What makes a good First Officer?
08-02-2011, 02:50 PM
#31
2 days off
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Position: Embraer Systems Analyst
Posts: 1,853
a good fo makes the captains job easier. if I was a captain that's what i would expect of the FO. knows when to and when not to speak. if you have a big ego, your proly going to have a hard time being an FO because your ego will be bruised and tested by different captains. just know that it's nothing against you just learn to accept criticism it will make u better.
08-02-2011, 03:15 PM
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2010
Posts: 524
Dont burn any bridges. You will need all the friends you can get in this industry. Any captain worth his salt has no problem walking in a resume for a good FO. Good Luck in your career. Let us know how it goes. Where did you get hired at??
08-02-2011, 03:50 PM
#34
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2010
Position: CRJ-7
Posts: 36
Always be prepared when you walk into that flight deck. All your personal problems, issues and concerns should be left on the Jetbridge. Bring your experiences, knowledge and a good working attitude. Express your concerns regarding the safe operation of flight.
Remember your 1st goal is to make it home safe to your family, next is keeping you and your captain out of trouble, 3rd is protecting your passengers from harm. If you don't do the first two you bring a level of risk to your passengers. Remember to enjoy and have fun with what you do as an FO. You will be a Captain someday and you want to make the flight deck a safe and pleasant work environment.
There are more then a fair share of Captains and FO that are a PIA to work with. You will find that alot of Pilots lack any sort of Personality. Don't take it personal but don't allow anyone to disrespect you either as an FO. You worked just as hard to get to that position. Handle those issues off the Flightdeck in a professional, respectable but firm manner.
Enjoy and Fly safe.
Remember your 1st goal is to make it home safe to your family, next is keeping you and your captain out of trouble, 3rd is protecting your passengers from harm. If you don't do the first two you bring a level of risk to your passengers. Remember to enjoy and have fun with what you do as an FO. You will be a Captain someday and you want to make the flight deck a safe and pleasant work environment.
There are more then a fair share of Captains and FO that are a PIA to work with. You will find that alot of Pilots lack any sort of Personality. Don't take it personal but don't allow anyone to disrespect you either as an FO. You worked just as hard to get to that position. Handle those issues off the Flightdeck in a professional, respectable but firm manner.
Enjoy and Fly safe.
08-02-2011, 04:06 PM
#35
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: blueJet
Posts: 4,536
08-02-2011, 04:43 PM
#37
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: blueJet
Posts: 4,536
Seriously, lots of good advice on here. I'm learning things that I probably knew once and forgot.
As a noob, pay attention and try to learn something new every leg - a power setting that gives you Vref at a certain weight, or what ATC calls BYP VOR.
When you get to the overnight, review what happened in the cockpit that day. What worked, what didn't, what would you do sooner, what would you never do again...
Remember it's not the Captain's job to train you, but it is his responsibility and privilege to mentor you. That said, ask questions. Ask later if the moment is tense.
After you've learned the ropes, you can start evaluating how your Captains do their job (silently, of course) so you can be proactive about the kind of Captain you'd like to become.
When I had 2-3 years in the right seat I started concentrating on what "Captain traits" I liked and which ones I didn't. How does he treat his crew? How does he treat little kids, schedulers, gate agents, and other pilots in the terminal? How does he gain your input and trust? How does he keep his head in the game? When does he stick to the book and when does he use Captain's authority - and what was the outcome each time?
Most importantly, don't even think about turning on the hotel TV if you have less than 10 hours till report.
08-02-2011, 06:32 PM
#38
New Hire
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: 737 flapinator
Posts: 8
Look for opportunities on each trip to work on something you suck at.
Fly raw data often enough that you don't forget how.
Learn your airplane's gouge (power settings and how they vary with weight, pitch attitudes, rate/radius of turns, descent angles, fuel burns). Watch the autopilot do it. You'll see it lead the turns by ~1% of g/s, level off at 10% of VSI, etc.
Finesse is nice, but comes second to accuracy. Get it right first, then make it pretty.
If you're wondering ask. I prolly missed it. If there's any hint of doubt re a clearance, don't ask me, ask ATC. We'll both be glad you did.
"skin, tin, ticket..."
Fly raw data often enough that you don't forget how.
Learn your airplane's gouge (power settings and how they vary with weight, pitch attitudes, rate/radius of turns, descent angles, fuel burns). Watch the autopilot do it. You'll see it lead the turns by ~1% of g/s, level off at 10% of VSI, etc.
Finesse is nice, but comes second to accuracy. Get it right first, then make it pretty.
If you're wondering ask. I prolly missed it. If there's any hint of doubt re a clearance, don't ask me, ask ATC. We'll both be glad you did.
"skin, tin, ticket..."
08-02-2011, 06:56 PM
#40
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2010
Posts: 453
Introduce yourself to the CP. Too many guys start off and think CP office = Principals office in high school. Just walk in on a long enough break (during bankers hours) where you can say "Hi, I'm xxx xxxxx and I just got online a few months ago and wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself.". The professionalism the big man sees in that selfless act will wash away any ticky-tack BS that may come your way in the future.
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