Questions
1.On the descent, your captain drops below the glide slope. As FO. You bring it to his attention. He doesn’t respond to you or take corrective action. What should you do?
2.You’re the FO. Your Captain shows up with what seems to be the smell of liquor on his breath. What would you do? Why? Other options?
3.A thunderstorm is moving in and approaching the end of the runway. Your captain is continuing on the approach to the same runway. What would say/do? Why?
4.You’re at the hotel bar with your flight crew having drinks and its getting close to the 8 hour mark. Someone says lets have one more drink. What do you do?
5.How would you handle a situation where your captain didn’t seem to like you?
6.What would you do if your captain was performing nonstandard but not unsafe maneuvers?
7.There are heavy thunderstorms ahead and your captain wants to fly through them. What should you say to the captain?
8.You notice that your captain is not following the checklist. You bring it to his attention. He tells you he doesn’t need to follow it he knows it. What would you do? While in cruise, he starts reading a flight magazine. Should you say anything?
9.Under what circumstances do you feel an FO would be justified in taking control of the aircraft (in flight) away from the captain?
10.The manifest shows you’re 55 pounds overweight. You inform your captain. He tells you it’s okay to fly. What should you do?
11.If your captain showed up for your flight in a very bad mood, what would you do? Why?
Answers
1. Call for a go-around (key the mike so it's official with tower). If the CA still does not respond, take the controls.
2. First, be very certain that it is liquor. Then tell the guy that he needs to call in sick immediately. I would tell him that he needs to first contact the union for substance-abuse intervention, then have the union contact me to confirm he did that. If he doesn't comply, I call the CP.
3. Point it out to the CA. If he takes no action, call approach and inquire about the storm cell. Request vectors if necessary.
4. Point out that time's up, then go to my room. That way I dropped the hint, did not break the 8 hour rule, and did not witness anyone else breaking the rule. I don't think I would play hall monitor. If they show up drunk in the AM, see #2.
5. Try to do your job and be polite. If the CA's behavior is bad enough to affect your emotional state, you could either discuss it with him or ask company to pull you off the trip.
6. Remind him of the SOP. If he continues to do it, maybe call union pro-standards…that will provide some intervention without getting him in trouble.
7. See #3.
8. If the CA refuses to use the checklist after being reminded, I would pull the checklist and run it myself to make sure it's all done…out loud. If I think it's a real issue, call pro-standards. If the CA takes a magazine out in cruise flight that means it's time to read the paper, or whatever literature you brought.
9. If the captain (a) is non-responsive or (b) flying the airplane into a dangerous situation, or (c) has lost attitude control and seems unable to correct it (stall, unusual attitude, etc).
10. Insist that the weight issue be corrected. If he refuses, threaten to walk off the job. He then has the choice of mellowing out, calling in sick, or explaining to the CP why his FO jumped ship. If he gives you a hard time about this, contact pro-standards.
11. Suggest that maybe he should call in sick, express concern that he has a lot on his mind. If he is really out of control, threaten to walk off the job. He then has the choice of mellowing out, calling in sick, or explaining to the CP why his FO jumped ship.
