Situation captain questions

[Blue583]

While looking at different gouges for different airlines, there seems to be a lot of what if questions pertaining to captains. For example, what would you do if the captain went below mins? What if the captain said abort after V1. What if the captain didn't use checklists.

I've never worked for a 121 carrier, but these questions are all over the place. My question is, as a first officer are you supposed to confront, or go against the captain no matter what if he or she is breaking a rule? Or is there a gray area?

Also, would this be spelled out in the company policy? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Corbon]

Most companies have Professional Standards Committee made up of pilots to address these issues so it can hopefully be corrected within the pilot group before it makes its way to the company and gets someone in trouble.

If he refuses to do a checklist, do it yourself and make sure everything has been covered.

If he goes below mins and ignores your suggestion to go missed approach, you could always key the mic and tell tower you don't have the runway and are going missed. If he had half a brain he'd initiate a miss right then and there. Definitely don't try and take over the controls or do something stupid.

If he said to abort after V1 and you have control of the thrust levers, keep going and fly the profile. V1 is V1 (unless the flying gods hate you and both engines seperated at V1+2 or something similar). If he has control of the thust levers, then he'll pretty much abort whenever he wants to.

If they are breaking a rule, your ticket is on the line also. Voice your disagreement with whatever he is doing and if he doesn't listen, call the PSC. Eventually if the PSC suggestions go unheeded, it will get to the company and then he may be a little more open to doing things the right way.

 

[WSurf]

If he goes below mins and ignores your suggestion to go missed approach, you could always key the mic and tell tower you don't have the runway and are going missed. If he had half a brain he'd initiate a miss right then and there. Definitely don't try and take over the controls or do something stupid.

Just make it simple..... Call missed really loud.. If he doesn't respond, well then just reach over and put the Gear Handle in the 'Up' Position..... He will go around then!!!!

 

[Corbon]

Just make it simple..... Call missed really loud.. If he doesn't respond, well then just reach over and put the Gear Handle in the 'Up' Position..... He will go around then!!!!

And if he reaches over and puts it back down, assuming you survive the impact, call in sick before the next leg.

 

[rjacobs]

In an interview, I would not bring up pro-standards. What 121 airlines allow the FO to have the thrust levers during takeoff, besides the initial lever advance(I really want to know)? When you say go below mins, do you mean vis or ceiling since in most 121 ops ceiling is not the controlling factor, vis is. And a V1 engine cut is a V1 cut any day, if you abort above that your chances of flying away go down pretty quick. Always speak your mind in the cockpit as the voice recorder will pick it up. That can be cross checked with the FDR if stuff happens.

 

[tyuwerty]

Just make it simple..... Call missed really loud.. If he doesn't respond, well then just reach over and put the Gear Handle in the 'Up' Position..... He will go around then!!!!

This is a joke right?

 

[atrdriver]

What 121 airlines allow the FO to have the thrust levers during takeoff, besides the initial lever advance(I really want to know)?

Well, if you REALLY want to know, at ASA on the ATR the FO has control of the power levers until rotation, assuming that it is his leg.

 

[WSurf]

This is a joke right?

You are a bright one!!!! Hence the smiley on the End!! And I thought I could get was past you.....

 

[iflyjets4food]

While looking at different gouges for different airlines, there seems to be a lot of what if questions pertaining to captains. For example, what would you do if the captain went below mins? What if the captain said abort after V1. What if the captain didn't use checklists.

I've never worked for a 121 carrier, but these questions are all over the place. My question is, as a first officer are you supposed to confront, or go against the captain no matter what if he or she is breaking a rule? Or is there a gray area?

Also, would this be spelled out in the company policy? Thanks for any advice.

