Your the FO with new CA

Status
Not open for further replies.

determined2fly

Well-Known Member
I been flying with a CA who just got upgraded. He is young and just isn't there maturity wise. Refuses to follow checklist ...I actually call out and have to verify myself as his doing something else and just giving me the verbal "check" without actually checking. He has forgotten things on checklist that can compromise saftey of our flight. Been in situations where we take off with over MTOW. He also loves to "hotdog" and push the 30 year old plane to its limits. He is very weak in IFR knowledge and insturment skills are subpar. The problem is company needs this guy...they don't really need me as there are other FO's willing to look the other way. Issue is I don't feel safe flying with this guy...and he thinks I am a stickler for following SOP's. What can I do? I already talked with him about my concerns ...didn't seem to work. Any suggestions? What can I do? This is costing me as he has requested to fly with other guys that are easier going.
 
There are two things that your boss doesn't own: your certificate and your integrity. Never sacrifice either of them by doing something dumb just to get along with the clown in the other seat.

You were looking for a job when you found that one.
 
Establish what you are comfortable with and don't go beyond that. Don't ever go up in an airplane thinking "I shouldn't be doing this"

Don't overcomplicate it, Just decide and do it.
 
If you have to fly with him again, write down every error he makes, and then discuss the "list" at the end of the day/flight when you are alone. Tell him you are uncomfortable, and that the list would not have to be there if he flew professionally. If he is unwilling to address it, go over the list with your boss. Like was stated earlier, you were looking for a job when you found that one, and if it makes trouble, oh well. Life is to short to fly with a know it all snot nose punk.
 
Some of you guys amaze me. You guys are so quick to tell him to bag the job he has because he was looking for another one when he received this offer? There are far better options than to speak up and then bail if the desired outcome is not reached. I'm sure OP NEEDED this position when he accepted the offer, otherwise, he'd have held out. Is this correct, determined2fly? It's easy to advocate leaving a job when it's not my paycheck/rent/mortgage/expenses on the line

I know I may sound old and outdated, but there were a couple of good ideas here that don't involve losing your ability to feed yourself. I agree that you should take it up with him directly. I agree that you should write a critique on him, and address those issues in the critique. You'll need to note what he did well, and what he didn't do well. Tell him, "If we cannot reach a satisfactory resolution to this issue, I'm going to take it up the chain." That way, you're not talking about him behind his back, but putting the next step squarely in his court. If no action is taken, take it up the chain. If no action is then taken, go further up the chain. At some point, someone has enough financially invested in that aircraft that no amount of hook-ups, or nepotism is going to save that guy, and SOMEONE WILL care. If it were my airplane, I wouldn't care why they were being unsafe and reckless, endangering lives, and my investment. If it's an airline, there's an Executive in some office where the buck will stop. And it will. Promptly. It may take a while to get into that office, but you'll get there. They may threaten to fire you, but if you're savvy, you would be CC'ing that guy on every communication once you get stonewalled, and after you send him an email directly outlining the situation to date. ;)

What I'm saying is have a plan, and know where the next person in line is, and know how to contact that person. From the CA, all the way to the top. A plan will make this go like clockwork. No plan will make it seem daunting and impossible.

If you're going to have this fight, you need to have all of your i's dotted, and t's crossed. Professionalism in everything. From your writing, to your presentation, it all needs to be at a high level, and you need to only address facts aside from "I feel unsafe when I fly with him". You should also have a very clear understanding of why you like working where you work, and why you would want to stay. He's a CA. You are not. You're going to have an uphill fight, but if you really feel like you're in jeopardy, than it's a fight worth having.

That's my take from the behind the desk perspective.
 
If you're going to have this fight, you need to have all of your i's dotted, and t's crossed. Professionalism in everything. From your writing, to your presentation, it all needs to be at a high level, and you need to only address facts aside from "I feel unsafe when I fly with him". You should also have a very clear understanding of why you like working where you work, and why you would want to stay. He's a CA. You are not. You're going to have an uphill fight, but if you really feel like you're in jeopardy, than it's a fight worth having.

That's my take from the behind the desk perspective.

Yeah, that doesnt work in corporate aviation. If you come at the owner with "hey this guy is dangerous," you'll get the can, guaranteed. Same as if you complain about guys doing blow in the back, or smoking a bag of meth. Know who signs your paycheck, and STFU.
 
Yeah, that doesnt work in corporate aviation. If you come at the owner with "hey this guy is dangerous," you'll get the can, guaranteed. Same as if you complain about guys doing blow in the back, or smoking a bag of meth. Know who signs your paycheck, and STFU.

That sucks. This is where my lack of experience with this stuff comes in. If I was the owner of that plane, I'd be furious. Isn't "This guy is reckless" different from "stop doing blow in the back"? I don't care about hookers and blow. I care about making sure they are all able to get off of the airplane. Blow too.
 
That sucks. This is where my lack of experience with this stuff comes in. If I was the owner of that plane, I'd be furious. Isn't "This guy is reckless" different from "stop doing blow in the back"? I don't care about hookers and blow. I care about making sure they are all able to get off of the airplane. Blow too.

Well, if the owner of the plane is the one doing the blow, you dont have much of a choice. Its like being a plumber, theres only two things you need to know:

Crap flows down hill, and pick up your paycheck on friday.

*Full Disclosure*

My current employer doesnt engage in any illicit activity, but I've worked for a few that have come close. In the end, its none of my business.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top