Probably the popup the captain will get telling them that their F/O is on probation. I'd recommend not wearing it until off probation. Even if it is a minuscule risk, it's just not worth it.


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That's the problem with flying on a senior aircraft like the 777. You don't get to fly with the new hires. If you did, you'd get the NH evaluation form when you sign in. Pretty obvious who's a probie.

 

Huh, 777 and 744 guys don't have to do new hire assessments on every rotation??? Even the 76ER guys get an occasional one. Clearly we need to fix that in the upcoming negotiations to share the wealth. 😆

 

Damned fangled new technology!

Why.... back in MY DAY....

We actually did have one guy from my new hire class get fired just before he got off probation. Back then, you were on probation for an entire year, you didn't get off until you had passed your hire anniversary date, AND you had an unannounced 'end of probation' line check, where a check engineer would show up unannounced at some point in your anniversary month, do an out and back with you, sign you off and you were good to go.

We had this one guy (there's always one, right?) who just couldn't keep his mouth shut. It started back in new hire class, when he would argue with our 727 systems instructor about how the pneumatic system worked! The rest of us would just look at this nit wit and some would even mutter, (S.T.F.U. so we can go to lunch!) but he just couldn't help himself.

During our first year (1985-6) there were contract negotiations going on, just like today, and the topic of the day was the B Scale. Would DALPA allow the American Airlines inspired B Scale to come to us? Most of us knew better than to talk about it in the cockpit while on probation, but not our genius. He got into many heated discussions with the Cap/FO (If you put us on the B scale, we'll take your retirement!) and had even been called in to the CPO and warned, "If I see your name one more time, you're done!"

Well, I guess he kept his mouth shut, right up until his end of probation line check. He was based in ATL, showed up for his trip, signed in (on a piece of paper, on a clip board in crew scheduling back then, pre-computer days). And then he disappeared. He used to like to flirt with the FA's, he was single and chasing tail as most of us were, when the tails were 30 years younger! Anyway, the check engineer shows up at the jet 40 minutes prior to push, no Jeff (our genius). The Captain and FO show up, still no Jeff.

The check engineer figures maybe Jeff is lost, or got sick, or what ever, but the other two haven't seen him, so the check engineer jumps into the seat and pre-flights the panel, and about 15 minutes prior to push, in walks Jeff. Jeff looks at the guy sitting in his seat and says, "Who the Fk are you?".

The check engineer says, "I'm the guy giving YOU your check ride, and you aren't doing so well..."

Jeff was fired after the trip.

So, keep your pie hole shut when it comes to contract stuff and Donald Trump v Hillary and you'll be fine.

 

By wearing the lanyard you are inherently not keeping your pie hole shut. It's just not worth it if you run into that one d-bag. Just smile and wave

 

Timbo, your stories are the best.

You make me wish for the days of a 727. Which I rode in once.

 

It was fun with 3 pilots, you usually had someone you got along with, and the two of you could gang up on the 'other guy' to pull some practical jokes on him, especially if he was a hard over tool. Usually it was the Cap/FO pulling the jokes on the new hire Engineer of course, and they would sometimes enlist the FA's to help mess with you, so you had to just roll with it, knowing you were going to be goofed on most of the time in the cockpit, but on the layovers they usually took good care of you.

Not as much fun now with the 2 pilot cockpits for new hires, and when one of you farts, there's just nobody else to blame it on! No plausible deniability at all!

 

2-3 a month now. In the summer, a couple of times, I had 2 to do for one trip.

 

And we have a few. The kind that look at the XCM and say:

"Put that away, not here"
"No sleeping, you choose to commute"

I would even go as far to say we have an unfair percentage of.

 

Wow, that's pretty lame. I'm glad I haven't run into any yet, there's always a first time though!

I've had the opposite experience. On my commute home yesterday (in civies) I saw the 767 Capt had on his orange lanyard, I said, "Nice Lanyard" and showed him mine (it was in my pocket as I was on a PS pass). He smiled and offered to stow my suitcase for me!

So, for every one tool who says, "Put that away" I hope there are at least 99 who don't...but there's always going to be a few tools, no doubt.

Oh, and for FTB, in your 727 picture above, take a close look at the 3 throttles. Now, guess why #2 is at idle and 1+3 aren't, and for extra credit, tell me what the F/O is doing with his left hand.