Could you elaborate on how he shut you down? Do some of these older timers essentially try to fly single pilot?
Something like that, although it's more subtle. In the interest of background, nobody in SFO has much more than 1000 hours in type, and a lot of our Captains just coming on now don't have more than IOE in type. We also don't have the massively-prescriptive Way Of Doing Your Job that the CRJ and Brasilia have/had, because as it turns out, the guys who wrote our books haven't flown the airplane much. Many of our FOs in this base/type either came over from ORD or have been doing it since SF was opened, which gives us an experiential advantage on this airplane. (That is, it's no longer "what's it doing now" but "it's effin' doing it again" followed by a savage stab at the MCDU or GP.)
None of these things are in and of themselves bad. In fact, it's sort of nice in many ways, because you are given considerable latitude and creativity for getting the job done. And it's very much an opportunity to do a few cool things too.
Also, some of it (at least in last week's case) is my personality and my values. I don't say too much up front to start with; I more or less expect that the job is going to get done the way that The Man wants it done, and in places where The Man has failed to prescribe it, there are usually only one or two obvious and correct ways to solve the problem. It's generally harder (more work) to go outside of the standard or the commonly-accepted techniques (when there isn't a standard). I also put a personal emphasis on the "look, act, be sharp" and find that, more or less, the degree to which people appear professional directly relates to how seriously and professionally they approach their job. (So when you approach the aircraft in sneakers and with a baseball cap on, I'm going to scratch my head a bit and wonder what it is I'm going to have to do for the next four days. Turns out, a LOT.)
Straight up not acknowledging anything that I say (and it truly wasn't much other than a few ideas on how to better cajole the MCDU into doing What You Want It To Do And Not What You Are Typing Which Would Have Worked On That Other Stupid Airplane That You Keep Talking About Being Superior So Please Go Back To It Where They Have Checks Instead Of Checklists) is going to ruffle my feathers pretty severely. Even acknowledgement of "sure, but I'm going to do/try it this way" works, because at least I know you're listening. If all I get is a grunt, and you go about your business the way that you're doing it, I have little confidence that I'm going to be heard when it
really matters.
Like here:
"Hey, it's going to level off at 7000 because you're in VNAV and the altitude selector is below a constraint. Want me to delete it for you (or select an appropriate vertical mode)?"
"grunt"
"Otto is going to level us off at 7000, and you want 5000."
"grunt"
"Select a non-VNAV mode, sir."
"grunt"
-BONG- (
VTA/choo choo)
"grunt"
-ASEL, and level off- "WHAT IS THIS THING DOING [OTHER AIRPLANE] WOULD NOT HAVE LEVELED OFF?!"
"(aside: exactly what you asked it to do and exactly what I said it would do, Your Captaincy, please exercise better mode awareness!) VNAV off, FLIGHT LEVEL CHANGE [FPA] [VS]!"
So, basically, stuff like that. I apologize for the hint of "I told you so" (I've had my share of automation surprises on this airplane, don't get me wrong, and I screw up plenty, but when another pilot is going "hey! hey! hey!" I listen to them). It was a long week, between being asked for straight-out wrong/CRJ things at the wrong time, and a few other things I would consider to be "pay attention" issues too.
But, y'know, I'm "just" the copilot (exact words).
I'm genuinely curious. Recent upgrade here, relatively low time as well. I sometimes wonder how I do as a captain and if I say the things I should say, etc, etc.
I have obviously made an error in my career.
I think that depends on the regional, their training department and culture, though EVERY airline will have those captains who wind up on everyone's no fly list.
I had an FO who flew with "one of those captains" once. He saw a long Key West overnight in open time at a different base with this captain and thought, how bad can he be? His first inkling of how bad it would be was when the captain, during the intro, said, "You're the first non-reserve FO I've flown with in over a year."
"I'm sick."
