Right seat captain stories

[Abernathy]

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.

Give me a break.

 

[ehaecker]

I have flown with captains that were hired with 250 hours from some puppy mill and upgraded as soon as they were eligible. For the most part, they were terrible pilots and their decision making skills were poor. I once had a captain nearly kill me (and 70 other people). I took control FROM him. I guess that make me an arrogant person? riiiight....

 

[febtober]

I was hoping for a bunch of funny stories in this thread. instead its just made me really happy i fly single pilot

 

[brian041102]

Big Papa you think I'm a RSC because I speak up when a safety issue is involved? I always respect the PIC however when they are compromising safety I'm going to at least express my concern. Thats called good CRM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flyer1015]

I have flown with captains that were hired with 250 hours from some puppy mill and upgraded as soon as they were eligible. For the most part, they were terrible pilots and their decision making skills were poor. I once had a captain nearly kill me (and 70 other people). I took control FROM him. I guess that make me an arrogant person? riiiight....

Do tell, do tell!

 

[ehaecker]

Do tell, do tell!

Had a captain (old school type, bad CRM, etc...) set off the stick shaker no less than 4 times while trying to climb through a layer of moderate icing in an ATR. He actually made me scared (which being an aerobatic pilot in the past, is hard to do) several times. I finally pushed the nose down myself, pushed the props to 100% and selected MCT. We finally came out of the tops.

 

[pdub20s]

(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.

Well If I wouldn't have second guesses any of my CAs we would have:

-Landed on the wrong runway
-Entered a hold at the wrong FIX
-Turned onto wrong taxi ways
-Used the WRONG T/O Weight Cards
-Climbed instead of descended
-Blown through 10K at 280kts+
-Stalled the A/C on Approach
-Turned the wrong way after Canarsie VOR on the Kennedy1 Canarsie Climb.

..and many more I cant think of.

But I guarantee you that the CAs thanked me every time. I find the "newer" upgrades having the biggest EGOs and dont take kindly to the FO proving them wrong. The More Experienced captains generally are humble ,respect your opinion, and are very pleasant to fly a whole bid with.

 

[Turtlesfly]

You're a Captain because your number came up. That's it ladies.

PIPE

Typical FO argument. And it's totally wrong. You're a CA because you went through the training to be one - and many don't make it.

 

[spudskier]

Well If I wouldn't have second guesses any of my CAs we would have:

-Landed on the wrong runway
-Entered a hold at the wrong FIX
-Turned onto wrong taxi ways
-Used the WRONG T/O Weight Cards
-Climbed instead of descended
-Blown through 10K at 280kts+
-Stalled the A/C on Approach
-Turned the wrong way after Canarsie VOR on the Kennedy1 Canarsie Climb.

..and many more I cant think of.

But I guarantee you that the CAs thanked me every time. I find the "newer" upgrades having the biggest EGOs and dont take kindly to the FO proving them wrong. The More Experienced captains generally are humble ,respect your opinion, and are very pleasant to fly a whole bid with.

True enough... but there's a spread.

-Newbies (captains) can be a pain, ego is huge.
-Semi-new - not bad, getting intothe groove
-Mid-way through the career - fun!!!
-Older but not the oldest (maybe 15 years from retirement - PAIN IN THE A$$ they are old enough to have experience and think that they are now g-d's gift
-Oldest (near retirement) - well, they go to bed early but they're fun to fly with and are usually easy going

All that being said, all have exceptions. Some are VERy set in their ways and can't imagine themselves ever being wrong, others are very easy-going, open to professionally given suggestions.

if you're in a 2-crew environment, act like it, learn something, you're not invincible and your FO is there for a reason. Remember, almost EVERY reg written is reactionary - someone did something that wound up being stupid and now there's a reg for it.

Captains have caught many a mistake I've made and you bet your @SS I've caught a crap-load of theirs, in one case I was just a jump-seater

(Captain tried to enter the runway for t/o at a mid-point taxiway intersection instead of full-length, f/o said nothing... I tapped him on the back at the same time tower called him out)

 

[spudskier]

Typical FO argument. And it's totally wrong. You're a CA because you went through the training to be one - and many don't make it.

...and some of them shouldn't have made it.

