geosynchronous

Snprll,

Everyone here has provided great advice.

I'd like to add my name to the list for people who have experienced this type of subtle "domineering" by the Chief Pilot.

I would like to recommend the following book:

"Coping with toxic managers, subordinates --and other difficult people" by Roy H. Lubit. I would imagine your nearest public library would have this book.

This book will give you insight in to enhancing your emotional intelligence and the psychology behind "control" freaks. You may only need to reference a few chapters to get some background knowledge.

I did not sense any animosity in your post(s) on your working relationship; and it appears that he has been receptive to you in the past about you concerns. Kudos to you for opening up a line of communication with him. You may be in a situation where the sharing of duties has to be revisited from time to time.

What worked for me in a previous life was to convey to the Chief Pilot that I loved to fly just as much as he did, and I wanted to do more. I never brought up currency, optics, perceptions from the passengers, etc. That made a connection that did not bruise any egos...

Good luck with your situation. Please report back on how things are going.

RJSAviator76

Frail egos in this profession never cease to amaze me... sadly, it is what it is - you'll have to get around this whole thing without bruising his ego. Sounds like you're doing a good job of it.

HungryPilot

Not that it is bad advice but the owner might not want to be in the middle of this kind of banter. But it sounds like a small operation in which case he might. I fly charter and we have contracted with other corporate departments to do some flying for them for several months at a time so i'm just envisioning what the result of that would be where i have been. I might suggest on the leg following a non flying leg say, "how about I take this leg." See how long you can keep that up.

Snprll

I really appreciate all the advice. Geo I will check that book out - sounds like a good one. I'll be sure to keep you informed on my progress with Captain Stick Hog (lol I like that!).
thanks

HercDriver130

Personally I think its a terrible policy. having 7 years military transport experience where we always swapped legs, and 4 years of 121 airline experience where we always swapped legs... I was surprised when I took a 91/135 job where the COMPANY policy was that the PIC had to fly all legs with passengers on board. I argued unsuccessfully actually that new FO's needed to actually fly from the right seat to get use to flying the aircraft from over there.... there are some things on the citation that would be hard to reach from the right seat if you had an unresponsive CA. The policy did allow for flights with two type rated pilots for the SIC to fly live legs at the pilots whime... but ONLY only on 91 flights. Most of our 135 was brokered thru Sentient and NetJets and then the PIC by our GOM had to fly all live legs regardless.

Further it sucked for FO's because alot of our 91 lease customers were local to our airport so a whole trip might be live legs. And even if we had to position most of the time the legs were very short some as little as 3-5 minutes....

When I was laid off we had 16 pilots and there were only three untyped SIC's.... so it had really become a non issue..... the younger ( under 50 group ) generally swapped legs... while the older guys held to the tradition.

cubguy

Hercdriver130 wrote:
"the younger ( under 50 group ) generally swapped legs... while the older guys held to the tradition."

Careful now Herc, lets not stereo type, I'm 53 and in my 34 years of professional flying so far, over 27 as PIC, I have NEVER stolen ONE leg of flying from a F/O.
It sucks enough just getting old.
CG

xXJKJXx

That's SO funny that you mentioned this! I just finished a 4-day trip last month with a Line Check Airman Captain that was just like you described--I felt like a human autopilot, or something. I kept thinking to myself, "okay, prick, your airplane!". But I really wanted to fly, so I kept my mummblings to myself.

The thing that gets me through it all is to tell myself it will all be over in 'x' amount of days, and to ensure myself that I never fly with this captain again down the road. I trade trips, or worse-case, consider calling in sick before I fly with pilots like him again.

I know captains have their "list" of F/O's they hate to fly with, but we got 'em as well.

UCLAbruins

"Calling in sick" lucky for us we have that luxury... you call in sick, and PRESTO, problem solved.... the thread starter flies for a small flight dept. He's stuck with that idiot, not much room to manuever.

Like I said, we have one of those where I work, several people have had problems with him....some guys have called in sick.

one guy called schedulling and begged not to be paired with him...(I'm thinking of doing the same)

Hugh Jarse

I used to fly with an old fart like that. He used to say, "I believe in Cockpit Resource Management, you're Resource and I'm Management."

These idiots need to realize these airplanes are TWO pilot for a reason and the boss needs to know that too. BOTH pilots need to be current.

RJSAviator76

Put yourself in place of the big guy in the back - he sees this is a petty squabble, and most think that this is like driving a car - he wants a certain driver.

Most DO NOT realize that it's a two-pilot plane FOR A REASON, and that his interests are served best by two qualified pilots.

You can arm yourself with incidents and accidents and then ask the old fart captain if he wants to swap legs. If he says no, then you show him your research; if he still doesn't give a hoot, you request a meeting with the owner of the plane (assuming you're Part 91), and share this with the owner and approach it from the safety viewpoint, also monetary viewpoint (what use are you in this/revolving door as most pilots find this practice unsafe and don't want to be a part of it).

You'll be surprised to see how much attention you'll get from the big man if you show him that his safety is not at the very top, but you have to have hard facts, cases, and figures to make it look like you're not whining - but rather genuinely care about the safety of flight.