Asking for the jumpseat and other lost traditions

Derg said:
The dissolution of captains authority is a windy road.

A lot of guys don't know how to lead. There's a vast difference between "I'm the captain, do this" and "As the captain, this is what we need to have happen"
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There also seems to be a lot of FOs in my generation that do not know how to follow either...

"Oh so that's what needs to happen? Does that mean you're going to take care of that and do the walk around while I take a sweet cockpit selfies and play angry birds? Awesome, thanks for doing that capt!"

Sometimes the stick needs to come out, after you've tried using the carrot.
 
Finny said:
There also seems to be a lot of FOs in my generation that do not know how to follow either...

"Oh so that's what needs to happen? Does that mean you're going to take care of that and do the walk around while I take a sweet cockpit selfies and play angry birds? Awesome, thanks for doing that capt!"

Sometimes the stick needs to come out, after you've tried using the carrot.
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I had an FO tell me to "hold on a sec" when I called for the preflight checklist because he was texting.

I waited, called the for the checklist, finished it and said "I don't know what the culture was at your last airline and yeah, I get it, sometimes trying to find the right emoji to add after LOL can be a challenge. But the next guy is probably going to, at best, bitch at your or, at worst walk you into the chief pilots office with a bookmark on the page about PED usage in the cockpit and, as a new hire, it's not going to turn out well. The chief pilot is an old guy who worked with us other old guys for decades and the new kid on the block did something idiotic".

Yes, I've really had this conversation.
 
Derg said:
The dissolution of captains authority is a windy road.

A lot of guys don't know how to lead. There's a vast difference between "I'm the captain, do this" and "As the captain, this is what we need to have happen"
Click to expand...

I have thoughts like this every time I read one of the threads about "Why can't I get a call from such-and-such legacy?" Yes you can fly the airplane. But can you COMMAND an airliner? I think that's why the PIC time is so desired. It's not about the hours. It's about having a record of command performance.
 
chrisreedrules said:
I usually stroll in like I own the place. Which of course I do... My year of flying RJs has left me with the cool, calm confidence of a seasoned aviator. I still don't know why guys at mainline get paid more, we do the exact same job after all. I block the aisle with my bags and make everyone wait while I go up front to have a chat with the flight crew. Brushing past the flight attendants with an air of importance, and without a word, I slide up to the front. The CA and FO are busy setting everything up, no matter, getting home is more important. "Hey there fellas", I say as I stroll in. A grunt from the FO and a glance from the CA as they are absorbed in their work. Looking around the flight deck I ask, "How long you two been here anyway? I can't believe they have you guys flying this POS". Now, I garner a look from the CA... I continue, "Why aren't you on an international wide body yet"? I now have their full attention. "Anyway, my name is _____ from ____ Airlines. I will be riding in the back. But I just wanted to pop in and say hello and make sure you both know if the CA keels over in cruise I'm ready to take command" I say with a smile. I turn right back around without waiting to hear their response or even shake a hand and march back towards my seat. One of the FAs moved the bags I left in the aisle. I give her a look of disgust for having the gaul to touch an airline pilot's things. The nerve. I am sure to hit as many passengers as I can with my bags as I find my seat. As I sit down, I notice I'm next to a CA from my regional. He's been with the company for a while. I make sure to express my disgust with having to sit reserve for 3 months before holding a line. And I ask him if he still thinks the upgrade will be around in 12 months when I have my time. He says something to me, but I'm not really sure he knows what he's talking about. Something about I should only upgrade if/when I'm ready. Why wouldn't I be? Anyway, I stick the ear buds that have been hanging loosely around my neck in my ears and turn my head the other way. I never want to fly with that jerk.
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And you win the internet for a day.
 
Derg said:
I had an FO tell me to "hold on a sec" when I called for the preflight checklist because he was texting.

I waited, called the for the checklist, finished it and said "I don't know what the culture was at your last airline and yeah, I get it, sometimes trying to find the right emoji to add after LOL can be a challenge. But the next guy is probably going to, at best, bitch at your or, at worst walk you into the chief pilots office with a bookmark on the page about PED usage in the cockpit and, as a new hire, it's not going to turn out well. The chief pilot is an old guy who worked with us other old guys for decades and the new kid on the block did something idiotic".

