Who would you prefer to fly with?

ctab5060X

ctab5060X

Well-Known Member
Simple enough question...

Who would you prefer to fly with?

A Captain/First Officer who is consistently non-standard (by that I mean they do it the same non-standard way every single time... highly predictable)

-OR-

A Captain/First Officer who is paranoid about everything (excessively checking weather, always bugging dispatch about something, etc...)


PLEASE... try and stay with these two options and why you chose the one you did. Please... ;)
 
Might be helpful if you went into more detail in describing both of those options. Your descriptions leave a lot to the imagination.
 
Alright... I'll give it a good shot...

Consistently non-standard:

Has their own flow of procedures that is independent of corporate procedures, runs checklists without them being called for, flies non-profile climbouts, cruise, and approaches, etc... Yet does it the same exact way every time and is highly predictable.

Paranoid:

Checking the weather for the destination and surrounding airports at least twice each leg, even when the weather is nearly perfect. Always on the phone with dispatch checking the enroute weather, even when they just flew that route to an outstation. Always muttering about "not knowing something". Seems jumpy and nervous when the other pilot is flying (especially with no autopilot and no flight director). So concerned with FOQA that they drop the gear 15 miles out on a visual (backed up with the ILS) because you are approaching G?S intercept. Having some type of 'false reasoning' for not using a certain flap setting for takeoff. That kind of stuff. Does not do it the same way every time and seems unpredictable.

That help?
 
ctab5060X said:
Alright... I'll give it a good shot...

Consistently non-standard:

Has their own flow of procedures that is independent of corporate procedures, runs checklists without them being called for, flies non-profile climbouts, cruise, and approaches, etc... Yet does it the same exact way every time and is highly predictable.

Paranoid:

Checking the weather for the destination and surrounding airports at least twice each leg, even when the weather is nearly perfect. Always on the phone with dispatch checking the enroute weather, even when they just flew that route to an outstation. Always muttering about "not knowing something". Seems jumpy and nervous when the other pilot is flying (especially with no autopilot and no flight director). So concerned with FOQA that they drop the gear 15 miles out on a visual (backed up with the ILS) because you are approaching G?S intercept. Having some type of 'false reasoning' for not using a certain flap setting for takeoff. That kind of stuff. Does not do it the same way every time and seems unpredictable.

That help?
Click to expand...
Hands down... Option 1.
 
While running checklists before they're called for (assuming no one obviously forgot) does annoy the H E double L out of me, at least a paranoid guy probably won't get you violated and leave you with a lasting memory of that crappy trip even after its over. That said, I voted before I read your in-depth descriptions so in retrospect I probably would've voted non standard because it doesn't sound like the violation-inducing type of non standard.
 
#1 'fo sho.

I had a trip once with someone who was almost exactly like #2 there, and it was one of the worst trips I had. I also found that as great as this person was at reciting policy to me, he had ZERO people skills and flew terribly. If it was longer than the 2 day it was, I'd have removed myself.
 
Personally, I really don't want to have to guess what "Mr. Non Standard" is up to during normal operations, but nor do I want to fly with a guy so hamstrung by procedure he can't think outside of the box when the situation arises.

Oh, but what the heck do I know? :)
 
Option 1 would probably be "fixable" if you just called him out on it. The number two types need to go sell insurance.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Personally, I really don't want to have to guess what "Mr. Non Standard" is up to during normal operations, but nor do I want to fly with a guy so hamstrung by procedure he can't think outside of the box when the situation arises.

Oh, but what the heck do I know? :)
Click to expand...



LOL

You must know something, you got through a Delta Airlines interview
 
Doug Taylor said:
Oh, but what the heck do I know? :)
Click to expand...

Absolutely nothing. Now if only you could learn how to build a website and form some sort of job fair/major get together! Then, and only then, would you know something.

EDIT: While not in any situation I have to deal with CA/FO, knowing me, I'd prefer non standard and predictable opposed to standard and non predictable. That's just me, as a CFI. I just feel that if it's predictable, I can speak up beforehand. If it's unpredicted, I'd be behind the game when it comes to saying something.
 
I have flown with both types. I find the paranoid type more annoying. I've flown with one paranoid guy that is scared to death of having a midair collision. When a traffic appears on the TCAS 20 miles ahead and 1000' above or below, he asks the FO to call ATC to see if the TCAS traffic will cause a conflict. That is not an exaggeration. I feel stupid calling ATC about traffic that is 20 miles away. We once departed a runway with traffic departing the parallel. We had the traffic in sight, but received a TCAS alert not an RA. He instantly pulled the aircraft into a steep turn to avoid a collision that never would have happened. We had passengers on board, and due to the excitement, we missed raising the flaps before exceeding the flap limit.
 
I've flown with option 1. He threw his own gear, raised his own flaps and even though he was always the same type of non standard, I felt like I was three steps behind him because he didn't do things properly.

I've flown with option 2. He's annoying, as somebody said misses important thing because of inconsequential issues and generally goes overboard when it's completely unnecessary.

That being said, I'll take option 2 if I have to fly with one or the other. If annoying guy is at least standard, then at least I can keep up with him and maybe think ahead of his paranoia and see what he's going to do next. Non-standard guy might do things the same way every time, but it still throws me off each and every time because when A happens, I'm expecting him to do B and instead he does Q. Relearning how to operate an aircraft is more distracting to me than paranoia.
 
I would say number two is you are flying a few legs. I would say number 1 if it was for a month long pairing and it was safe, reasonable and was amenable to your objections. Would prefer neither.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top