That’s a product of the amazing international training Spirit does. The PowerPoint written by an intern with inaccurate information and a turn you did 6 months ago on OE really give you the confidence you need to feel prepared for going down south.

 

Just to add to that the info is usually 50% outdated and they are assigning a trip on reserve where you really have no time to prepare or review

 

Like it matters where you are going. At least 50 percent of the fng’s I’ve flown with lately are along for the ride no matter if you’re going down south or to myrtle beach.

 

That awkward moment when you have to stop the plane before entering the ramp, you set the brake, and silence for a few seconds until the FO says “oh, is this ramp controlled” and they frantically start to look for the frequency in the charts, yet has no idea where it is.

 

Is this not briefed prior? Do you really sit there in silence and what for your FO to realize something isn't right? Is it pleasurable to watch someone struggle? These are the kind of posts that really bother me about pilots. It seems like a "better than" mentality, and maybe I am reading it differently than intended. Whether it's a "FNG" or not, are we not all on the same team? I can tell you that I have never watched my captain miss something and sit there silently while they struggle and secretly think " let's see if he figures it out". I can assure you, captains miss things too. Come on guys!

 

See, that’s the entitlement junk right there.

Most of the time I actually brief “ramp is open, so we will call them,” when it’s their leg, they brief. You think it’s “pleasurable” for us? You think any CA would rather have someone who just doesn’t care vs someone solid? You have to be joking.

But that doesn’t even matter. This is a professional flying job, guys demand big money and guys are getting paid well, reaching six figures in their mid 20s and only 4-5 years after doing their first “steep turn”. If you think the job of the CA is to micro manage the right seat and hold their hand through every responsibility of the right seat, well, that ain’t happening. Give tips, help mentor, and help fill in some gaps, absolutely. But this isn’t IOE, this isn’t a guy on high mins, these are a select few who are “along for the ride” and sadly the numbers have increased as NK decides to hire many at first sight.

So yeah, you’re damn right I stop the plane and wait before entering the ramp. I can’t enter the ramp, I’m not working radios, and I can’t spend the entire trip telling the guy next to me what he needs to do, assuming he doesn’t know how to do his job.

 

I agree with you and I hope you debrief all this with the FO once the parking checklist is complete so they do better to improve themselves for the next time.

 

Absolutely. And honestly, sometimes it takes the awkward parking of the plane before entering the ramp to act as a “wake up call” to some that you have to pull your weight, CAs aren’t going to spoon feed your frequencies and you have to learn how to be effective at your job. This isn’t the majority of FOs, not even close, but a more common occurrence over the last year. But let’s be honest, nobody flying Airbus aircraft at a major airline should have to be reminded that they need to talk on the radios on the ground at major airports.

 

agreed


filler

 

If its a matter of "someone just doesn't care", then yes, I agree with you. Like I said, maybe I interpreted what you were saying wrong. Nobody, right OR left seat should be along for the ride. It is a professional job and people are expected to know their job, but a "not my job" mentality will get you killed. Explain to me how it is entitlement to expect to work as a crew? Lets be honest, some of the airport charts aren't exactly crystal clear and if you don't have the tribal knowledge, I can see it being missed. NOW.....if we're talking about an experienced FO who should know better but is lazy....then......set the brake and stare. I think we are just looking at it from two different perspectives.