Right seat captain stories

[Grey Ghost]

OK I'm bored today so I'll post first

been a captain at my former regional on the RJ (200 and 700) for about 8 months, was also an fo in the plane so I Had about 3000 hours in the plane. Flew with a mid-level seniority fo who really thought she was awesome. since she had been there for over a year decided to give her the first leg, on the decent she proceeded to lecture me on how to land the 700 (the kick-out method one main than the other) I said ok whatever that's pretty much how I do it any way. As she talks her way through the landing (like i was a student and she was a CFI) she proceeded to slam it on so hard i thought the mains were gonna come up through the wings. Now I'll be the first to admit i had my share of "firm" landings in that thing, But just had to laugh as she made such a big deal on how to land the thing.

Does she go by the name, Netters?

 

[vectorvictor]

I'm probably alive today because I did that. Captain's response after realizing I keep him from taxing into the path of a landing MD-80, "Oh, I would have caught that." *Sigh* You're welcome.

It those were the circumstances I would have bought you lunch and a lot of brews. Time and place for everything. In that case you did your job...you didn't try and prove a point. It falls into the category of "those who have, and those who will." The real trick as a good captain is promoting a work environment that keeps a sense of who's in charge and promotes free communication.

 

[brian041102]

Its sad to say but there are some people that lack the leadership skills to be a captain. One of the Fo's job is trying to figure out the guy or girl in the left seat. There are a select few that I have flown with that couldn't make a decision about anything or were very unsafe. Its hard for captains to figure out if the fo is a confident pilot who isn't going to kill them. With that being said some captains micromanage from the start because the last fo they flew with sucked.

 

[BigPappa]

Mr, Ms or Mrs FO,
That job is not for you to decide who has leadership or not, let the training department decide that. Your time to prove yourself will come during your upgrade (if it is not there yet). Now just do the job that is expected of you, evaluating the captain and second guessing him/her is not your job! Remember you are NOT in the training department. Don't become one of those arrogant FOs that every pilot talks about. Had one last week, all this individual could talk about was how he was not getting along with "I counted" eight captains in his conversation (less than 1.5 year seniority). If you can't get along with more than two captains and you've been there a that long, I find you might have some issues.

 

[brian041102]

Mr, Ms or Mrs FO,
That job is not for you to decide who has leadership or not, let the training department decide that. Your time to prove yourself will come during your upgrade (if it is not there yet). Now just do the job that is expected of you, evaluating the captain and second guessing him/her is not your job! Remember you are NOT in the training department. Don't become one of those arrogant FOs that every pilot talks about. Had one last week, all this individual could talk about was how he was not getting along with "I counted" eight captains in his conversation (less than 1.5 year seniority). If you can't get along with more than two captains and you've been there a that long, I find you might have some issues.

It is every crew members job to make sure the flight is completed safely. When did the captain become god and never make a mistake. Its not the 60's anymore. Just because the training dept put them in the left seat doesn't make them an all around good captain. Captains complain about Fo's but last I checked the "training dept" put them in the seat. Point is everybody makes mistakes and if the do someone should speak up before we become a smoking hole in the ground.

 

[fowingman]

brian ,, you must be an f.o

 

[Axel]

...all this individual could talk about was how he was not getting along with "I counted" eight captains in his conversation ...

HA! If it appears that everyone you meet is an @sshole, it is likely that the problem is not everyone else.

 

[Capt10Matt]

Well just like not all FO's are created equal, neither are CA's.

Case & point

---- Fast upgrade Mesa RJ Captain

---- 7 - Year American Eagle RJ Captain

It shouldn't take 7 years to become competant, but think about the captains that have barely gotten their airline cherry popped.

 

[brian041102]

Well just like not all FO's are created equal, neither are CA's.

Case & point

---- Fast upgrade Mesa RJ Captain

---- 7 - Year American Eagle RJ Captain

It shouldn't take 7 years to become competant, but think about the captains that have barely gotten their airline cherry popped.

Exactly! Some people cant understand that.

 

[brian041102]

brian ,, you must be an f.o

why would you guess that?

 

[vectorvictor]

Well just like not all FO's are created equal, neither are CA's.

Case & point

---- Fast upgrade Mesa RJ Captain

---- 7 - Year American Eagle RJ Captain

It shouldn't take 7 years to become competant, but think about the captains that have barely gotten their airline cherry popped.

Some people could upgrade in a week, others should never get the keys. I'm more scared of the folks that tell me how easy my job is and how ready they are than the ones that tell me they are worried about the responsibility or getting through training.

 

[fowingman]

brian, how would i guess that,,, 1.your attitude
2. you have a commercial rating

 

[brian041102]

brian, how would i guess that,,, 1.your attitude
2. you have a commercial rating

funny

 

[Crossky]

If there is a problem with the person in the right seat, the real problem is the person in the left seat.

You have good experience, I can see that from your posts. However, at my current airline about 95% + of the FO's have no RSC tendencies at all. As a result, one can easily be unaccustomed and unprepared for handling them. One of my former RSC's is now a CA, rapidly making his way up to the top of the most disliked CA's list. RSC's usually become micro-manager CA's no FO's like. My point is a good CA should and can manage a RSC, but it does take a good amount of extra effort and energy. I had quite a troublesome one recently.

It all comes down to whether your FO respects your POSITION as PIC. If he or she doesn't, there's going to be tension between the two which will interfere with the crew performance and safety.

 

[cfi_greg]

I will have to say that FO's have the easiest job in the world, come on in all honesty what do we really do, yea fly the plane, but a monkey could do that, probably the hardest part is trying to figure out what the guy in the left seat is all about each week, but after that, if you really think this job is tough, you haven't ever been out in the real world. Just do your job have fun, and don't be an over controling idiot and you won't be the subject of all these hilarious posts. I can't believe some of this sh*t is true.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Now just do the job that is expected of you, evaluating the captain and second guessing him/her is not your job! Remember you are NOT in the training department.

Get back into your time machine, Captain Arrogant.

This might sound "crazy" to you, but some of the FO's have MORE experience than the captain as a PIC.


Your profile says it all:

Curr Position: Ruler of the Universe, King of all, but you can call me captain!

 

[BigPappa]

Rite........... Mr. RSC

My profile is meant to be facetious.

 

[pipe]

This thread is rich. You're a Captain because your number came up. That's it ladies.

PIPE

 

[BigPappa]

.......and because you actually made it through training. Seen planty FOs not make it through the upgrade. You're not there until you're there.

 

[DorkProp]

I will have to say that FO's have the easiest job in the world, come on in all honesty what do we really do, yea fly the plane, but a monkey could do that, probably the hardest part is trying to figure out what the guy in the left seat is all about each week, but after that, if you really think this job is tough, you haven't ever been out in the real world. Just do your job have fun, and don't be an over controling idiot and you won't be the subject of all these hilarious posts. I can't believe some of this sh*t is true.

Let me introduce you to a friend I call "The Period".