ROMANTIC PARTNERS/ FLIGHT CREWS

[V2-OMG!]

As most Canadians know, especially those on the west coast, in March of 2006, the "Queen of the North," an overnight B.C. ferry struck an island in the middle of the night and sunk. Two of the 100+ passengers were lost, and never found.

The cause of this accident has alluded to the possibility that two crew members (the male fourth officer and female quarter master) who were on the bridge just before the collision, were quarelling over their tempestuous love affair when a critical course change should have been made. The fourth officer stormed out of the bridge two minutes before the accident, leaving the quarter master who was untrained in navigation at the helm.

As a result, all I can say is thank gawd they weren't at the controls of a passenger jet with 300 poor schmucks in the rear, munching their stale pretzels in blissful oblivion. Can you imagine what the cockpit voice recorder in those final moments of flight might have revealed?

Male Captain: I never said that and you know it!
Female First Officer: Yes you did. You're nothing but a narrow-minded jerk at the controls of a wide-bodied jet, on and off the ground.
*** TERRAIN AVOIDANCE WARNING SYSTEM (TAWS): WHOOP - WHOOP - PULL UP ***
Male Captain: You wanna fly this thing then? Take it - she's all yours!
Female First Officer: Things never change. I had to do everything when we were living together too.
Male Captain: I'm outta here.
*** TAWS: WHOOP - WHOOP - PULL UP ***
Female First Officer: Sayonara azzhole.
Male Captain: B!tch.
*** TAWS: WHOOP - WHOOP - PULL UP ***
Female First Officer: Lousy son of a.... BOOM! (end of recording).

Now, I have two questions arising from this:
l. If you were a passenger on a boat, plane, or train and were privy to the fact that those who had your life in their hands were involved in a relationship which had sprung a leak, lost altitude or was coming off the rails, would you be nervous?

2. Can anyone tell me what the policy of Transport Canada and/or the FAA is in regards to romantic partners being on the same flight crew? Or, maybe there is not TC/FAA policy; it is at the discretion of the airline?

[Invertago]

Nothing ever goes on between flight crew I'm sure... but if it did... isn't that why they invented auto pilots???

[2R]

And you thought the mess on the radio dials was made by someone eating a egg salad sandwich

[Sasquash]

All jesting aside, there are no regulations, that I could find, prohibiting “romantic partners” to be assigned as flight crew. Company Opman/policy might be more restrictive in that regards however.

Regardless of romance, there is a regulation dealing with unfit flight crew members and, as a matter of fact, there was a thread a while back dealing with a flight crew member of an airline operation refusing to fly because of a fight with his crew member. The Cars is as follows:

Fitness of Flight Crew Members

602.02 No operator of an aircraft shall require any person to act as a flight crew member and no person shall act as a flight crew member, if either the person or the operator has any reason to believe, having regard to the circumstances of the particular flight to be undertaken, that the person

(a) is suffering or is likely to suffer from fatigue; or
(b) is otherwise unfit to perform properly the person's duties as a flight crew member.

If you are ticked off with someone to the point your head is not in the cockpit, I'm thinking you don’t belong there period. We have had situations within our company where some flight crew have declined to fly with some individuals specifically due to personality clash. The chief pilot has been accommodating most time and yes sometimes you don’t have a choice, you’re stucked. That’s why you keep your resume up to date!

[Dash-Ate]

[Cat Driver]

How about having just plain sex with another flight crew member of the opposite sex without all the emotional baggage of romance.

That should be a lot easier as far as stress goes....actually it would be a stress reliever.

[TG]

That's an idea,
There is this 'power nap' concept to deal with fatigue in flight.
So why not a 'power sex' one for stress release.

I'm waiting for the next NASA study on the subject

[Cat Driver]

It could also be a way for the flight attendants crew to make a few extra bucks.

There would of course have to be an extra call button so they know what service is required.

[Dash-Ate]

[AntiNakedMan]

haha reminds me of a spoof of a workplace harrasment video i watched once "gee, i sure could use a power-@#$! right about now. any takers?"

[SeptRepair]

I know a couple who have been flying together for the past few years. I think they spent a couple winters in the Maldives and the last I heard were partnered up on a Dash 8 in Sudan. The are scheduled to be married shortly, so i guess it is possible to work and live together. I know i'd axe murder my ole lady if I had to work with her on continuous basis.

[Dust Devil]

I think our lives are regulated enough that this should not be an issue

[2R]

So long as they make it obligatory and compulsory

[Jeremy]

Good point Sasquash!

Working with someone you are dating is rarely a good idea. Often there are work related duties that are missed due to distraction, be it simply conversation, arguing or even physical contact. If the relationship fails, then you have an awkward situation for many people, including yourself, scheduling, passengers etc etc. Of course in larger companies with many employees this isn't an issue as you will never see your ex on any regularity.

But in smaller companies it can cause real problems. I'll share one of those with you...

A couple years ago I was living with and working with my gf at the time. We broke-up and it was extremely messy...you know, one of those damaging kind. After a few weeks..maybe it was a month or more later I was asked to finish my ex's PPC. They were excited to finish training but I had to decline for the reasons Sasquash mentioned (CAR 602.02). It was far too recent and I wouldn't have been able to provide quality training. As well as they wouldn't have been in an overly positive learning environment and probably not in the right head-space to effectively learn the material either. I believe it was a good decision. Though at the time they did argue/yell at me over the decision and call me "the worst CP ever"...if memory serves me correctly.

Luckily I was CP. Delegating training to someone else was part of my duties. So that's what I did. Delegate..well contract-out to be more exact. It was for the best.

On a positive note, they did complete their training and are doing well from what I've heard.

[V2-OMG!]

Thanks for the replies, especially Sasquatch's.

[Never Mind]

...there is a regulation dealing with unfit flight crew members and, as a matter of fact, there was a thread a while back dealing with a flight crew member of an airline operation refusing to fly because of a fight with his crew member... We have had situations within our company where some flight crew have declined to fly with some individuals specifically due to personality clash. The chief pilot has been accommodating most time and yes sometimes you don’t have a choice, you’re stuck.

To all AvCanada readers,

Are you perhaps the crew member in your company that no one wants to fly with? Think carefully! Are you always negative? Does your speech center on denigrating the company, fleet or maintenance? Are you known for dealing harshly with your crew members? (ie. with a new a F/O learning the ropes) Do you have a reputation for being difficult with your Chief Pilot, other company staff or your dispatch?

Do you by chance leave a legacy of bad impressions when dealing with other companies at other airports? Does a quick temper characterize you? When offering suggestions to your crew member do you season your words with graciousness or are your words like a stab of the sword? Are you quick to admit you've made a mistake? Food for thought.

Never Mind