Originally Posted by
njd1
As an FO I specifically add a condition in the bid for a minimum of two days off between trips and also explicitly avoid split duty (stand ups) as well as one particular airport in our route structure that has a reputation for being a career-ender, at least in the winter. I've never received a bid counter to this so PBS works as intended.
That said, we are seriously short captains at the moment so captains are definitely being ridden hard and put away wet here. So anything is possible I suppose. The upside? 300% nearly daily for captains, or so it seems. Some captains are really cleaning up at the moment. Wish I was one of them.
nj,
I hope you, and anyone else reading it for that matter, take this in the spirit intended.
Upgrade comes fast. Regardless of ones background, use the time as an F.O. to bid and fly some of that which you consider more challenging. Be it operational, runways, approaches, terrain...whatever.
Hand fly most, in fact nearly all, approaches, whether IMC or VMC.
Don't avoid aspects that seem more challenging..seek them out.
Then reflect on what was done and what you can do better. (in short, do an occasional self debrief)
If you are flying with a Captain you think receptive to such things, use some of the legs to go into, or clarify, systems, AOM/GOM, working with ATC, dispatch, and the stations. Traps to watch out for. Maybe even their general philosophies on how it is we do what we do.
Get as confident as you can during this period so it doesn't seem as daunting later when you are the Captain with a brand new F.O. next to you. It is more likely you will then find the upgrade process and being a new Captain satisfying and even somewhat fun, as opposed to stressful. Most of us got into this business because we wished to be excellent pilots and airmen. Everything else flows from that.
I know this sounds all somewhat pompous. Take what, if anything, that rings true for you. Ignore what doesn't.
Cheers!