Yes, I've really had this conversation.
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I once had a home emergency unfolding back home while I was on the flight deck with my CA trying to get everything set up. I told my wife to hang on a moment, and I looked over to the CA and said something to the effect of, "hey man, I'm so sorry to ask you this, but do you think you would mind getting everything set up while I take this?" I apologized to him again as I hung up the phone. I still kind of feel bad about it because it was unprofessional, but at least he was cool enough to let me take care of a pressing issue.
 
chrisreedrules said:
I once had a home emergency unfolding back home while I was on the flight deck with my CA trying to get everything set up. I told my wife to hang on a moment, and I looked over to the CA and said something to the effect of, "hey man, I'm so sorry to ask you this, but do you think you would mind getting everything set up while I take this?" I apologized to him again as I hung up the phone. I still kind of feel bad about it because it was unprofessional, but at least he was cool enough to let me take care of a pressing issue.
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@chrisreedrules

In my eyes, there is nothing unprofessional about what you did. Family comes first, especially when there are pressing issues/emergencies at home.

Unprofessional would have been not asking/ saying something to your Captain.
 
chrisreedrules said:
I once had a home emergency unfolding back home while I was on the flight deck with my CA trying to get everything set up. I told my wife to hang on a moment, and I looked over to the CA and said something to the effect of, "hey man, I'm so sorry to ask you this, but do you think you would mind getting everything set up while I take this?" I apologized to him again as I hung up the phone. I still kind of feel bad about it because it was unprofessional, but at least he was cool enough to let me take care of a pressing issue.
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Nothing unprofessional about it. Stuff happens on the road and we have to take care of it sometimes. I would have no problem whatsoever with that. Now if you told me that and the half of the conversation I heard was "Ok, give me 200 on the Patriots and 100 on the Panthers"....that would be a different story.

We all need to pick up for one another every now and then. Wether it's the phone call because the dishwasher is leaking, or because you have to run to the head because you have a couple slices of Sabarro backing up on you.

I can think of a lot more things that I see all the time that fall under the "unprofessional behavior" banner than keeping things at home in check.
 
This is good information. As someone who will hopefully join the regionals in a few months, I'll definitely remember what I've read here about the JS.
 
Seggy said:
Do they have large blue customer service kits on board in the back? They would be in there.
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I don't think so. I'll ask our FAs next time, but I'm pretty sure we just get a big-ass bag called the InFlight Service Kit, which has their UPK, lav supplies, Ebola prevention devices, etc., and not a bag of United wings. (We sure as heck don't make or stock the aircraft with Mormon Air Force wings either, unfortunately.)
 
T-Gates said:
Nothing unprofessional about it. Stuff happens on the road and we have to take care of it sometimes. I would have no problem whatsoever with that. Now if you told me that and the half of the conversation I heard was "Ok, give me 200 on the Patriots and 100 on the Panthers"....that would be a different story.
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"You...you would like me to do the things? Sweet! You got it!"
 
Derg said:
I had an FO tell me to "hold on a sec" when I called for the preflight checklist because he was texting.

I waited, called the for the checklist, finished it and said "I don't know what the culture was at your last airline and yeah, I get it, sometimes trying to find the right emoji to add after LOL can be a challenge. But the next guy is probably going to, at best, bitch at your or, at worst walk you into the chief pilots office with a bookmark on the page about PED usage in the cockpit and, as a new hire, it's not going to turn out well. The chief pilot is an old guy who worked with us other old guys for decades and the new kid on the block did something idiotic".

Yes, I've really had this conversation.
Click to expand...

I've been on both sides of this equation over the years. With that said, there are some captains that are just like those waiters at a restaurant who wait until you put food in your mouth before asking how everything is. If you see me sitting there waiting for you to call for a checklist for 2 or 3 minute while YOU are texting or playing Clash Of Clans (or browsing the NRA forum) and then wait until I start filling in the crew names on the flight log to call for a checklist, you might end up waiting 10 seconds for me to finish writing out some 10 syllable Hawaiian last name.

