CRJ700 SFO-AUS, filed FL390 climbing through FL290, left engine VIB in yellow, after I pulled it back to the green and about 68%, I asked the F/O who had been lamenting his lack of upgrade, "So Mr Captain what now do we do now". Crickets, after the QRH, comes the hard part, what to do with a plane that for all intents and purposes will not go any higher. After an uncomfortable silence I called company on Atlanta radio and talked to MX and dispatch and determined that our VFR WX fuel load was insufficient for the remainder of the the flight and returned to SFO since a fuel stop was out of the question. We solved the VIB problem, the next problem was theirs, I forget which day of upgrade class that was, because there wasn't one. We had a crew fly from MEM-DEN with the fan VIBs pegged, GE said take them off and send them to the factory. So there is a little experience required.

 

You sure showed him. I'm sure you debriefed him as well.

 

The MEL is as much your enemy as your friend, 5 leg day in/out of the LAX basin CRJ, TCAS deferred, legal yup, good idea, not so much. No triple redundancy here, one system, broke. The company's job is to get planes in the air, our is to do it safely. I did have the conversation with the MOD on that one, told him "I am not refusing to fly, I am refusing that A/C with that MEL, into that location" we got another plane. Deferred APU summer time, PSP-LAX-PHX-LAX-PHX, that one didn't happen either.

 

Ever listen to yourself, I get to listen to more than a few F/Os complain about, the pay, schedules, lack of upgrade, jr schedules, ad nauseum. He spent the previous 3 days whining about pay, housing costs, his F/A girlfriends craziness and how his life would be perfect if he could just upgrade. And yes we did have a "debrief" as you so derisively describe it, it was more a conversation, but call it what you like. So when you look over on your next flight and the Captain is quietly staring into the sun, he is just wishing himself into his happy place. You may think you are witty, dashing, handsome, lucky all wrapped up in a mad skills package, just remember you were hired for one reason and one reason only, your ability to fog a mirror, you are just another mouth breather, who in years past wouldn't have gotten an interview.

 

Gosh.. flying an RJ is so hard.

 

Hey CCB,
Learn it. Live it. Love it. Just sayin.....

 

You were also hired as a mouth-breather. How did you ever go from meat-in-a-seat to making decisions? Was it magic?

And a debrief is not a derisive term. It's the reason why military aviators are filling seats at majors faster than regional pilots. You think you're superior. I get it. The real hard part to understand is, you're not superior. The only difference between you and the guy sitting next to you is a paycheck and experience. People are concerned about the experience of FOs upgrading to Captain, and I understand the concern. So, instead of staring out the window making $80-$110 an hour, you can help ensure your airline doesn't have a tragic accident by supervising and mentoring a soon-to-be-upgrading FO. "That ain't my job."

 

So when the F/O is alone in the airplane with a flight attendant, while you're looking in the mirror of how awesome you look with the 4 stripes after a trip to get coffee, and he/she makes a decision, will you batter him/her for that? When no one's in charge, be in charge. Many Captains don't mentor their F/Os.

 

There is a difference between a Captain, and a guy that sits in the left seat with a fat wallet and 4 stripes on his shoulder. Captains make decisions based on their experience, but also mentor the person that sits to their right. If you are not capable of making such decisions, or do not spend time mentoring the person that sits up front with you, I will argue that you are not a captain.

That is part of your job.

 

Instead of being a major d-bag, that would have been a great time to mentor. Something a lot of CA lack the ability to do.

You aren't going to see it all from the right seat before heading to te left. I don't know what you expected of him.