@B737FLY
I can't believe what I'm reading.
I moved right after flight school, since I was able to jump straight into a 737 FO position with a young and fast developing carrier.
So you were a ab-initio type 250-300 hr wonder into a 737.
My experience is 4000ish hours on 737 300 through 800 (all EFIS). PIC for the last 2 years, flying for 6 years.
Flying a total of 6 years, 2 yrs as CA, which means maybe 2-3 yrs as a FO tops. And only 4k total hours? 2 ys as CA means you've probably flown ~1500 hrs PIC and the rest 2000ish as a FO?
Now this is what really floors me:
One of the things I hated most about being an FO was flying with non standard and below average captains. Old guard non CRM types. The best thing about upgrading was never having to deal with those types and making efforts to never become one of those types. I like the responsibility of command, I like helping FOs develop and grow (to the extent of my experience). I love managing the flight my way and take great pleasure in arriving early, saving fuel and giving the passengers a comfortable ride. Worked my ass off to upgrade... why would I ever want to accept a right seat again?
Dissect this one at a time. One, your complaint isn't about one or two CAs. It sounds like a whole bunch. So either all CAs at your airline are a problem, or you are the problem. Below average CAs? By what standard? And since you only spent at most 2 to 3 yrs as a 737 FO in an airline environment, just what do you really think you know at that stage in the game to decide weak CAs?
"Managing the flight my way" and "why would I ever want to accept a right seat again"
I have news for you: you are "that" guy. Whether you know that or not, you are "that" guy. "That" guy is the CA who thinks he knows best, knows it all, and tries to model his FOs on what he thinks is best. Many times he muddles the line between technique and SOP, and piss off FOs in the process. You are most likely overbearing, on the no fly list of FOs, and your comment of "why would I ever want to accept a right seat again" reeks of entitlement, arrogance, and does NOT sound like a good, sound CA who tries to model FOs.
I have a story from my airline, and my gut feeling is this story kinda applies to you.
A couple years ago, I flew with a CA and during introductions he mentioned he had worked at Atlas for 6 yrs and it was the best flying job he ever had. He asked me my background, and I told him it was regional flying and that it was ok - lots of flying multiple legs and long duty days. He nodded and then said (again) that he used to be at Atlas and he misses the job. So having heard this twice now, I had to ask the obvious: if you liked it and it was a good flying job, then why leave to come here? His answer was that he had been a FO all 6 yrs, and that there was no upgrade coming up for him, and that many CAs there were weak, not following SOPs as in doing things differently / their own way, and he couldn't take that kinda environment as FO. So he left and came to my current company, where he upgraded very quickly because of rapid expansion at the time. So no harm, no foul, right?
Wrong.
He lets me take the first leg to Orlando on the transcon. I'm flying, but very quickly I see he has his own very particular quirks and obviously does things his own particular way. Which is ok, he is CA after all. But then a few things stand out. So as an example, we have weather up ahead, I'm looking at it. Without saying a word he keys up the mike and asks for 20 right (which, ok, he can as CA). But then he also pulls the heading bug and turns the plane 20 right. On my leg. Now I find that kinda weird. That's just one example. On every single thing he just does it. And his way. Some not really exactly matching SOP. Some things he has as a technique, he's convinced is SOP (it wasn't) and wants me to do it that way. Again, as long as it's safe, but I'll still point out politely. Anyway, there is no input, no discussion. If I suggest something, no lets do it [that other way]. His CRM was interesting to say the least.
So on the leg back from Orlando the next day, I kinda chuckled inside because I knew right then that at Atlas, his CAs weren't the ones who were weak, or lacked skills, or couldn't make decisions.... No. They were the ones who had to put up with this overbearing, dominant FO who literally ran his own show. And when he saw he couldn't get his way, had no chance of an upgrade, he left at the first chance of an airline with a rapid upgrade time so he could be CA. And I bet you if someone asked him today about moving to a FO seat on another/larger plane, his response would be "why would I ever want to accept a right seat again." My conclusion after flying with him was that without a doubt, he was basically what is referred to in aviation as "Captain right seat" while at Atlas. This is the FO who is overbearing, makes decisions without input/informing the CA, throws the book at the CA for [whatever issue], and basically runs the show from the right seat. Then when they upgrade, they become a real left seat CA and their habits are the same.
Based on what you've written, your words, your attitude, you fit that description.