But, of course in a cockpit with good CRM none of that would ever be an issue.
 
Derg said:
I had an FO tell me to "hold on a sec" when I called for the preflight checklist because he was texting.

I waited, called the for the checklist, finished it and said "I don't know what the culture was at your last airline and yeah, I get it, sometimes trying to find the right emoji to add after LOL can be a challenge. But the next guy is probably going to, at best, bitch at your or, at worst walk you into the chief pilots office with a bookmark on the page about PED usage in the cockpit and, as a new hire, it's not going to turn out well. The chief pilot is an old guy who worked with us other old guys for decades and the new kid on the block did something idiotic".

Yes, I've really had this conversation.
Click to expand...

Contrary. I've had it where we're sitting around not doing a damn thing, plenty of time for departure. I grab my phone or cup of coffee and as soon as it's in my hand "ok, before start checklist."

That was a peeve of mine. Very different than your situation, but when time isn't of the essence a little awareness is a nice thing.
 
BobDDuck said:
I've been on both sides of this equation over the years. With that said, there are some captains that are just like those waiters at a restaurant who wait until you put food in your mouth before asking how everything is. If you see me sitting there waiting for you to call for a checklist for 2 or 3 minute while YOU are texting or playing Clash Of Clans (or browsing the NRA forum) and then wait until I start filling in the crew names on the flight log to call for a checklist, you might end up waiting 10 seconds for me to finish writing out some 10 syllable Hawaiian last name.

But, of course in a cockpit with good CRM none of that would ever be an issue.
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This...obviously...because I just posted pretty much the same thing.
 
Screaming_Emu said:
Contrary. I've had it where we're sitting around not doing a damn thing, plenty of time for departure. I grab my phone or cup of coffee and as soon as it's in my hand "ok, before start checklist."

That was a peeve of mine. Very different than your situation, but when time isn't of the essence a little awareness is a nice thing.
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How about, instead of just reaching for your phone, ask the captain first if he would like to do the before start checklist. If he says, "No," then grab your phone. Paints him into a corner, where if he then wants to do it right after saying "No," he knows he's gonna look like an asshat.
 
BobDDuck said:
I've been on both sides of this equation over the years. With that said, there are some captains that are just like those waiters at a restaurant who wait until you put food in your mouth before asking how everything is. If you see me sitting there waiting for you to call for a checklist for 2 or 3 minute while YOU are texting or playing Clash Of Clans (or browsing the NRA forum) and then wait until I start filling in the crew names on the flight log to call for a checklist, you might end up waiting 10 seconds for me to finish writing out some 10 syllable Hawaiian last name.

But, of course in a cockpit with good CRM none of that would ever be an issue.
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Exactly! Like if you've spent the entire 55 minute turn on your phone talking about your "business ventures" including blowing off the mechanic when he's asking about a right up (that was fun getting yelled at by the mechanic for) and then wait until I'm in the middle of a 30-second phone call home to do the route verification, yeah, you're gonna get a finger in your face.

Disclaimer: The was the second-to-last leg of a very, very, very, VERY long 4-day trip. I was giving less-than-zero you know whats at that point.
 
Cptnchia said:
How about, instead of just reaching for your phone, ask the captain first if he would like to do the before start checklist. If he says, "No," then grab your phone. Paints him into a corner, where if he then wants to do it right after saying "No," he knows he's gonna look like an asshat.
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If its close to departure time, absolutely.
 
Autothrust Blue said:
I don't think so. I'll ask our FAs next time, but I'm pretty sure we just get a big-ass bag called the InFlight Service Kit, which has their UPK, lav supplies, Ebola prevention devices, etc., and not a bag of United wings. (We sure as heck don't make or stock the aircraft with Mormon Air Force wings either, unfortunately.)
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That's where I find them on the ones put on the mainline planes.
 
Derg said:
The dissolution of captains authority is a windy road. A lot of guys don't know how to lead. There's a vast difference between "I'm the captain, do this" and "As the captain, this is what we need to have happen"
Click to expand...


image-3906013817.jpg
 
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