minivan

To the [XXX] FO at gate [XX] in [XXX] around [XXX] on [XXX], your passengers would appreciate you staying off your phone long enough to actually look at things like wings and tires during your exterior inspection.

People see stuff....

Check Complete

Maybe the FO was getting re flowed by CS?

Maybe the FO was on the phone about a family emergency?

You don't know the first thing about what the FO was talking about, yet you call him out?

GuardPolice

Even if those hypotheticals are true, there’s still no reason to be dealing with it while doing the walk-around. Go to a more discreet place, handle your business there then focus on the preflight.

minivan

I know he wasn't doing what he was supposed to be doing. Raise the bar, don't lower it. I know what we saw. Sorry you don't like it.

ajaf1656

A few reasons to use a phone on a walk-around:

1. To bring up a release and check fuel so you can talk to the fueler.
2. Checking weather in regards to fuel requirements.
3. Photograph an abnormality to show the captain.
4. Looking up the 6th different jet-bridge code you've used that day.

Not acceptable:

1. Social Media.



The phone isn't the problem. The problem is a pilot not doing their job and inspecting the aircraft.

Jefferson

Correct.. If you have a call you have to take... take it.. THEN do the walk around.

Most Ops. Specs. address phones on walk around

nkweb

No excuses period. You #1 job on the walk around is to inspect the aircraft for damage. Then you can play with your phone. Amazing people will argue this point.

ajaf1656

There is nothing to be amazed about. Nobody has stated that someone shouldn't perform their duties or that "playing with a phone" is acceptable.

rickair7777

Doesn't matter, policy nowdays is to to not do the walk with your phone out (unless maybe taking a picture).

It looks very bad to the traveling public.

If it's CS, they can wait until after (or before) the walk.

If it's a hypothetical "family emergency", he should go inside to deal with that and probably call off the trip. I've seen plenty of people talking on their phone while doing the walk around, but I bet exactly none of them were actually dealing with a family emergency

I could do a perfect walk around while talking on the phone (well most conversations anyway), but the problem is the perception. The perception IS the reality in this case.

The traveling public may not adore and worship you anymore, but you ARE still considered something special, and it WILL get their attention if you do something wrong in public. And you'll probably end up on youtube (and that video clip will be diligently saved in a folder on a computer in ATL).

WesternSkies

While there are work reasons to pull your phone out from what I’ve seen lately from headphones to nonstandard jackets I’d be inclined to think social media.
I look at my phone because I can’t remember the code typically.

Also how many people think we are taking selfies with the surface. Haha