rickair7777

I wouldn't necessarily dime out a CA for not making PA's...just do it yourself. That way you're enhancing your company, it's major partner, and the industry as a whole.

If the CA doesn't let you do it, oh well. I'm not sure I'd involve pro-standards over issues of technique or customer service. However...if the guys a real jerk to the FO, that's a CRM and thus a safety issue.

I'm real big on attention to detail and customer service (as long as the customer remains rational), but I have a pretty high standard for actually ratting out another pilot.

meeko031

a captain who doesn't talk to you for the entire flight is a good thing in my case. It's better than being micro managed the entire flight! the entire month! He wants the next freq set up for the next controller already on standby! fly the routes long enough, eventually I'll remember it but to memorize it....c'mon get a life!

FlyingViking

Why not report him and get the problem fixed? Are you afraid of speaking up about an individual that makes YOU look like an idiot? He will just get a speach from the CP and things will be better for all of us. Keep up the good work, but do NOT be afraid of changing an a*****e in to a good pilot.

ToiletDuck

Very nice post. Try and talk to the guy and if he just hates life then send a letter to Pro-Standards. If he's been like this for awhile he might already have a few and actions can be taken. It's not being a rat if it's something that has been happening for the course of years. You don't owe him anything and no one will see you as a snitch. If he's being a jerk and not doing his job then some sort of corrective action needs to be taken. The only CAs that might not thinking the highest of you would be the ones who share his same work ethics. The rest would applaud your decision. It's unfortunate but it happens.

cbire880

Wrong! Do not ever go to the company prior to consulting the union. Don't even go to the union unless you confront the pilot yourself. Deal with problems at the lowest level possible. Only after consulting the union, should you consider going to the company and then only if the union isn't dealing with the problem. If you take problems too high in the adminisphere, sometimes the solution gets out of rational control and careers are damaged.

HSLD

I agree! Pro Standards is the intervention that could save a guys career! Taking it to the union, or *gasp* talking to him about how the behavior impacts the operation should be the first step.

Speaking up before something becomes a letter of charge, or FAA violation, or dismissal is actually doing you - and them a favor (remember you might go to the hearing too). Of course some guys will never change, but at least you tried.

Pilotpip

Since this developed into quite the heated debate, let me explain my rationale behind thinking about pro standards in no particular order:

First, this captain has had these problems before. As shown even here he's known within the company. Second, our Ops manual states that the CAPTAIN is to make announcements every 15 minutes of a delay. Third, he displayed a ****-poor level of CRM. I know what's going on because I hear the conversation with ATC, I can read the ACARS. However the F/A is in the back and has no idea what's going on. They're left with 50 angry pax, and no answers. Even if we don't have the answers, we at least can let the pax know that we're trying to reach one. When I asked him about informing the pax, he was almost combative in his answer. While on the ground waiting for the fuel truck we had a couple people ask us why they couldn't board other flights. He did nothing. They understood a little better when I told them that nothing was landing at ORD and all the other mainline and express carriers sitting around us were diverted as well. Because of these issues I really think that his attitude and actions are a safety hazard and should be addressed. I tried to, but was basically dissmissed and decided to take action on my own since he obviously wasn't going to.

HSLD

Sounds like you understand that it's about what's right and not who's right. I think we all understand how the last 6 years in the airline industry has produced flocks of disenfranchised employees of all job descriptions. However, the people behind the door are not the enemy, without them pilots don't have jobs - so kudos for thinking about them.

It's hard to be in a subordinate position when you don't feel like there is any leadership going on. It's experiences like this that help you determine what kind of Capitan you'll be.

Roll Inverted and Pull

It has been my experience, over a lot of years, that most (again, most) passengers will put up with almost anything if you keep them informed. Nothing worse than (for example) sitting at the gate, 15 minutes past departure time and not giving them an update about the delay. The captain that you wrote about probably cannot be changed. You did the correct thing with the PA.

Bucking Bar

As I read this the Captain is supposed to make the PA, or I assume, delegate the duty.

Before assuming the Captain's duty, I would bring the standard practice to his attention and ask politely, "hey, we are supposed to do a PA, you want me to do it?" and get the Captain's opinion. It sounds like Pilot PIP did all of this professionally.