Jet_Driver
"There I was...."
- Joined
- May 5, 2005
- Posts
- 126
Okay, let's get this thing settled. It seems a lot of you don't know how this system works. Let me school you.
You get assigned to fly with a psycho Captain (Like H.P. at Eagle... see my previous thread concerning this guy), you don't realize what you've gotten into until you're off the gate or climbing out of FL240. In the back of your mind, you're thinking,"I just want to get along with this guy. It is only one turn, or maybe just one sequence." You've just reverted to one of the barriers to effective learning (see the FOI, remember that?) You have gone into Flight, Resignation and possibly Aggression. As I said before, I flew with an H.P. and by the time our first leg was over, I hoped he would wreck the plane so I wouldn't have to fly with him.(wishing wasn't hard to do considering this guy's airmanship) I have flown 4 trips with this guy, 3 too many. The problem was his lack of people skills, self confidence, airmanship, the list goes on. This creates a hostile work environment. You don't need to put up with that. You might not think it, but these guys are no different than someone who is openly harassing you sexually. Guys like this will become a statistic unless they are yanked into reality.
So, you're on probation, you don't want to lose your first Airline job. You worked for years to get there and you aren't going to let this prick ruin it all for you. You work in an environment that tells you to just get along with this guy or you may risk a bad mark on your record. Bunk!
Professional Standards is there to protect you. Incidentally, PS is also there to protect Captain Prick too. It isn't just two people not getting along, it is a breakdown in CRM, and that is a problem. It is a compromise to safety.
"So, what do I do?" you ask. Finish the turn/trip (or refuse the return leg, if it is bad enough) and part ways as best as you can with Capt. Prick. Then, find the phone number to your local Pro Standards guy and call him immediately. You don't have to give your name if you don't want to. Tell him about your experience. Chances are, you aren't the first one to call. If you are, good for you, you've just helped everyone around you. Usually, they will call and talk with Capt. Prick and discuss his work behavior. If PS gets enough calls, they will talk with the Chief Pilot and Capt. Prick may get called in. In the mean while, you have the right to refuse to fly with Capt. Prick. You may not think so, but you do. Call or go see the CP when you see yourself paired with the guy. You say, I can not fly with this individual because you feel safety is at risk. For a kicker, add that you wouldn't let your family go in a plane this guy was flying. That gets some attention. If the CP questions you about it, you simply tell him that you've talked with Pro Standards about this guy. This will protect you. If your CP is a decent guy he will not have a problem taking you off. I heard two flight attendants refused to fly with H.P. at Eagle, The FA's manager talked to the CP about it, and H.P. was taken off the flight. If a FA can do that, surely an FO on probation can do something.
Drawbacks: Someone has to fly with this guy. Scheduling will call who ever is next on the list until they get someone.
Conclusions: The more of you guys who talk to pro standards the better. Talk amongst yourselves. You are probably not the only one who thinks Capt. Prick is a risk to safety. For the sake of safety do something about it. Eventually, guys like H.P. will disappear if you do what you need to do. Don't be intimidated.
You get assigned to fly with a psycho Captain (Like H.P. at Eagle... see my previous thread concerning this guy), you don't realize what you've gotten into until you're off the gate or climbing out of FL240. In the back of your mind, you're thinking,"I just want to get along with this guy. It is only one turn, or maybe just one sequence." You've just reverted to one of the barriers to effective learning (see the FOI, remember that?) You have gone into Flight, Resignation and possibly Aggression. As I said before, I flew with an H.P. and by the time our first leg was over, I hoped he would wreck the plane so I wouldn't have to fly with him.(wishing wasn't hard to do considering this guy's airmanship) I have flown 4 trips with this guy, 3 too many. The problem was his lack of people skills, self confidence, airmanship, the list goes on. This creates a hostile work environment. You don't need to put up with that. You might not think it, but these guys are no different than someone who is openly harassing you sexually. Guys like this will become a statistic unless they are yanked into reality.
So, you're on probation, you don't want to lose your first Airline job. You worked for years to get there and you aren't going to let this prick ruin it all for you. You work in an environment that tells you to just get along with this guy or you may risk a bad mark on your record. Bunk!
Professional Standards is there to protect you. Incidentally, PS is also there to protect Captain Prick too. It isn't just two people not getting along, it is a breakdown in CRM, and that is a problem. It is a compromise to safety.
"So, what do I do?" you ask. Finish the turn/trip (or refuse the return leg, if it is bad enough) and part ways as best as you can with Capt. Prick. Then, find the phone number to your local Pro Standards guy and call him immediately. You don't have to give your name if you don't want to. Tell him about your experience. Chances are, you aren't the first one to call. If you are, good for you, you've just helped everyone around you. Usually, they will call and talk with Capt. Prick and discuss his work behavior. If PS gets enough calls, they will talk with the Chief Pilot and Capt. Prick may get called in. In the mean while, you have the right to refuse to fly with Capt. Prick. You may not think so, but you do. Call or go see the CP when you see yourself paired with the guy. You say, I can not fly with this individual because you feel safety is at risk. For a kicker, add that you wouldn't let your family go in a plane this guy was flying. That gets some attention. If the CP questions you about it, you simply tell him that you've talked with Pro Standards about this guy. This will protect you. If your CP is a decent guy he will not have a problem taking you off. I heard two flight attendants refused to fly with H.P. at Eagle, The FA's manager talked to the CP about it, and H.P. was taken off the flight. If a FA can do that, surely an FO on probation can do something.
Drawbacks: Someone has to fly with this guy. Scheduling will call who ever is next on the list until they get someone.
Conclusions: The more of you guys who talk to pro standards the better. Talk amongst yourselves. You are probably not the only one who thinks Capt. Prick is a risk to safety. For the sake of safety do something about it. Eventually, guys like H.P. will disappear if you do what you need to do. Don't be intimidated.