Originally Posted by Turbosina

Oh, I got a good one. I wish I were making this up but I'm not.

A few weeks back, doing an 0600 departure to SFO in our creaky ol' CRJ-700 (Skywest, operating as UAX.) I happen to notice a mainline UAL captain riding in the back.

Anyhow, all is well until we push, fire 'er up, and start taxiing. We get a L AOA HEAT caution message. Pull out the book, and lo and behold — it's a non-deferable, grounding item. Captain calls MX on his cell, and they confirm what the book says. We're not going anywhere but back to the gate. And since this is at an outstation, the company calls contract maintenance. We're told it'll be at least a 4-hour delay.

So we taxi back to the gate, offer sincere apologies, and start deplaning everyone. The UAL CA comes into the flight deck, and in the most aggressive, rude tone I think I've ever heard a pilot use to another professional, says:

"So what's wrong, guys? You just made me miss my commute."

My CA looks at him and answers very politely, "Well, we had a left AOA heat probe caution. Book says we can't defer it and there's no reset procedure."

The UAL CA instantly responds in a very snide manner: "You sure about that? You sure you reading the book right? In the Triple that's a deferrable item."

My CA and I just kind of look at each other in amazement. My CA shrugs, grabs the MEL book and tosses it at the UAL guy. "Have a look for yourself."

The UAL CA shakes his head and actually says: "I liked you guys better when you just flew Brasilias."

And then walks off the plane.

I am not making up a single word of this, I promise. Not one single word.

I'm trying to imagine just what would have happened if the roles were reversed and I, a lowly RJ driver, had tried the same act on that 777 CA when he was in the left seat of his aircraft.

Anyhow, I've never before been glad for a pilot missing his commute, but this guy...