"Hi there, I'm Standard"

[WayBack]

The three pilots that almost killed me, and I mean that literally, were the three most NON STANDARD pilots I have ever flown with. Being standard is about discipline. It's about being proud about what you do and refusing to compromise and lower the bar. It's about character, about doing what you know you are supposed to do, even when nobody is watching, instead of being cocky (not proud) about what you do, and doing things your own way because you think you are better than the people that developed the SOPs.
When I fly with an FO that is standard, we don't have to second guess each other and the cockpit flows beautifully, and very efficiently.
Pilots that do not adhere to standards tend to have other things in common: they tend to do crappy walk-arounds, tend not to be very knowledgeable about systems, ATC, their radio phraseology normally suffers and tend to be somewhat unprofessional in front of passengers.
It takes as much effort to do things by the book as it takes to do them your own way. In the end, it is all about discipline, and if you don't have it to fly standard, you probably don't have it for many other things.

You sound like a gem to hang out with.
I bet you're one of those guys with no accent what so ever, high pitch whiney voice. But once you key the mic, you talk in a deep, raspy voice with a Southern drawl. Saying "Sugar" instead of "Sierra".
I've flown with DB's like you. It's hysterical. As long as the message doesn't get mixed up in the translation, then we're all good. If you question the message, then question ATC.


And then 3 pilots almost killed you? Literally? Then it's time to wake the hell up and pay attention to what is going on around you.

 

[Max Q]

I tend to make more mistakes when I deviate from "the book".

That's a fact.

 

[CptMurf]

To be a true professional, you should be able to analyze yourself, find your own style, stay consistant, and watch over the guy next to you. Do that and no one will "almost kill" you. Everyone has different abilities and comfort levels. The "good" guys/gals you fly with know their own limitations.

 

[JumpersAway]

I've always been a big fan of the "lead by example" method of doing things. If you call for the required briefs, and run the required check lists, the F/O usually follows your lead and does the job, the right way, along with you. The best part is you don't have to point out your way of doing business.

You can only be as standard as you know to be. Everyone can re-read the OM/FOM and come up with something they didn't know before. They may be fine details, but everytime I read those things, I continue to learn.

The "I'm laid back" remark is absolutely the wrong one to make. It's like you're seeking approval, or trying to cross sell the fact that you are really a laxidazical @$$ in the airplane. Don't tell me you are laid back- just do your job so it's easier to do mine................

 

[LazyLightnin']

I hate your briefs. I'll nod my head and pretend I give a sh|t but I'm really thinking, it's an RJ not a 76, we all fly a hundred legs a month, and this job really isn't that difficult, only mind-numbing when I have to listen your pointless briefs.

I don't care if your super standard or if you have a pound of hash in your flight case, just try not to be a total doosh.

 

[G2T]

I hate your briefs. I'll nod my head and pretend I give a sh|t but I'm really thinking, it's an RJ not a 76, we all fly a hundred legs a month, and this job really isn't that difficult, only mind-numbing when I have to listen your pointless briefs.

I don't care if your super standard or if you have a pound of hash in your flight case, just try not to be a total doosh.

And I hate it when you stare out the window when I'm briefing. Believe it or not, I might have some information you should be interested it. When we take off unpressurized because you were "nodding your head and pretending you give a ********************" while we were discussing mel's and special procedures for the day I'm not going to be happy. But hey, you were to cool to brief.

 

[LazyLightnin']

And I hate it when you stare out the window when I'm briefing. Believe it or not, I might have some information you should be interested it. When we take off unpressurized because you were "nodding your head and pretending you give a ********************" while we were discussing mel's and special procedures for the day I'm not going to be happy. But hey, you were to cool to brief.

I listen to important things. You telling me you're standard and that you are a Taurus does not help the plane get there safely. At least throw in some gossip like you're wife is screwing the mailman and so you're head might be out of it.

And if you've taken off unpressurized, sounds like you F-ed up there as well, big guy. You should know the configuration of your aircraft before you start barreling down a runway.

 

[WWEfan]

Our IP's aren't even "standard". I love having a checkride and performing a maneuver one way because that's how the last check pilot wanted you to do it. Then your next check pilot says, "WTF are you doing that for?"

It usually takes me about 2 minutes to figure out if my FO is going to kill me or not. When we push back and the FO asks me if we should start an engine....that's when I cringe. No, dumbass, we are gonna taxi out on APU thrust to save fuel.

 

[DX Rick]

I listen to important things. You telling me you're standard and that you are a Taurus does not help the plane get there safely. At least throw in some gossip like you're wife is screwing the mailman and so you're head might be out of it.

And if you've taken off unpressurized, sounds like you F-ed up there as well, big guy. You should know the configuration of your aircraft before you start barreling down a runway.

You guys fly together often?

