FXDX

Also concur.

Bottom feeder.

Laughing_Jakal

Actually, in the military, it is very common for the Aircraft Commander not to be the "senior" pilot. The "A" code is given to the Pilot in Command....period. No matter who gets on the plane, the pilot-in-command is just that. Especially, if you have an extra, who is on there for augmentation purposes, a currency event, or an extra refueling pilot.....he or she does not "assume command" just because they may be "senior". In the AF, seniority isn't everything.....the "A" code is. Unless you are a lazy guy like me who likes to fly around in the back....knock of a currency event, and not have a care in the world...."Darn....there was a problem with that flight? Sure glad I wasn't in Command".

I have a funny feeling that the problem children were either single seat fighter guys or civilians who have grown up on a "seniority eats their young" mentality. For trash haulers, Spec Ops, and other multi-pilot aircraft, this phenomenon is common place.

USMCFDX

I'm a single seat fighter fighter guy and take offense at that statement. I agree 100% that you bid the RFO line then you stay the food *itch! You bid the flying line then you sign for the jet. Seniority gets you the line, not the jet.

Some people just can't get over themselves and it is not because they flew fighters.

FDXLAG

Sometimes the flight lead is the most Jr Guy in a flight. Not sure where Jackal gets his prejudices from.

gcsass

Don't both Captains get paid the same?? So what's the problem here?? I can sit in the back, get the choicest crew meals, read, watch movies and sleep and get paid the exact same as the guy who will do the carpet dance if a taxiway light gets smashed? Perhaps I am a slacker, but when I upgrade anyone that wants the responsibility is welcome to come and take it...... just show me the money.

Kind of reminds me of a story I heard at my old Guard unit.... there was a senior Major there who never upgraded...... he flew around with a bunch of junior people, got paid more than they did and had no responsibility. That guy had it made!! Or so I have heard.........

Jetjok

You'll probably understand when you upgrade to captain, before then, well it's sort of like a pig watching the super bowl, interesting, but hard to make heads or tails out of it. The issue is that when you're the captain, unless you're something really special (which most of us aren't), and you've been awarded a line of flying, you take offense at someone showing up in the middle of your pairing, and taking command of "your" flight and flight crew. It makes it even worse when you've been on a pairing for a few days and then, all of a sudden, here comes this senior guy, who just first-classed across the pond, to "fly your jet", for the next leg or two, then leave you and first-class either back home, or onto the next trip, where he will do the same thing to another hapless crew.

As for your Major friend, back at your old Guard unit, the guy was not only an under-achiever, but also someone without the drive to be all that he could be. Obviously someone I'd prefer not to fly with on my wing. Besides your story is opposite of the reality here, because there, he had elected to remain a wingman only, while here, it's a senior guy, who could have bid that line of flying, but for some reason, decided to not, and then he gets his choice of good deals, while cutting the junior captain out of flying the trip that he was able to hold. Sucks.

JJ

AerisArmis

So, in the interest of consistency, you believe that on a 3 man crew, if the RFO is senior to the FO, he should have the right to kick the FO out of his seat and fly the leg? That is how seniority works and you don't care if he bid that line? In the words of Sgt Joe Friday, "is that about it?"

Busboy

What if the F/O is senior to the Capt?

AerisArmis

Ah yes, but you probably don't have epulettes w/ 4 stripes on your pajama's and your wife doesn't say "good morning Captain" when you come downstairs for your morning cup of coffee. I'm afraid you need to get with the program.

MD11Fr8Dog

Happens to me all the time! I once had a VERY senior to me FO and my RF2 was Denny B.