what to do about a dangerous captain

[Guitar rocker]

Excellent point. When you go to the CP be sure you're doing everything you can to work professionally with this guy. In this business part of safety is working well with your crewmembers. Tension in the cockpit just isn't safe. Ask for advice from the CP on how to get along with this guy. I'd probably arrange to fly a trip or two with the guy to "keep myself current" and to see what's going on in the cockpit first hand. If it's personal maybe the guy has a beef with you too. Something a beer or three after work could solve?

Hate to say it, but I think at this point we are past what a "beer or 3" can do here. If you have already chatted with the captain and he's still acting the same way and doing things that are unsafe, you just dont have any other choice but to mention it to the higher ups. It's your resoponsibility to do so at this point.

 

[Fearless Tower]

Without us being there in the cockpit, only you and those who have flown with him know how 'dangerous' the guy is. If it's just a matter of not getting along, or not seeing eye to eye, then the dangerous part can be controlled by you and how you handle the situation and/or personality conflict. If the danger is in the way the guy flies, then you need to ask yourself if sticking it out is worth getting in a wreck and dying.

If you haven't already, take a look at the Aftermath section of the May 2006 FLYING magazine...they rehash the B-52 crash back in 94 caused by a clearly out of control senior Air Force officer. If that is your situation, my low-time advice is...don't be the guy in the right seat.

 

[bubbers44]

I had the same problem. He was the chief pilot so going there was not an option. I decided to talk to the VP in charge of the flight department, he talked to the other pilots and the CP was put on probation for a month. I thought I would lose my job earlier when I took the jet away from him when he tried to land long on a short runway in a thunderstorm one night. I thought I would get fired but didn't. He was later fired doing unsafe flights with another pilot. You can't let him kill you because he is the captain. Jobs are easier to find then body parts.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Sorry to hear of your situation.

Best advice seems to be that you need to have a talk with your CP and have him ride with this guy.

Don't put yourself in an uncomfortable position. If you feel overwhelmed and unsafe riding with this guy, stay away. As long as you have a concrete explantion for any future employment queries, you should be ok.

 

[Way2Broke]

:laugh: Maverick was "dangerous" and he got along just fine. So what is your point. Just kidding. Seriously though, if you don't like the guy do what any mature adult would do, call him names behind his back.

 

[sluminginpit]

If there is a problem address it with him first! But just a quick observation. You started your post by telling us your type rated in the airplane, then you explained that "he" busted your altitude and airspeed on a departure? Your both flying the departure right?

If this was your first trip for this company with this guy, relax! Fly another trip with him and then decide. Maybe he had an issue at home or with his finances? Not that this makes it right, but you could be overreacting.

You won't always like the guys you fly with but so what, your not there to make friends, your there to pilot the plane. Maybe you need to ask your self if you came on to strong with the " Im type rated in this plane" attitude and offended him into acting "lordy" to you. If after your next trip it goes bad, then talk with other pilots about their flights with him. Make sure there is a general concesus that he is dangerous before proceeding or you may find yourself unemployed. Good Luck

By the way if every a-hole, ego maniac, jerk was dangerous and should be fired, there would be no one left to fly for the airlines !

 

[TimsKeeper]

Hopefully it'll all work out. Keep in mind he may have documented "notes" on you too (whether true or not really won't be the issue).......so working it out is an option you should strongly consider.

Good Luck

 

[TurboS7]

He is just an old cragy Lear captain, lighten up, you can fart in the flight deck, and do a lot of things you can't with the other types. If you can't handle it leave and go get a single pilot job....

 

[400A]

He is just an old cragy Lear captain, lighten up, you can fart in the flight deck, and do a lot of things you can't with the other types. If you can't handle it leave and go get a single pilot job....

Yeah, dont do anything about it.............Let him kill someone else.

 

[smellthejeta]

If the guy's truly an a*hole (I don't doubt it), then it's no secret. However, if it's no secret and he still has a job, he'll still have a job after you say your peace.

If the guy is truly a safety hazard, quit. No job is worth certificate action or your physical well being, especially if you keep telling yourself you should know better.

From your description of your job, I presume you're sacrificing a paycheck in exchange for jet time? FO or CA's at those types of jobs don't stick around for very long. Depending on the area you live in, there's probably other jobs around.