 

[777forever]

I don't mouth off to the Captain unless whatever he's doing is going to get me fired, violated, or cause a lot of smoke.

Prior to landing in ATL, had one Captain tell me not to but the gate number after the flight number like you can thru the FMS because it messes up the ACARS and the company checks stuff like that. I just said ok and sat quietly while he deleted it out.

I tell you what though, there's nothing more pleasant then flying with a safe, efficient, and friendly Captain. Makes you think of how great work would be if every Captain was like that. I guess that happens when you upgrade....

 

[ASA_Aviator]

It usually takes me about 2 minutes to figure out if my FO is going to kill me or not. When we push back and the FO asks me if we should start an engine....that's when I cringe. No, dumbass, we are gonna taxi out on APU thrust to save fuel.

Maybe...just maybe...he is trying to figure out how much of a jerk you're going to be, and asking in a non-assertive way if you want him to start the engine. (He should be more assertive, but that is a different issue.)

Trust me, some captains get wrapped around the axle if you just reach up and start the engine without asking (probably justifiably). If you leave most experienced FOs alone, they will do what is necessary to get the job done.

Lead by example, and the FO will follow. Start off with some smartass remark on the first pushback, and you will lose the FO for the trip. Your choice, I suppose. Captain.

 

[Abernathy]

I've had guys who give no briefing, don't say they're standard or laid back, who are difficult to fly with. I've had guys that say they are laid back or standard who are easy to fly with. It really doesn't matter. I had a Captain give a no less than 5 full minutes briefing on how he flies and what he expects from me. Truth be told, I completely tuned out after about a minute, but he turned out to be great to fly with.

The only way to know if a guy or gal is going to be a dick is if they have a reputation you already know about, or if they have a dick personality when you first meet them. You can gauge if someone's a dick in the first few seconds of meeting them. Whether or not they say "I'm standard" after that is irrelevant after that point.

As far as starting the engine during pushback, CA is supposed to call for it after the ground crew clears him. If the groundcrew doesn't clear him, and he doesn't say anything, I'm not starting an engine.

 

[777forever]

Maybe...just maybe...he is trying to figure out how much of a jerk you're going to be, and asking in a non-assertive way if you want him to start the engine. (He should be more assertive, but that is a different issue.)

Trust me, some captains get wrapped around the axle if you just reach up and start the engine without asking (probably justifiably). If you leave most experienced FOs alone, they will do what is necessary to get the job done.

Lead by example, and the FO will follow. Start off with some smartass remark on the first pushback, and you will lose the FO for the trip. Your choice, I suppose. Captain.

Precisely, some Captains prefer for you to wait for them to tell you to start an engine.

 

[PA44Jockey]

The problem with Non-standard Captains isn't that they aren't allowed to break away from standardization in certain scenarios (Most Manuals give digression.) The problem is that the particular Captain is used to being Non-Standard and he follows his own routine every flight. But when you start mixing in different FOs on every flight and we haven't flown with you before, we are spending multiple flights trying to understand your performance. "I'm by the book, but I do ten billion things differently." Therefor the FOs have to remain as standard as possible in order to start clean again with another plate of BS the next time we switch crews.

The most senior guy on the seniority list at OH is the worst example. Doesn't matter who is flying and who isn't, he wants you to read him every checklist. Doesn't matter if it's a challenge and response checklist or not. Half the time you wants you to do a checklist before it's even time. Like running a terminating checklist while you are still waiting for ground power. So you end up going through the entire checklist saying, "Um, I'll come back to that." What was the point in even doing it if you have to come back to the entire thing, because it's not time for it yet. I'm surprised the FEDs haven't really tore this guy apart.

It's not a pissing match, or an I fly better than you match, but the Captains job is to set the tone for the trip. If every Captain sets a different and non-standard tone, just because they choose not to follow a procedure we are definitely playing with fire.

 

[Max Q]

I hate your briefs. I'll nod my head and pretend I give a sh|t but I'm really thinking, it's an RJ not a 76, we all fly a hundred legs a month, and this job really isn't that difficult, only mind-numbing when I have to listen your pointless briefs.

I don't care if your super standard or if you have a pound of hash in your flight case, just try not to be a total doosh.

If you are already familiar with the information contained in the brief, why are you allowing them to continue? I doubt there are many FO's out there that are holding a knife to your throat. I agree that if all the information (sigwx, MEL, EFP, reroutes) has already been discussed, reading a brief is useless. I use it only as a checklist for ensuring that we're both on the same page and read it only if the CA asks.

Additionally, the brief wasn't developed for people like you. It was developed for captains that say, "your controls" on the numbers because they don't know they're flying... that look down at an MEL sticker mid-flight and say, "Oh, look at that"... that take off with an incorrect altimeter setting...

Get rid of these guys and we won't need to brief your sorry asses anymore. :beer: