I had my share of some real shall we say "interesting" Captains in my younger days as a new puppy. Some that were very bitter, some that resisted the whole of idea of CRM, some with personal issues at home that they brought with them to the office, those with control issues, some with egos from hell, some that were just cantankerous and had no sense of humor, treated me as if I were some guy with no or little skills trying to earn a PPL, some who I questioned their skills and abilities, (even if mostly to myself - I spoke up no matter what rath I might incur if something was actually unsafe), you name it. Fortunately for myself and the rest of the crew, they were in the minority. Still it can make for some pretty miserable trips.
Once in a while you can turn the situation around by figuring out the best way to approach them (on a psychological/emotional level) and get them to see what they are doing, get to know them and they you and improve the situation. By the time you have arrive at a legacy carrier, (and this also applies really to Charter and Corp.ops, etc) you deserve to be treated with some respect and understanding. The Captain is there to be the final word (not without input IMO), to protect and support his crew and pax and to mentor and give the F/O more experiences and a wide variety of them. You want to have the crews back and you want them to have yours as well.
What I learned most of all from these unsavory Captains was invaluable to me in that it taught me what I did NOT want to be when I upgraded and what I did want to be. So I can actually look back and realize that even flying with a tyrant or a bully, has some merit in the end, if I learned even just that. If I was able to improve the situation and gain some understanding with him, so much the better. If not, I coped and tried to avoid his trips when possible.
Some guys sadly, never learn the difference between being a leader and being a dictator.
I am going to post this from a friend, because in so many ways it is true and how I always pretty much thought. I think you might all enjoy it. He wrote this several years ago, but it's still wise advice.
Thoughts on Captaining And Such
You are a captain because you are a survivor and because you have a seniority number that has a lower numerical value than the other pilots. You aren't a captain because you are smarter than the other pilots, better-looking than the other pilots or even because you have a better personality than the other pilots. Your brown-nosing-the-boss skills didn't get you the gig and your corporate-ladder-climbing strategies didn't get you in the left seat. You are only here because you are still alive and because your seniority score finally got you the job.
That being said, you have to agree that no matter how you got the job, the job feels pretty damn good. Finally, you get to fly your way. You have the chance to show off your leadership skills and to impress the aviation world with your skill, verve and talent for that pilot-in-command thing.
You'll find that people will pretend to be interested in what you are saying. Mechanics will consult with you about the condition of your aircraft. Flight attendants will complain to you, not your co-pilot, that catering hasn't come out to the aircraft yet. They will expect you to brief them on such matters as how long the flight is going to be and how bumpy the air is so they can plan their service. Even gate agents will want your autograph -- on the flight dispatch release form.
A word about that form is probably a good idea. It says that you, personally, are able to take the flight both mentally and physically and that you agree with the dispatcher's plans for the flight, including fuel. You will routinely sign off on this form before each and every leg, but always remember this: The form is your ticket to all your power. You and only you can decide if this puppy gets off the ground or not.
If you aren't sure it is going to be safe, and then you go fly the thing and then bend metal, it is your head they'll be after. You are literally the final word and the last link in airline safety. I know you only got here because you haven't managed to kill yourself in an airplane, yet, but it's your job to be the head guy, the big cheese, the ... well, you get the idea.
Try not to fixate all your energy on worries about legalities. To be sure, staying legal is a great way to continue a long, happy flying career and I have nothing at all against doing things by the book and following the rules.
Beware of being legal yet being unsafe. That is where a captain really earns his or her pay. One time a few years back during another cost-cutting frenzy at the airline, I went out to my trusty MD-88 ready to fly to our next stop. Then I noticed that it had 23 Maintenance Carry-Overs (MCOs). An MCO is something mechanically wrong with the airplane that they don't have to fix right away. Two or three MCOs is fairly common; 23 isn't. Yet 23 maintenance problems on one plane, under our current system, is still perfectly legal.
The problem was that a lot of the MCOs on that day had to do with stopping the airplane. Autospoilers, autobrakes, thrust reversers and auto throttles were just a few of our broken parts. We were headed to a wet, short runway.
We were legal but we sure as hell weren't going. If you work for a good company like I still think I do, they'll back up your decision. If you don't work for good people, you have to stand your ground anyway because, you know what? After you run off the end of a wet piece of concrete and hurt some people in a situation like that, nobody is going to fault the company, they are going to blame you, and quite rightly so.
Don't be afraid to make a decision even if it's going to be unpopular.
Okay, enough of the super-serious stuff. Here is a short list of good captain traits that you should memorize and pass along to your children and grandchildren.
Always help female flight attendants out of the hotel van. I know this is a brave, new, liberated world and we're all equal, but you aren't wearing high heels or at least I hope you're not.
Always buy the first round at layover dinners during the rare occasions you get to go out with your crew.
Never, ever let a new-hire pilot buy their own drinks. The airlines don't pay them enough to eat, so a free beer or cola will really be appreciated. Then, when they're captains, they can buy some drinks for their crews. It's paying it forward. It is the circle of life, Simba ...
Don't do walk-arounds unless your co-pilot is running late. Most pilots don't agree with me on this advice, and some captains like to ingratiate themselves by trying to be "one of the guys" and do the work of other crew members. I personally think you can do your crews a bigger service by being a good captain not by trying to be a mediocre co-pilot. If you are like me you spent at least 15 years walking around jets in the rain. Now it is your co-pilot's turn. It is that circle of life thing again.
Never repeat anything you hear from a co-pilot, flight attendant, or even a jump-seat rider outside the cockpit if it is personal. People will tell you things in the cockpit they don't really want outside of it. Co-pilots will talk about upcoming divorces and problem children. Think of the cockpit as a confessional booth and I think you'll do fine.
Always lead by doing. Don't make fun of how your co-pilot is dressed and then go around all day with your shirttail hanging out of the open fly of your uniform pants.
You have been around long enough that you can trust your feelings. If something doesn't feel safe, don't do it.
Nobody wants to look at pictures of your prostate operation.
Unfortunately, you'll have to act like you are interested in viewing pictures of the cats of Flight Attendants, as well as the baby pictures of their ankle biters. Be nice, because you never know when you'll be retired and non-revving to Maui and be in dire need of another bourbon. Never ever burn flight attendant bridges.
Always offer to fly the first leg of a trip so your co-pilot can lower his or her standards. Once they see how sloppy you fly, they can relax and begin to enjoy their trip.
Your crew's welfare is just as important as your passengers'. Make sure on layovers that everybody gets to their rooms unscathed. Buy some dinners, rent some cars, rub in some sunscreen -- be there for them.
That is about it. A good captain never stops learning and you've just started school. Good luck! K. Garrison
