Originally Posted by
Buckethead
To those of you pilots who think that teamwork approach is a waste of time and that you should be treated like "Kings," are not only over indulged with ego but out of touch and dangerous. To begin with, respect is earned...not a given, the days of thinking fellow crew members are below you are OVER...deal with it. You're a dime a dozen...you're no more special than John Doe on the street.
I have no comments on this most bizarre story in particular, but I do have one comment about the above.
1) Teamwork is definitely not a waste of time. Most of us do everything we can to promote it. A few % of of pilots, and a few % of F/A's try to make sure they ruin any chance of an effective professional relationship between our groups, and George Carlin has some choice expressions about what these people need to have done to them.
2) The people that think they are "Kings" belong with the people listed in item 1, above.
3) The people who tell others that they are "a dime a dozen" are just as clueless as those with majestic ambitions. They belong with the people in item 1, above.
4) The people that fail to realize who is in charge of the aircraft, and enjoy the illusion that noone is "above" anyone else are suffering from dangerous delusions themselves. The author of the statement confuses respect with authority. An aircraft is not a democracy and pilots are, indeed, "above" other crewmembers in terms of hierarchy. That doesn't mean they're better people, but it certainly puts them in charge. Anyone who disagrees needs to check the other box on their application, and thereby cross the line that places
them, legally, "above" other crewmembers. Or, they can fit right in with the people in item 1, above.
The author could have made an equally powerful statement about this particular pilot's alleged stupidity without insulting any other pilots that were nowhere near this incident.
Thank you.