ZapBrannigan

Somehow I suspect you have no problem putting them in their place. ;-)

Psycho18th

So what kinds of things are the FOs doing that **** you off? Or are they just unpleasant people in general?

WHACKMASTER

Actually Zap, you know one of the biggest things I looked forward to about my first airline upgrade back in 2001? That there would be one less A-hole that FOs and FAs would have to worry about flying with.

The same holds true even today. I remember how unpleasant it was to spend a few days with all the Captain A-holes and that’s why I make a conscious effort to foster a chill atmosphere.

ZapBrannigan

Well done. That can't always be easy.

WHACKMASTER

Most are not unpleasant people. Perhaps the most prevalent thing is senior FOs that are burnt out and doing the job on autopilot or to a lesser extent regional captains/check-airman that like to think they’re still the PIC.

I get it. 10(+) years doing multiple legs per day in a cramped 73 cockpit. It’s enough to burn people out, but don’t just go rogue or put on the check FO hat.

MudhammedCJ

Trying to do everything the captain (or FP pilot) normally does before he does it. Examples: turning on the anti-ice if he's not flying the leg, arming the speedbrake for landing, searching through the logbook when arriving at the "jet," turning off the center tank pumps instead of just pointing them out if the tank is just getting empty, making PF calls *every* time while performing PM duties, making up new calls that aren't in the big book of knowledge, actively searching for minutia to write up in the logbook....

One or two of these things here and there and I don't even blink an eye. When it's a pattern of single pilot kernal douchery, it makes an easy trip downright loooonnngggerrrrr.

Blaring crappy music or crappy sports at the gate between legs... the list goes on and on. Just as many hard to deal with FOs as captains. Fortunately it's still a small percentage.

ZapBrannigan

That drives me nuts too. Put your earbuds in Dude, nobody wants to hear your country music too 40 on your Bluetooth speaker while we're trying to set up the cockpit for the next leg.

rightseat

I gotta say I only have two captains that I just dread when they show up on my schedule here at Southwest. One is unsafe and the other one is just a miserable old man - and he is only about 60. The first one I will not fly with ever again (he may have even retired but don’t know that for sure). The other guy I will fly with, but it simply is not pleasant. Before I upgraded at the regionals, my grocery list was shorter than my bad captain list and I actually used every slot available on my avoid list.

I have been here coming up on five years and flown with hundreds of captains. I have my favorites like anyone else, but overall I would say our captains are well above what you will find at most airlines. Most of the FO’s I know feel pretty much the same way (not that I actually know many FO’s that well - we just don’t cross paths.)

Psycho18th

That’s all interesting stuff. DJ- ing the boarding process on the Bluetooth speaker bugs me a little bit too. Haven’t flown with anyone yet I wouldn’t fly with again. Right now, it’s rare to be with the same captain for more than a few legs anyway as we all get shuffled through the scheduling sodomizer.

WarEagle1

Got a late start here at WN. Just turned 50 and starting year 5. At this point my position is I may never upgrade. Could care less about being a Captain. Flippin’ switches and driving home! Do not want to commute! We shall see. 🙂