Quote:
Originally Posted by casual observer
I've been at Delta 17 years. I've flown with a few a-holes. If the captain isn't safe, the answer shouldn't be to put him / her on your no fly list so someone else has to fly with him / her. The answer is to address it through the CP or professional standards.
If the captain is just an a-hole*, I think of it as first officer responsibility to deal with it or upgrade.
*full disclosure - I'm an a-hole.
You're correct about one point: you shouldn't use your NFL in lieu of addressing an unsafe guy through proper channels. On the other hand, if you don't like someone's personality, I think you (as an FO) have the right to bypass a higher desirability trip, to avoid him, and I think that's fine.
As previously discussed, the NFL highlights BOTH trouble Captains AND First Officers.
I have no problem with the system as it stands now. I don't agree with Captains being able to avoid FO's, however. Maybe it's because I've never been in that situation at Delta, but I think it's the Captain's job to manage the crew. If the FO is a douche, fix him, or send him back to the shop for a tune-up.
After all, you're advocating for a very pro-active attitude by FO's faced with a problem. Why not the Captain?