There's an argument to be made for both sides, yeah, some people are captains because their number came up (and they happened to barely get through training), others are captains because they're dang good at what they do and seniority allowed them to do it.

 

[Twinpilot]

Just had an FO from a Pilot Mill somewhere in Florida. 230 hours, and 46 hours of IOE...let's start adding this one up. Now I'll give the KID credit...he was smart...book smart, and quite obviously studied alot. But, after 2 days of listening to him tell me how to correctly fly an airplane (ie: using flight spoilers installed on the airplane is incredibly dangerous on a super-critical airfoil...sorry, but the engineers that built the airplane didn't put those there as a self-destruct button!) he was given a visual approach 15 miles out to a runway different from what we had previously been given, if we wanted it. We took it, and he tried to program the FMS, play with the autopilot, and such before I finally pointed out that the runway was "out the window...so just fly it." Needless to say, we spent 10 miles just trying to point the nose at the runway. Finally, I took the controls from him and landed uneventfully. The next two days were very pleasant as this fool realized he couldn't even perform the first thing you ever learn! Looking at the runway and flying the airplane to it! That being said...I have flown with some great FO's and value their input in the cockpit. Keeps us all safer...as stated before, the airplane still requires two of us up there.

 

[Flyerdan]

Just had an FO from a Pilot Mill somewhere in Florida. 230 hours, and 46 hours of IOE...let's start adding this one up. Now I'll give the KID credit...he was smart...book smart, and quite obviously studied alot. But, after 2 days of listening to him tell me how to correctly fly an airplane (ie: using flight spoilers installed on the airplane is incredibly dangerous on a super-critical airfoil...sorry, but the engineers that built the airplane didn't put those there as a self-destruct button!) he was given a visual approach 15 miles out to a runway different from what we had previously been given, if we wanted it. We took it, and he tried to program the FMS, play with the autopilot, and such before I finally pointed out that the runway was "out the window...so just fly it." Needless to say, we spent 10 miles just trying to point the nose at the runway. Finally, I took the controls from him and landed uneventfully. The next two days were very pleasant as this fool realized he couldn't even perform the first thing you ever learn! Looking at the runway and flying the airplane to it! That being said...I have flown with some great FO's and value their input in the cockpit. Keeps us all safer...as stated before, the airplane still requires two of us up there.

I've flown with people like you. You like to sit back and watch someone struggle and then fail just so you can save the day and stroke your ego.

Why not be a team player in that situation and help the guy out by either talking him through the FMS, etc., or at least taking some of the workload from him so he can succeed. By just watching him fail you added nothing whatsoever to his experience level except to be even more stressed out the next time he is confronted with that situation. Lets just hope he can bid avoid you in the future so he can fly with Captains who believe in mentoring their FO's.

 

[BigPappa]

Spudskier,

"and some of them should've have never made it"

That is just YOUR useless opinion. You either make it or you don't! There is no barely or almost, it is either pass or fail, and the type is a ZERO F#ck Up event!

IF YOU WANNA BE A CAPTAIN THEN JUST BECOME ONE, AND QUIT TALKING! Until then you can STFU!


If there is something to be said I want my FO to speak up. I also want him/her to use good CRM. That being said you should try to respect the Captain. I know I always did! (I am not saying that you should not speak up or make sure that no mistakes are made).

 

[Microclimates]

"be nice twice" is the rule of thumb I go by. I read it once in a book by john irving and thought it was a pretty good way to do things.

I'm happy to respect the captain; that said, I'm not going to take too much crap though-- this ain't the military! If you run around barking loudly you'll simply be seen as what you are. a dog.

seeyoubye

 

[blesko]

I've flown with people like you. You like to sit back and watch someone struggle and then fail just so you can save the day and stroke your ego.

Why not be a team player in that situation and help the guy out by either talking him through the FMS, etc., or at least taking some of the workload from him so he can succeed. By just watching him fail you added nothing whatsoever to his experience level except to be even more stressed out the next time he is confronted with that situation. Lets just hope he can bid avoid you in the future so he can fly with Captains who believe in mentoring their FO's.

