"That Guy"

ChristheCFII

ChristheCFII

Well-Known Member
You know that guy (or gal) that works at your airline/flight school/flight department etc. that "knows everything" and is god of all that generates lift? He or she can do no wrong, has a better way to do everything and is the first to point fingers or criticize someone else. Don't you love how that's always the same person who can't fly for crap?

What a flight (annual line check) I had today. His controls: the ball was hugging the far right side of the inclinometer (sp?) from start up to shut down, no x-wind correction applied, alt +/- 300', improper spin recovery (added power), couldn't talk to ATC, the list goes on. My controls: he can't stop yelling about how I'm not banking fast enough or reducing power after level-off (we hadn't even accelerated close to cruise speed yet). I had enough after awhile and took us back to the airport.

This isn't the first person I've met like this, our industry seems to be full of them. I guess if someone has to tell you how great they are all the time, they're compensating for something. My strategy is to nod, smile and let them embarass themselves. Any other ideas on how to make someone like this shut up?
 
ChristheCFII said:
"knows everything" and is god of all that generates lift? He or she can do no wrong, has a better way to do everything
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Wait that's me. No really, don't be that guy. The best strategy I've found is to nod and smile and not respond. Eventually they panic and either go away or up their ridiculous story quotient in to the stratosphere of open disbelief, which has payoffs in humor value.
 
I've found that most of them who are like that are trying to make up for their lack of flying skill. They're insecure and you should do everything you can to exploit that! :D
 
I was deadheading on "that guy's" (from my upgrade class) flight last week. He forgot to wait until the ground A/C was disconnected before turning the PACK's on, thus blowing out the conditioned air ducts in the belly (made a hellacious sound for a few seconds before they figured it out). It would've been a lot funnier if it didn't delay the flight 30 minutes, and cause us to have no cockpit A/C for the return flight that I worked. I really enjoyed the PA though, "well ladies and gentleman, the ramp personell didn't disconnect the air conditioner soon enough.....". Yeah, right.

Hope he doesn't read this!
 
Stomp16 said:
I've found that most of them who are like that are trying to make up for their lack of flying skill. They're insecure and you should do everything you can to exploit that! :D
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I'm the opposite. I can fly pretty well but I suck when it comes to the book stuff. But I admit it.
 
It's not just aviation...."that guy" exists in all aspects of life. You will meet him in the insurance business, and the manufacturing plant, the gym, the damn grocery store for crying-out-loud!!!

He's closely related to the "story-topper"....you know the guy that after you tell a story he has a somewhat related story that is SO much better and WAY more over the top and definately more important because it happened to HIM!!!!
 
I recently had an encounter with "that guy". New CFI who also pilots a new King Air in the hanger getting checked out by the owner, he doesn't know me from Jack. Needs a dispatch ticket so I show him how. Him, "I have millions of dollars of airplane in the hanger and I have to do this??" Of course he lets it drop that he's "an ATP with turboprop and jet time" as well. I tell him how impressed I am.
Later I'm sitting at a table getting ready for an aerobatic practice session and going over my notes. He saunters over and asks, "So, are you the designated chump who has to sit around here all day in case a new student comes in?" I have a feeling this guy may accidentally fall into a cactus filled ditch behind the hanger some day. Accidentally, of course.
 
dooods, i totally talk a good game.

but not "that guy" style, just a standard CFI.
I know that guy.

When I have to actually demonstrate a commercial maneuver that I have not flown in six months I typically start it out by thinking, 'oh please, oh please, oh please'.
 
Blackhawk said:
He saunters over and asks, "So, are you the designated chump who has to sit around here all day in case a new student comes in?"
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Sounds like maybe somebody was that "chump" for too long and has a chip on their shoulder about it.....maybe that would explain how eager he was to impress you with his "qualifications"
 
Douglas said:
dooods, i totally talk a good game.

but not "that guy" style, just a standard CFI.
I know that guy.

When I have to actually demonstrate a commercial maneuver that I have not flown in six months I typically start it out by thinking, 'oh please, oh please, oh please'.
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haha yeah. I find myself doing the occasional "Now did you see what I did there? That's is how we ended 20 knots fast and 300 feet high."
 
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