Trip7

+1

Well said. Regional FO is by far the most disrespected position. Everybody looks down on us as some sort of apprentice.

On the bright side of this rainy ATL evening, ATL CR7/9 lines have FINALLY increased significantly. Projecting 196 lines in March after hanging around 160 for the past several months

Nevets

Seriously, I don't feel disrespected or under appreciated (other than pay) because I'm "regional FO." I don't get all these supposed slight of hand examples you guys have pointed out in this thread. How is doing a preflight or post flight being disrespected or under appreciated. And hotel key card what? What is that about? And who are these people that dont look at you as a "real pilot" or as an annoying apprentice? Honestly, I don't get it. Maybe some people are too sensitive or maybe some people are too sled-conscious or maybe your life is all about being an "airline captain" or maybe some people need to over compensate and feel that being a captain will do that for them? I really think people just reflect on themselves what they feel about themselves.

afterburn81

First off, you work for a completely different company with a completely different culture than the one I'm referring to. There are first officers (seniority dependent) and there are co-pilots (mostly experience dependent). Sometimes the 2 are mixed up. Your experience is clearly different. But you can't tell me that pay is the only motive for moving to the left seat. The job becomes progressively easier with respect to effort when you switch seats. You don't have to play the chameleon working with bi-polar individuals running around in the rain and elements doing walk arounds. This is not opinion but a fact of the matter.

If you like doing walk arounds, you can do them all day long as a captain. If you don't like doing them as an F.O. you have no choice. I can probably count on one finger the number of times a captain volunteered to do the duties of the F.O. This would lead one to believe that it is desired to not have to do them.

The point is, chasing a quick upgrade isn't just for getting PIC time or getting paid more. There are many perks to being assigned to the left seat. And getting stuck with no choice in the right seat can be a drag. I think most could agree with that. But I'm sure someone has a completely differing view on all of this.

unit monster

I'm more than happy to fill out the hotel sheet for a friendly and respectful crew. When I get tossed the clipboard without so much as a look, I only make one entry.

I think there are a lot of insecure folks on the regional level. I've noticed as most of us get more and more longevity - Captains seem more guarded and protective of their position. I try to do my job, and I know my position; my educated suggestions will never threaten your job.

These Captains are the exception, not the rule.

afterburn81

Yeah that whole hotel key card thing is kind of stupid. I was in the CPO and they were having a meeting about it. I asked and was told there have been huge confrontations including fist fights in the hotel about crew members that were insistent that it's in the the company policies to be the duty of the F.O. They are in the process of wording it so to be the responsibility of each crew member. Although I'm sure that won't make much difference since it's a cultural thing.

slammer1906

Amen......

Senior Skipper

Fights over who fills out the hotel sheet? I'm glad my company culture doesn't involve that sort of thing (not that we don't have our moments).

If anybody ever told me that it was company policy for the FO to do it, I'd point out that we're in the van and no longer on duty...

Trip7

Yeah, its an ASA culture thing with the widespread belief that its the FOs job. Some crews are very rude about it. Some FAs remark that its your job, and sometimes when you're the last to get in the hotel lobby everyone is standing around waiting for you to do the sheet.

Anyways, we FOs are still way better off from the pre-ACARs days of filling the aircraft logs at the end of the day.

RunwayOneSix

I can't imagine fights breaking out over what...?? I'm a bit confused, what exactly is the FO expected to do.

Av8rking

Apparently, on the ASA side, it is fully expected for the F.O. to fill out the hotel sheet; regardless of seniority. One could be a 20 year super senior F.O.; (which would almost always be senior to your captain,) but once you enter the Hotel van, it is apparently your duty to fill out employee names, numbers, and wake ups.