Airline Pilot Central Forums - How to deal with a control freak?

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How to deal with a control freak?

Ok, I am flying with a control freak for a captain. During my legs, he wants me to climb out the way he wants to climb out. During approaches, he tells me when to turn, descend(when/rate), when to extend flaps and gears, and when to pull the power back during touchdown.( I m pretty sure that’s a run-on sentence). He is doing this constantly, I don’t mind it during the climb out but during an approach it’s very annoying. I begin to second guess myself because I know he will start to say something. So I try flying it by how I think “he” wants it done(bad idea), I get the same results! It’s either Im extending the gears/flaps too far out or too late! (He also tells me how to do the PNF flows) So I told him that it’s fine if I no longer do the PF duties for the rest of the month to be safe, he replied back with “are you challenging/questioning my experience!!!!! I have flown with different captains, and once with an FAA onboard in the front with no complaints, how do I deal with this guy for the rest of the month!
Oh, yeah… one more thing, he tells me to set up for the next control frequency on stand by so it’s ready. I just looked at him! RANT OVER!

Is this technique or Standard Operating Procedures, Captain?

Hope it goes better for you...

Oh man...been there done THAT. When it happened to me I just looked at the guy and said "listen, I get paid the same either way, do you just want to fly all the legs so you get to fly them your way?" He responded, "No, I'd still like you to fly your legs." So I responded "Well I'm qualified to operate this aircraft so unless I am breaking a reg or a limitation, not following policy or I am endangering your life or others then I'd like to operate the aircraft my way. If thats a problem for you then I would prefer you fly all the legs so theres not a conflict".

In your case with his response about challenging his authority I would tell him that you're not challenging/questioning anything but you ARE telling him that the environment he creates in the cockpit is not the most positive and safe. If he still has an issue with you flying the airplane then it might be worth talking to a member of your professional standards committee. Chances are this is not the first time another pilot has had an issue with him so you can take comfort in that.

FFB's above advice is very good...if you really must, just suck it up and don't fly the aircraft with him.

Ditto for what FFB is saying but I would add that you first discuss this with a captain you have flown with and trust. If you can't resolve it yourself then seek help from a professional standards volunteer.

I agree with Freeze. Are the flows that he is telling you to do different from those written in the Company POM? Are you flying the company profile? If they are tell him to take it to pro stans. The guy needs to chill out, part of learning is making mistakes and eating some humble pie.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xjsaab (Post 299552)

Exactly! If you are doing flows/profiles/call-outs just like the company FOM states then its this capt. who is out of line and not SOP. Prof standards is definitely the way to go.

I've been here for a little over two years. I do my standard call outs(i have no problem with that)fly the profile, but I also understand when to fly a bit fast to the marker when there is a larger aircraft behind me and fly a dot high, slow down early when following a heavy, or maybe even extend the gear, configure early when cleared for a visual when high! I can suck it up and not cry about it, it's just annoying when you have someone b*tching at you all the way down! What is this, private pilot lesson #1?:cool:

Thanks, I appreciate all the suggestions and comments...

meeko031 if you've survived flying a Jet for two years, I'd say you probably don't deserve being told how to fly it. Go to ProStandards. Your Captain is a tool.