jbDC9]

They still think of us as Copilots and not First Officers; they just don't know.

"I didn't know the copilot flies". I soon got tired of explaining my functions as a first officer.

Dude, you're getting worked up over a silly title. Copilot, First Officer, who cares? It's the same job. Your functions as a First Officer? Yep, same functions as a copilot. It's just a silly name game to stroke our egos, no big deal. Perhaps we should change the title to "Right Seater Extraordinaire" to make us feel even more extra special??

But that's just me, a 7 year B737 copilot... not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[Baronman]

Man, I just read your post again....You need to practice in your best NY accent, "Yo, Gimme those papers!" At about question #2 or 3 by said hill-billy boy gate agent I would have busted that out. You're doing your job, you're in the right, and he's trying to keep you from doing it. Politeness goes out the window f'him.

 

[oldskoolbronco2]

next time I am keep'n the pimp hand strong and goin all Ike on his ass!

 

[P-Dawg_QX]

What get's me is when CX changes the FO for the flight (we are the last one's to know when there's been a crew change here at QX) and the new FO calls and wants the release amended to add his/her name.

Note: Since the FO's name is not a mandated requirement and only on there for the crew's convenience, it's not required to amend the release for an FO's name.

Are you saying you don't want me selcalling you anymore?

That hurts, man...that really hurts.

 

[U of I Tweak]

Yeah if the gate agent won't give you the paper work. I would do just that as well. Put the delay on the gate agent.

It's okay....we input the delay codes.

Since we still radio in the out and off times, if we're pretty close and treat the crew well (plug in the air-conditioning cart) we usually get on time departures.

What burns me is when an inbound arrives late, we turn it in 15 minutes and still take a station delay.

I'll give the release to whichever crew member wants it. I have to check all their IDs anyhow.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Not a bad idea....

Post flight brief....

"In the morning just load ramp fuel, complete the cockpit check, one cream, one sugar, and I'll be here 3 minutes prior to push. If you would do all the legs eastbound in the morning, that would be nice too. Did I show you how to sign my name? Did you ever write T P S reports? Just wondering..."

Know we know what happened to Peter Gibbons after Milton burned down the office... He is a Captain at your airline.