Dood, get this. As a prior 135 capt, and a 121 F/O now, he's right on the money. Once you upgrade to anything bigger than a 172, you'll learn that you never let an FO take you where you cant get out of. Unfortunately, the judgement piece that MOST pilots have already learned, you have just seen a glimpse of. Visual approaches, weather, etc. The 121 capt's I fly with have absolute horror stories, yet also have some very good attitudes towards them. Those of us, that came from a university program, yet got years of experience prior to entering the 121 world get it. Your experience comes at someone elses' certificate. Not yours. We gained our experience in flying night freight, oragans, charter, and teaching for years. You haven't been violated for turning RIGHT to a heading of 070 off rwy 8R in atl. You havent lost a wiper blade into the right engine at 250 kts on final approach because the F/O couldnt see outside. At the end of the day, you should be grateful for the opportunity as I, with 5k total time and several types, still am for the opportunity for guys with more airplane and life experience share it with me.

Guys that share the relase and aid in brining the F/O along to help and get their opinion in operations decisions, my hat is truely off, and may I operate like you one day in the 121 enviorment.\

Unfortunately, the 121 world fills at the 61 enviorment of gaining experience. That's the way it has to be for now. Cowboy up and use some common sense and fly the airplane.

As a 135 capt, I welcomed new F/O's. However, their attitude was not one of holier than thou. It was one of willingness to learn. Long goes the saying, I showed him everything he knows....just remember its everything he knows, not everything I know. We all had to start somewhere, but dam**it the new breed needs to start appreciating what they have and be grateful for it.

 

[Twinpilot]

I've flown with people like you. You like to sit back and watch someone struggle and then fail just so you can save the day and stroke your ego.

Why not be a team player in that situation and help the guy out by either talking him through the FMS, etc., or at least taking some of the workload from him so he can succeed. By just watching him fail you added nothing whatsoever to his experience level except to be even more stressed out the next time he is confronted with that situation. Lets just hope he can bid avoid you in the future so he can fly with Captains who believe in mentoring their FO's.

I was trying to keep it as short as possible without filling an entire page...in any case, there was no need to program an FMS for a 10 mile visual...I certainly did try to help this FO out on a visual approach. He just needs some more time in the airplane to become fully comfortable. The point was that he spent 2 days telling me how to fly, instead of trying to learn how to become a better pilot. I try to learn something each leg...the day that stops, you just became dangerous. I spent 2 years as a flight instructor...and have a double degree in education...I am the FIRST to try to help someone out and teach...kinda like the FAR's require and ATP to do. You totally missed the point. If you want a full on dissertation of the events that transpired...read mine. It's in the National Library in Washington DC...under falling education system in America. Never completed the PhD, to become a pilot instead...and if you'd read the entire post, you'd understand that I have a full appreciation for the fact that there are TWO required seats in the airplane...that means two of us...not a dictator-ship. There are not 4 stripe and 3 stripe desicions...there are 7 stripe decisions. If I do something wrong...I fully hope that my FO will catch it. That's the beauty of being human.

 

[Twinpilot]

Dood, get this. As a prior 135 capt, and a 121 F/O now, he's right on the money. Once you upgrade to anything bigger than a 172, you'll learn that you never let an FO take you where you cant get out of. Unfortunately, the judgement piece that MOST pilots have already learned, you have just seen a glimpse of. Visual approaches, weather, etc. The 121 capt's I fly with have absolute horror stories, yet also have some very good attitudes towards them. Those of us, that came from a university program, yet got years of experience prior to entering the 121 world get it. Your experience comes at someone elses' certificate. Not yours. We gained our experience in flying night freight, oragans, charter, and teaching for years. You haven't been violated for turning RIGHT to a heading of 070 off rwy 8R in atl. You havent lost a wiper blade into the right engine at 250 kts on final approach because the F/O couldnt see outside. At the end of the day, you should be grateful for the opportunity as I, with 5k total time and several types, still am for the opportunity for guys with more airplane and life experience share it with me.

Guys that share the relase and aid in brining the F/O along to help and get their opinion in operations decisions, my hat is truely off, and may I operate like you one day in the 121 enviorment.\

Unfortunately, the 121 world fills at the 61 enviorment of gaining experience. That's the way it has to be for now. Cowboy up and use some common sense and fly the airplane.