Think about what you'd do for real. Spend a little time and figure out what you'd do if your airplane was accelerating down the runway and the captain called abort after V1. What would you do in real life if you started the checklist and the captain told you he didn't need it so he wasn't going to do it? I've been in that situation. It helps to have thought about it before hand. Most regional interviewers want to hear that you'll challenge the captain on everything that isn't by the book. In real life, are you going to start a confrontation in the airplane and wrestle for the controls because the captain doesn't go missed right at mins? Probably not. If CRM really works, you shouldn't have to. Maybe you'd call missed on the radio and tell the captain to go around. Do you really want to fight for the airplane while you are 150' agl and descending on LOC and GS? I doubt it.

 

[Mercury]

Blue,

This line of questioning is known as SBI- Situational Based Interviewing.
There is rarely one totally "right" answer. The interview panel is looking at your thought process, your ability to assert yourself and your conflict resolution skills.
As far as the real world goes re-read Iflyjets post, he says it as good as I could.

Best of luck to you!

 

[DrewBlows]

A couple of points...

...there are situations, although extrordinarily rare, where an abort after V1 would be appropriate (a jammed elevator comes to mind). Generally speaking you should fly the profile as taught and breifed though.

...when answering these questions don't ever tell an interviewer that you will break company policy or FAA regulations, no matter how much they lead you down that road. There are jobs where creativity would be a plus, piloting is not one of those jobs. A company wants all of it's pilots to do everything standard and consistant. Trying to get everyone at a particular company to do that is a challenge.

...also, if you go over the possibilities of a particular situation before answering the question you will show the interviewer that you can think on the fly (even though you have been thinking about the question for weeks after reading it on a gouge website). For example, in the ILS at minimums question it's possible that the Captain has lost his marbles and is hurdling the airplane at the ground with nothing in sight, it's also possible that he doesn't realize that you are at minimums (some of those old guys are a little hard of hearing), it's possible that he's incapacitated, and it's even possible that he really sees the "runway environment", but you don't (think large crosswind), there are probably more possibilities that I can't think of. A quick and simple solution (be careful, this is my answer not necessarily yours) is to question the captain by saying "Minimums, where's the runway?". If he answers "11 o'clock low", and you look and see it, you are landing and you avoided a conflict. If he answers "I don't see it, I want to take a look", it is time to tell the tower that you don't see the runway and are going around, if he keeps going it may be time to take the airplane (beats hitting the ground right?). If he doesn't answer, ask again and if still no reply take the controls assuming he is incapacitated. Though this answer took a fair amount of time to read and your answer will take a fair amount of time to say, in practice it takes very little time and shows that you have a plan for a very critical situation. Good luck.

...Skyway allowed FOs to have the thrust levers while I was there, Comair does not.

 

[Alltheway]

Or what about a situation where the captain goes below min's and calls it in sight.. http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20041020X01659&key=1

 

[John Pennekamp]

It's not the actual answer that they are looking for, it's your logic and attitude. They want to see if you're going to give a quick, pre-rehearsed answer or think it through. They want to see if you're going to take over the airplane (ego) or let the captain continue (lack of assertiveness). Above all, they want to see that you will ensure the airplane is operated safely.

Also consider who's interviewing you. If it's a management person, they want to hear you say you'll ensure the CA does everything by the book, all the time, and go see a Cheif Pilot if he doesn't. If it's a pilot, they'll want to hear you say you'll make your best effort to diplomatically work it out, then contact the union Professional Standards committee if it continues.

 

[F16fixer]

These are probably the best reponses that I have found yet to those types of questions.

Thanks guys,

Fixer (Have an interview in 1 week)

 

[Paul R. Smith]

This thread has restored my faith in this forum.


I now actually believe that the folks who post on here are in fact pilots.:beer:

 

[Blue583]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to answer my questions. They have all helped a tremendous amount. Now I just need to show the panel that I know what I'm talking about!

Thanks again.

Blue

 

[Dustin H]

If I'm sitting next to the captain and he/she goes below mins with no visual in sight, I'd just announce over the PA


“smokem if ya got um”.


Actually I my favorite question to come from an interview board is “tell me about an FAR you have broken”. How sideways is that?

 

[WSurf]

If your Captain goes below DH??? Hmmmm, Is it the 'Go Home' leg?....... it is! Okay, lights in sight continue!!!!