n287hg

I am assuming you don't always get to pick the crew you fly with. Have you ever been paired with a Captain, First Officer, Flight Attendent or entire cabin crew that was just an absolute pain to work with?

CRJDriver

Yes, but it comes with the job...

ToiletDuck

Yup but as said above they are few and far between. Have had a couple FAs that really knew how to ruin everyone's day with non-stop complaining but I've learned such negative people don't tend to last too long.

BURflyer

Every pilot group has the few, there is no getting around it and the worst part is those guys know who they are it's not accidental. Maybe they weren't loved as kids I don't know. However 95% of the time everyone is nice and professional. As far as the FAs, they've got a hard enough job keeping pax happy. Even under the worst encounters with the FAs it's more of an annoyance than pain.

higney85

Yes. They exist. When dealing with them just be professional, at least until they pi$$ you off, then tell em to shut up.

chignutsak

It's called life. In the real world, not everyone links arms and sings kumbaya. Why would you expect the airplane to be any different?

John Pennekamp

You must be new.

Yes, you'll fly with lots of jerks in your career. You deal with it. Like a mature adult. People skills.

G2TT

I looked forward to this fact for a really long time, but now that I am there I have been disappointed. A crappy F.O. can ruin a trip just as fast as a bad Captain can. You can set the tone all you want, but that won't change the fact that the guy next to you is a jerk.

ToiletDuck

I don't know who uses what for bidding but if you use PBS, at least ours, you can avoid their employee number. Never had a CA so bad it was worth losing a good trip over. I wish I could avoid the lower numbers so I didn't have to fly with an FA or two. Well one of them was recently fired but it seems every so often I get one of those that's dating a CA and feels she's on his level. Keep hearing "Well if my boyfriend were here we wouldn't be waiting so long to deice" or "if my boyfriend were here he'd do this". Nothing bothers me more and there's nothing I can really say against it so it's just 4 days of "what her boyfriend would do". It also irks me when they are just so damn proud they manage to date a regional CA.

Pilotpip

That's why you have an SOP. When you don't like the guy/gal sitting next to you, use that and you'll be fine. Most unions have a professional standards committee to address these issues pilot to pilot. Every captain has a different, yet perfectly legal way of doing things in most cases so I try my best to adapt to them. I figure if I take the best from each captain I fly with I'll be a good one myself.

As far as the FA's go, it's real easy to ignore them with a bullet resistant door separating us from them. However I always ask to take a soda from the cart before I do, and try to help them out when I have the time because you never know when I might need a drink and not have time to grab it or something like that. My theory is that it's their world behind that door. I respect it the way I expect them to respect ours. Doesn't always happen that way but oh well.

I flew with one captain before I left my previous regional that was so bad I would have gone to pro standards about him. He didn't communicate with the FA or the pax regarding a delay from holding and an eventual diversion (required per our GOM), didn't use proper callouts and the stuff he was saying to the FA was beyond offensive. I was leaving two weeks later so I didn't make a stink about it.

I'm pretty easy going so I don't have too many problems. Over a 4 day you're probably going to find some common ground like a hobby to talk about. Aside from that, mutual respect goes a long way. Use the golden rule and you should be fine.

The only things I feel is taboo in the cockpit are religion and politics. I never talk about either because it's a great way to get into a very bitter argument because people are very passionate about both.