As a 135 capt, I welcomed new F/O's. However, their attitude was not one of holier than thou. It was one of willingness to learn. Long goes the saying, I showed him everything he knows....just remember its everything he knows, not everything I know. We all had to start somewhere, but dam**it the new breed needs to start appreciating what they have and be grateful for it.

You're exactly right! You also touched on the fact that you never gain experience without trying. I tried to help my FO along a visual approach...and he will get better, with some more practice. But, when push came to shove...it was finally a little too unstable for my comfort. If I fly with him again, I'd do exactly the same thing...however, in the teaching process, I imagine that the next time, he will be more than able to land the airplane just fine. I value every moment I have had with other pilots with more experience than I. I value every moment with pilots with different experience than my own. That's how we all learn and become better. No one out there knows it all, and never will. They guy or gal that says they do, is one to stay away from.

 

[on autopilot]

I've flown with Captains that scared me. One almost caused an inflight break up over Georgia, fell asleep, it was his leg to fly, I took control of the aircraft and pullled us out of a steep dive, not an easy thing to do when flying the Irish Concorde, for my efforts he reported me to the Chief Pilot, Next the spincter decided he was going to yell at me because Fed Ex brought our cargo late, can't do paper work without paperwork, you know the drill, right?

Well, I would say fisticuffs was about to ensue when Fedex called on him and asked the Company what this guys problem was. Next, on final approach into SJU, we get loss of power in both engines on final, I remember this really nice building it was gold I think or tan and we were headed right for it. The Captain being the authority that he is, FREAKS OUT.

I'm like hey we can put down here, or here. Thankfully we get both engines back and land, I urge him to write it up, he's afraid of getting terminated so he doesn't.

I left that operation VERY shortly after that.

T GATES MY FRIEND -YOU WERE RIGHT.

I think as an F.O. you are there to learn from a competent Captain who should prep you to eventually assume a command position at the airline. You are there to learn, not say, well in school the told us....... You don't know how to wipe your own butt yet if you could find it with a map and a flash light.

Learn all you can, if you see a Captain that is dangerous, protect yourself and NEVER bid a trip with them again.

CHEERS!!

 

[on autopilot]

I was trying to keep it as short as possible without filling an entire page...in any case, there was no need to program an FMS for a 10 mile visual...I certainly did try to help this FO out on a visual approach. He just needs some more time in the airplane to become fully comfortable. The point was that he spent 2 days telling me how to fly, instead of trying to learn how to become a better pilot. I try to learn something each leg...the day that stops, you just became dangerous. I spent 2 years as a flight instructor...and have a double degree in education...I am the FIRST to try to help someone out and teach...kinda like the FAR's require and ATP to do. You totally missed the point. If you want a full on dissertation of the events that transpired...read mine. It's in the National Library in Washington DC...under falling education system in America. Never completed the PhD, to become a pilot instead...and if you'd read the entire post, you'd understand that I have a full appreciation for the fact that there are TWO required seats in the airplane...that means two of us...not a dictator-ship. There are not 4 stripe and 3 stripe desicions...there are 7 stripe decisions. If I do something wrong...I fully hope that my FO will catch it. That's the beauty of being human.

I've got tears in my eyes after reading that........damn onions!!

All jokes aside, that is a very true statement. I wish the idiot captains would take this advice to heart.

 

[Soverytired]

I agree to some extent. Call it laziness or apathy, I tend to just let it be for the sake of decorum. I mean I won't tolerate dangerous behaviors or back talk to myself or ATC or other members of the crew but for the most part I let them entertain themselves with their endless drable of consciousness. If you give a jack A$$ a hand grenade eventually he will blow himself the F up.

"Squashing like bugs" might be a little harsh. The fact is though, right-seat-"captains" generally tend to be ignorant of the more subtle cues that the actual captains are trying to give.

The more clueless the FO, the harder the captain is eventually going to have to "STOMP" to get his attention. And if they STILL don't get it, I'd highly recommend going to the chief pilot and having a pointed discussion about flight safety and lack of CRM because of the FO's attitude and performance issues. You might be the captain, but you're not his supervisor. So go to the supervisor and get the problem fixed instead of punting it down the road for the next poor captain.

Invite the FO along, certainly, but in the rare, rare instance of a truly thick-headed fo (or captain, for that matter), intervention from the chief pilot is really where this sort of thing needs to go before an accident happens.