Seat and Rudder Pedals upon leaving the aircraft? As I'm vertically challenged, I leave the rudder pedals where they are. Who knows perhaps teh guy or gal is also vertically challenged. I do place the seat down and full foward so I can remove my flight kit with ease.

I got way to much other stuff to worry about the seat and rudder pedals.

I do, however, ensure that mine, and junior's side are clean of debris and tidy. I guess I've been lucky to never experience the chocks removed while the jet was on stand until confirmation the brakes were set before push back or start.

I'm talking about in a normal scenario. It can really add to confusion when people start reaching. If someone is "not available" at the time, then it's obvious what you should do.

What I do is, I look up every pilot who's going to be flying the airplane I bring in, then I'll call him and ask how he likes the pedals and seat, and does he have his own headset, or should I plug in the aircraft set, so I can set it up for him, after I arrive.

If I can't get him on his cell, I'll call his wife, ask her how he likes his coffee, is he short or tall, big or small, what type of suitcase does he use, etc. and then adjust everything in the cockpit accordingly. If I have time, I'll get his atis, set up his bugs, then I'll do the walk around for his F/O. On my way out, and if there's a Starbucks nearby, I'll get them both their favorite Chi Latte's, and have those sitting in the cup holders, waiting for them.

Then, just before I leave the old gate, I'll make a gate PA to the passengers, telling them the airplane is all ready to go, no dealys, and these next pilots are really, really good, and the F/A's are extra special!

I can't believe the rest of you slackers don't do this for me!

Why is it every time I get in a jet...nothing's done the way I like it ??!!

Obviously, everyone else is a Tool, except me!

I have a question, actually, because a lot of these can go either way: is the dorkwad that uses the company's DC headset, and leaves it for me to put away, a total douche for not cleaning up his mess, which makes me his cleaning lady, OR is he just being courteous in nicely setting up for the next DC-preferer, because obviously anyone with half a brain would, obviously, which makes me an anal-retentive moron that actually prefers to use his own, somewhat cleaner, lighter, not-like-wearing-a-teapot-on-the-side-of-his-skull-Telex-wearing-and-putting-his-crap-away-when-he-goes-home tool?

I'm just asking here.

Thanks in advance.

I had a Captain flip out when he got back in his seat after the (middle) break, because I have legs and feet, whereas he just has feet attached to his derriere, and I had somehow adjusted the pedals for me, in case I, you know, needed to control the airplane. His reasoning was that we might careen off the end upon landing, should he discover my mischief upon going for the brakes. I apologized profusely.

Some three days feel like five, but they still only pay two, at Delta.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh the N v S headset thingie!! I love it!!

Back pre-merger it was just backwards from what you described. We had the nice Telex sets and just a very small percentage had their own headsets.........mostly guys with real high end noise cancel thingies. Soooooooo the we always complained about the guys who never plugged the ship headset back in. Also, there was no standard place to store the headset so you had to hunt for it.

Now the merger comes along and we get the POS DCs. Yes........EVEN I went out and purchased a headset. Then I would complain about those guys who cant store the DCs.

Come to the Airbus, nice Telex and very few guys use their own (have to buy a $50something adapter) and become "that guy who doesn't plug the ship headset back in"

The captain that had the APU feeding the packs, Recirc fan off, emergency window slid open smoking a cigarette while number 3 holding short for takeoff and saying "what?!" to me when I looked at him with the "really?" face. Then, "what are you going to do, turn me in?" Here's your sign.

Usually they're more ambiguous than this, but this one is a clean shot, and a direct hit. You sir, have just bagged yourself a bone fide tool.

It's incredibly annoying to reach over for my headset (the ship's telex) and see that the previous toolbag used his own and wrapped up and threw the issued one in the back of the cockpit. Utter a few explitives, climb half way out of my seat to get it and unwrap the cord... Then spend 5 minutes trying to line up that 18 pin connector!

I totally agree on the south DC.... Those are awful! Ain't nobody got time for those!

Hey Ferd,

Nice to see you posting.

I didn't even realize it's as simple as blaming the N guys!

Your explanation makes sense, but I think I've observed this from either group. I don't think guys are being rude, I just think some guys assume everyone else does what they do, because it's the best way, and they courteously let the next person do it the best way too. I'm certain there is no malice in it. As you explained, it's quite the opposite.

The people that leave their DC for the next guys aren't tools, only those that leave a DC for me...