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Paranoid Pilots?

Old 01-12-2021, 04:20 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by Grumpyaviator View Post
It’s not paranoia if they’re really out to get you.
I've flown with a couple guys who got badly burned in the recent past for acting like a CA and trying to solve problems. That doesn't always fly anymore.

My takeaway from other people's hard lessons: Call ops and let the station handle it and stay in the cockpit... even if you handle it perfectly, the video will be edited to be "newsworthy" before they run it on CNN. There's no way you're coming out ahead because you doing good is not newsworthy in any way. I would even think twice about intervening in a fight. Only exception is if you personally foil an actual terrorist attack, then you can write a book and retire.

Airborne, give 'em a warning and then divert and let the cops deal with it. If they trigger a (legit) divert, they're going to lose in court.

I also know people who won't go out with FA's on an overnight. Meh, gotta use common sense on that. If the party's getting heavy, leave before you get into the realm of "should have known" that somebody was going to be unfit in the morning. If somebody needs help to their room, you stayed to long... have the hotel staff take them up.
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Old 01-12-2021, 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Grumpyaviator View Post
It’s not paranoia if they’re really out to get you.
It’s not paranoia, it’s hyper-situationally aware.
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Old 01-12-2021, 07:05 PM
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Yeah, other than #4, I probably think along those lines. You are expressing your bias by using the word "afraid." I look at is at "wary." Stay in the cockpit. Don't fraternize with FAs. When the door is open, Gate Agents own the airplane.

Conversely, If the Gate Agent needs help, not my problem. If Inflight doesn't like a passenger, I'll call the Agent and they can have them removed. No conversation there at all. I won't override a FA's opinion of a passenger. If we divert because a passenger does become a problem, my boss will ask why I wasn't concerned when the FA brought up the problem back at the gate. If the FA had a bad day and was being unreasonable, then their department can address it. No where in my books does it say evaluate the decision making ability of the Flight Attendants and decide whether or not to go along with them.

I've seen first hand pilots who are predators. I've seen first hand the FA Facebook page that wanted to crucify a flight crew that were falsely accused by a fired FA. So... yeah. No thanks.

I have a really good job that I've spent most of my life working towards. Damn right I watch out for it.

It isn't high school. It isn't a popularity contest.
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Old 01-12-2021, 07:23 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by 123494 View Post
Do any of you find yourself flying with fellow pilots (CA or FO) who are overly paranoid and think the company/world is out to get them?

Flew with a CA recently who was probably the best pilot I have ever flown with. Was very smooth and flew the plane by the book. Other than his flying and ADM, he was extremely paranoid about everything. Some examples were:

1. Afraid to speak to the FAs. Would only talk when a flight related issue came up. Otherwise, he was convinced they would take something he said the wrong way and report it.

2. Afraid of Pax. Was convinced they had video cameras out and ready to catch any mistake we made and put it on social media. Didn't like making PAs and avoided eye contact in gate area.

3. Afraid of Gate Agents. Was convinced they were writing notes trying to pin any delay on him. Had an extensive notebook to record every move they made and what Zulu time.

4. Afraid of dispatch. If he had to call them, he would never use his name, only the flight number and tail. Not sure why.

Again, he was a fine aviator and I picked up some good techniques from him. I could go on with examples of the paranoia. Just curious if others have had any similar trips. Are pilots just programed to think this way?
Total paranoia. Obviously, what he really needs to be worried about is his F/Os writing up embarrassing descriptions of his behavior online for the entire world to see and laugh at!!! ;-)
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Old 01-12-2021, 07:30 PM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by 123494 View Post
Do any of you find yourself flying with fellow pilots (CA or FO) who are overly paranoid and think the company/world is out to get them?

Flew with a CA recently who was probably the best pilot I have ever flown with. Was very smooth and flew the plane by the book. Other than his flying and ADM, he was extremely paranoid about everything. Some examples were:

1. Afraid to speak to the FAs. Would only talk when a flight related issue came up. Otherwise, he was convinced they would take something he said the wrong way and report it.

2. Afraid of Pax. Was convinced they had video cameras out and ready to catch any mistake we made and put it on social media. Didn't like making PAs and avoided eye contact in gate area.

3. Afraid of Gate Agents. Was convinced they were writing notes trying to pin any delay on him. Had an extensive notebook to record every move they made and what Zulu time.

4. Afraid of dispatch. If he had to call them, he would never use his name, only the flight number and tail. Not sure why.

Again, he was a fine aviator and I picked up some good techniques from him. I could go on with examples of the paranoia. Just curious if others have had any similar trips. Are pilots just programed to think this way?
first two make sense, second two probably to a lesser extent. One “your word against theirs” with an FA (be it what you said while on duty or what you did on an overnight. Deserved or not) or one bad edited clip of you talking with a pax might be enough to derail your career. Generally it is probably good practice to avoid being alone with co workers in a non public place (flight deck exempt) I’d address pax if it was a issue like weather or MX but if a conflict came up at the gate, that was not my domain, call CO. If In flight I’m not leaving the flight deck.

TL;DR you can do 1,000 things right in your career but it only takes 1 thing to screw it up. Pilots tend to be risk averse and some take that to all facets of their life.

Last edited by Gone Flying; 01-12-2021 at 07:58 PM.
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Old 01-12-2021, 09:55 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by 123494 View Post
Do any of you find yourself flying with fellow pilots (CA or FO) who are overly paranoid and think the company/world is out to get them?

Flew with a CA recently who was probably the best pilot I have ever flown with. Was very smooth and flew the plane by the book. Other than his flying and ADM, he was extremely paranoid about everything. Some examples were:

1. Afraid to speak to the FAs. Would only talk when a flight related issue came up. Otherwise, he was convinced they would take something he said the wrong way and report it.

2. Afraid of Pax. Was convinced they had video cameras out and ready to catch any mistake we made and put it on social media. Didn't like making PAs and avoided eye contact in gate area.

3. Afraid of Gate Agents. Was convinced they were writing notes trying to pin any delay on him. Had an extensive notebook to record every move they made and what Zulu time.

4. Afraid of dispatch. If he had to call them, he would never use his name, only the flight number and tail. Not sure why.

Again, he was a fine aviator and I picked up some good techniques from him. I could go on with examples of the paranoia. Just curious if others have had any similar trips. Are pilots just programed to think this way?

Mainly there’s an element of truth to each if these points. But don’t live in fear.

Number 4 isn’t fear. It’s efficiency. Dispatch could care less who I am. They need the a/c and flight number.
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Old 01-13-2021, 03:04 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by CLazarus View Post
Total paranoia. Obviously, what he really needs to be worried about is his F/Os writing up embarrassing descriptions of his behavior online for the entire world to see and laugh at!!! ;-)
lol
(need more letters)
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Old 01-13-2021, 05:39 AM
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The real question is-

Did he fly the go home leg in selected speed? Because we all know the company has a cost index tracking program and they will see if you put 99...
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Old 01-13-2021, 05:58 AM
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Originally Posted by GrumpyCaptain View Post
The real question is-

Did he fly the go home leg in selected speed? Because we all know the company has a cost index tracking program and they will see if you put 99...
No, but he did come barreling down the stairway in the hotel one morning claiming that the staff put a tracking device in his dress shoes. He showed me the bottom of his shoe and it turned out to be a small stone that got wedged in there.
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Old 01-13-2021, 05:59 AM
  #20  
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In my experience the paranoid pilots are the ones who have the majority of incidents or accidents. It boils down to insecurities they have. On the surface they appear to be cautious and " by the book ", but ultimately they are afraid of screwing up, something we all do from time to time. Time to get some character and man up.
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