How to be a captain? Books are OK as a guide. Remember… people have their own personalities and styles and need to develop management and juggling skills. For me, experiences with, let’s say challenging individuals influenced me of how I don’t want to be.

Flying multi-crew, F/O’s legs, offered as an option by me, were treated as Pilot in Command Under Supervision (PICUS). Let them run the entire trip. They know how to fly an airplane… right? It’s the decision making skills and unforeseen challenges that arise, where the real learning comes into play.

 

I disagree. Letting the FO run the trip is a slippery slope towards erosion of your authority. Captains run the ship. Period. When they upgrade, they can run the ship. It’s not hard to figure out. And actually, many seem to not be able to do basic airplane crap. Forgetting to mention the runway when cleared for takeoff, landing 300 feet outside of the touchdown zone, ignoring NADP1/2 procedures. Be a mentor, don’t be a jerk, and don’t give up your authority ever. Letting the FO run the trip will literally confuse everybody else.

 

Anyone got that VHS tape Sporty’s sold in the 80-90’s titled something like “How to be a Delta Air(space)Lines Captain”?

#ServantLeader

 

It’s all a matter of prospective. The operative words are UNDER SUPERVISION. It was not mandatory but an offer to become acquainted with decision making skills as an Airline Pilot. Found more advantages rather than negatives to the PICUS philosophy. I found those who opted to be PICUS were more switched on and engaging. They were able to debrief, through the use of facilitation, strengths and areas to be improved.

However, MiracleMets, PICUS is not every training captains’ cup of grog, and that OK.

 

fair enough. As long as there is an understanding and it’s discussed prior to the leg what left and right limits are. Every once in a while you fly with an FO who takes it upon himself to make command decisions while you’re sitting right there with no discussion.

As for a good leadership book I have no real suggestions. The best books to read are probably the flight manual and the SOPs and actually know them and abide by them. Set a good example by being by the book. It’s makes a trip so much easier when you fly with someone who actually follows SOP.

 

Good lord. Could you people stroke yourselves off any harder? You need to read a book to figure out how to interact with another human being?

We don’t work in a merit-based industry. Becoming a captain is a matter of seniority. That’s it. You didn’t ‘earn’ anything. You just worked at the company longer than the other guy.

I’ll save you a book. Be a friggin’ normal person, show up, and do your job.

 

Well if that's not really in your wheelhouse, probably a good idea to make an effort to learn how to interact better with the normies.

 

Some individuals realize, by reading books, they may, already, have the inherent qualities of what it “takes to be a captain”

Captain upgrade opportunities, with most air carriers is based on seniority. Some still take into consideration are merit based.

Again, the operative word is “Opportunity”. By vertue of being offered the opportunity does not guarantee the upgrade. Who knows? Could be due to many factors, ranging from deficiencies during upgrade training, failure to pass the type rating LST/Practical Test. Poor performance including ADM, personality issues can rear their ugly heads during line training too.
Very kind🙄 of you to provide reading literature, you feel a waste of time. There’s more to the position than just showing up and, to quote you, “Show up, and do your job”. The tone of your comments, and vocabulary usage, lends one to believe your use of Teamwork Leadership, Communication, CRM may need a wee bit of work.

 

I like how this entire tail end of the conversation just assumes the person in the right seat has never been a CA before.

As for the comment about only offering the "opportunity" to upgrade, I would bet the pass rate is near 99%. The reality is that this is a seniority-based system, and the only real prerequisites are that you haven't done anything to get fired and that you have spent enough time waiting for your number to be called.

 

Authority with responsibility, assertiveness with respect.

There you go. That'll be $25.